Women lose nine days of productivity a year due to cramps and heavy bleeding associated with their periods, yet, there’s still a taboo for them when it comes to discussing menstrual pain and leakage at work or school. I personally hate to admit that sometimes my work is impacted by my menstrual cycle, but it’s common and affects many women, from those meeting deadlines at their corporate jobs to young women now back at college with loads of exams, reports and pop quizzes. So, why and how does our period affect our productivity? We spoke to Sophia Yen, MD, MPH, co-founder and CEO of Pandia Health, to find out. Keep reading for more!
Why Does Our Period Affect Our Productivity?
What are potential effects of the various hormonal phases on a woman’s body without birth control? There are many different effects the hormonal phases have on the body without birth control, including zits, changes in mood, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). What are the benefits of hormonal birth control and its impact on a woman’s natural menstrual cycle? With hormonal birth control, you can choose to make periods optional. This can change your body’s monthly menstrual cycle.
Hormonal birth control can make your periods lighter and last fewer days (e.g. if you usually bleed five days, then it can go to three – if you usually use five pads, that goes down to three). By not ovulating, you decrease your risk of ovarian cancer, and if you go on the pill, patch, or ring for five years, you decrease your risk of ovarian cancer by 50%. Additionally, hormonal birth control can also decrease your risk of colon cancer. By having stable hormones, it benefits:
- Acne
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Seizure disorders
Additionally, having no periods is good for academics, work, sports, military and space. Ultimately, it is up to you whether or not you want to decrease the frequency of your period. There are both pros and cons to both sides of the coin.
