One million, thirty-two thousand, three hundred and eighty-six. That’s how many Instagram posts there are, as I type this, with the hashtag #bodylove. Scrolling through, I see a sea of smiling faces, sincere stories, belly rolls, stretch marks and power poses.
Collectively, we’re learning that wobbly bits are, in fact, normal. We’re learning to quit comparing our daily reflection to the glossy, Photoshopped bodies we see in magazines and in our social media feeds. It’s actually just not that cool anymore to sit around with girlfriends and prod fleshy thighs and suck stomachs in. We’re learning that beauty is born from diversity, confidence, and gratitude for the skin we’re in! I applaud any initiative or movement that tells women:
Your body is a gift and you are doing great, just as you are.
But I do wonder, where’s the love for our menstrual blood? Well, technically it’s menstrual fluid. Your period is more complex than the kind of blood that flows in your veins and arteries. Your period blood is also made up of vaginal secretions and cells of your uterine wall. But because it’s always been called menstrual blood, let’s stick with that.
According to the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, your period may be considered a vital sign. Paula Hillard, M.D., Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, says that the menstrual cycle is a ‘window into the general health and wellbeing of women’ and can ‘indicate the status of bone health, heart disease, and ovarian failure, as well as long-term fertility.’
Imagine if you saw the presence of your period as a monthly message from your body saying, ‘Hey! You’re doing great! You’re well and alive and vital! Keep up the good work!’
What’s more, the quantity, consistency and colour of your menstrual blood gives you direct feedback from your body, and can be an important indicator of your overall health. Keeping track of your blood helps you to get to know what’s normal for you, so you can identify when and if there are any changes in your flow. Sadly, we’ve hardly been encouraged to exclaim, ‘Thank you, body! I love you!’ every time we get our period. But what if embracing our flow, in its most literal sense, could actually help us nurture a more intimate knowledge of ourselves? There’s no need to throw a period party, but a grateful nod and some quiet appreciation for your vitality is a lovely place to start.