10 Things Guys Need To Know About Periods

Be understanding, it's rough going through this every month.

1. Before our period even begins, we suffer

Guys joke about women PMSing because we're usually more irritable at that time. But we have good reason. Symptoms of PMS include: stress, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, bloating, abdominal cramps, constipation, breast tenderness/soreness, acne, joint/muscle pain, diarrhea, and an overall feeling of unhappiness.

2. Cramps HURT

The most common painful aspect of a period that 67% of women face is abdominal pain/cramping. But this isn't like a cramp you get in your leg after doing some physical activity.

Imagine, if you will, that some organ in your body is being torn up on the inside and shoving all of that blood and tissue and grossness out of you. Sound terrible right?

That is literally what is happening inside of us. Our uterus is shedding it's lining and to help it along, the muscles contract, causing painful cramping that usually feels like you're being sawed in half.

3. We want chocolate. NOW!

Pregnancy isn't the only time women crave things. Pregnant women may crave odd food combinations, but most menstruating women crave sweets, specifically chocolate.

Scientists actually don't know why many women crave sugar during or right before their periods, however some theories point to hormones.

Chocolate has been shown to boost your mood by increasing endorphin and serotonin levels, which may be why we want it so badly.

4. Tampons and pads= not fun for anyone

Don't be fooled by the commercials. While a good pad/tampon can make a difference, it doesn't make periods any better and it doesn't make us forget that we're wearing one.

Some women wear pads, some wear tampons, and some wear both. But they both suck ok? Pads make you feel like you are wearing a diaper, and every time you go to the bathroom you are confronted with the grossness that is your uterus lining.

Tampons are not that much better. First of all, since most girls start their periods between 11-13yrs old and have never had anything stuck up their vagina, it can be an awkward and scary thing. Once you get used to the insertion process it gets a little better. But you always have that nagging fear of "leaking." And then you have to pull it out and you are once again confronted with the nastiness of it all. Oh, and you better hope that when you go to take it out the tampon isn't dry in any place, otherwise it feels like you're ripping the skin off the inside of your vagina. Fun stuff, right?

5. Some women get REALLY sick, for real

While most women can suffer through their week of torture with a couple pamprin and some alcohol, some women are completely incapacitated. It's rare, but some women become extremely sick during their periods. With symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, and migraines, I have even known women who literally pass out because of the pain.

6. The "bring your purse to the bathroom??" conundrum

Girls don't want everyone to know that they're on their period. And when out with friends, taking your purse to the bathroom is a clear signal to everyone that you are currently bleeding out of your vagina. So how do you make it to the bathroom with a pad/tampon and not have everyone know??

7. The fear of TSS that never really goes away

TSS(toxic shock syndrome) is a potentially fatal illness caused by a bacterial toxin and can occur because of tampon usage. While it is extremely rare, the little pamphlet in the tampon box alerting you to be on the watch for TSS symptoms always scares the crap out of most women.

8. We feel icky!

It's gross. We know. We're the ones who have to go through it. We're the ones who have to be up close and personal with this stuff. We spend a whole week feeling utterly yucky. Normal shower schedule? Every other day maybe? Period shower schedule? Three times a day...maybe more.

9. This suffering is kind of never-ending

In the worst cases, it can take up your whole month. And even if the good cases, you still lose 2-3weeks of a month to the pain, grossness, and mental agony of the menstrual cycle.

1. PMS- we've gone over how terrible THAT is.

2. Actual period- we've gone over how terrible THAT is too

3. Post Period- No one ever discusses this do they? But it's true, a lot of women keep feeling the symptoms of their period even after it's gone for that month

10. We just need a little sympathy and TLC

TLC being tender loving care, not the tv network.

We just want to be babied, alright? We go through this every month and even though it's pretty much the worst thing in the world, we're expected to get a grip and get on with our lives. So it'd be nice for you to just give us a fluffy pillow, make us a hot-tottie, buy us a chocolate bar, and let us watch whatever dumb chick-flicky movie we wanna watch.