Everything You Don't Know About the Menstrual Cycle

How and why do periods happen? Is your menstrual cycle “normal”? What about your period? What does “normal” even mean?! Today I'm explaining how this all works and...fair warning...the menstrual cycle is a whole heck of a lot more complicated than I realized before I became a board-certified ObGyn doctor. This is a fundamental part of life for ~50% of the population and the science is pretty cool.

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** The information in this video is intended to serve as educational information and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/advanced practice provider. **

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#menstruation #periods #reproductivehealth

[sarahchicago]

I’m glad this exists, because Florida just passed a bill banning discussion of periods in elementary school. I don’t even want to imagine how scared and confused some future fourth and fifth graders will be when they get theirs. Hopefully some of them will find this first 🤞

[emilystrating]

This is the most comprehensive overview of menstrual cycles that I have ever had.

[westzed]

I have passed into menopause and am so grateful. When young people talk and start saying things like "Oh, she's just pmsing, that's why she is moody and crabby." I will point out that boys and girls both have male and female hormones, but in different amounts. When the girl is accused of having pms, that is actually when the male hormone is higher for her. It does make them think. I try to keep it this simple.
ps: I do not discuss this with any kids I don't know the parents. But if they are over 18 years I do not hold back.

[ktm]

Florida just introduced a bill that would make it illegal to talk about periods in school before 6th grade. This would apply not only to faculty but to the children. Meaning that if this bill passes, a girl who started her period and is younger than 6th grade would be breaking the law to tell her teacher that she needs to go to the bathroom because she is on her period. This is insane. My daughters are 4 and 5. They both know about periods, and I openly talk about the menstrual cycle with them.

[Jas-ooqc]

Tbh I think it’s very important to teach young girls about this because I don’t feel we get a complete well rounded education about it . We get limited info about specifics to watch for in school. What’s exactly is going on as well as when it’s time to see a doctor. Alot of the info I have learned it’s through going through it, talking to friends and watching obgyns on social media that are more than happy to educate.

[Diegotheparrot]

Although I'm a male RN and know quite almost everything about this, I still feel like I have more authority of speaking about these subjects after learning from momma Dr Jones.

[ryee]

My wife and I love your channel. She is a doctor and we are both info nerds. Also I am recently pregnant with our first (7.5 weeks IVF baby)! Thanks for your wonderful public service in providing these invaluable information videos

Also as someone who grew up in Texas, lived in one country with socialised healthcare for 16 years and then moved to Australia a year and a half ago, I appreciate the perspective you have that I also understand

[taylerbrumble]

Can you make a video about PMS/PMDD? It would be cool to understand what is happening chemically during that phase of the cycle, and to learn about research in that area.

[acegulliver]

This is so much more comprehensive than the middle school sex ed coverage of periods I got in the mid 90s. Thank you so much for putting this information out there!

[laurenkadlec]

You should become a professor. You just covered like 2 weeks of college anatomy in a 10 minute video and it made so much sense!

[bagginssupercat]

Love this! Even though I have owned a uterus for long enough to be going into the shutdown and done thanks phase, I've never really understood it. That was very clear, thank you!

[kathrinsides]

I’m like in my 50’s now & have had a hysterectomy in my early thirties due to endometriosis and insanely torturous periods throughout my life. And yet I’m so happy to have seen this video after many years of going through this. I truly wish you would do a video about what happens when women have to deal with endometriosis and other issues that make their lives a living hell. Thank you so much for all of your videos!!! I do have an amazing doctor who is incredibly knowledgeable and compassionate and has been very helpful and supportive of me over the years since I started working with him and his predecessor. I am incredibly grateful and lucky to have found him and been able to have access to him and the team that he works with. And I’m very glad that I found your channel as well.

[Marma]

I've just been through an early miscarriage (8 weeks) and how you explained the hormones communication between HCG and Progesterone I was like "so that's what happened, miscommunication! It was too early for HCG to go down"
Rationalizing what happened is healing some. Thanks :)

[Pink_Aqua]

I know most of the info, but having you explain it makes me feel like I'd be able to explain it in a child-friendly way, so when my kids burst in on me in the bathroom to tell me something (even though I've told them they can't do that anymore), I can explain the potential sight of blood so they don't panic 😅

[jennyc]

Thanks for this! Please could you explain how hormonal birth control works regards this cycle? It can feel odd not having a ‘real’ cycle like in this video

[lennanicholson]

If you get a chance, it would be great to see a video like this explaining what's happening when things go differently-I'm particularly interested in endometriosis and PCOS, because those are my experiences, but how (hormonal) contraception blocks things is also super interesting, and I'm sure there's lots of other interest ones too!

[melima_]

Absolutely had the 'You have a cyst' moment happen to me 😂 luckily I knew it's normal and I told my ObGyn and she also had a good laugh.

I would be very interested (if it hasn't already been covered?) In how the cycle behaves on the the different kinds of birth control?

[disneymama]

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone explain the menstrual cycle with so much enthusiasm. 😊 I’m 48 (probably heading to menopause soon) but this was still some new info. Very cool.

[snehanayak]

Right on time mdj 😁 i was up all day googling whether a 40 day cycle is normal or not since I've been having it for like the past 3-4 months and I'm still a teenager. Thank you for contributing to increase knowledge about women's bodies 💕

[kaiceeholloway]

This is the most in depth explanation I've ever seen. Glad this was posted in the middle of me being on my period. ❤