Exercise for period regulation: How does it help?

[Patrick Findaro]

 

Every woman is unique in her own way. Even the length of a menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman. The average cycle is around 28 days; however, a regular cycle anywhere between 21 to 40 days is considered normal as long as you can predict the dates. Here’s what happens in a menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones. In the first half of the cycle, an increase in estrogen levels leads to the development and release of the egg from the ovary, meanwhile, the womb lining also begins to thicken. In the second half, the hormone progesterone begins to prepare the womb for conceiving. If the womb doesn’t receive an embryo, the hormone levels fall, and the womb lining sheds away along with blood in the form of our periods.

Exercise is known to release endorphins or feel-good hormones. This can greatly reduce stressors that cause hormonal imbalances. Change in body weight or sudden weight gain can cause your body to produce more oestorgen, which can affect the frequency of your periods. Exercise can help keep this weight in check Performing exercises to have regular menstruation can even regulate your flow during periods, which ensures less cramping. However, bear in mind that over-exercising can put your body under a lot of stress and disrupt the hormonal balance, worsening the problem of irregular periods. The goal is to balance your workout by doing about 3-5 hours of moderate-intensity routines every week.

A great way to engage and stimulate your abdominal muscles is by doing planks. Planks are one of the best and simplest ways to strengthen your core. It is an isometric exercise that targets your lower back, abdomen, and hips while also working on your arms and legs. This means it can help your burn fat without any strenuous workouts. Another reason why this is a great exercise for irregular periods is because it helps improve your metabolism. As irregular periods can be caused by sudden weight gain due to PCOS or other factors, a good metabolism can increase your chances of keeping your weight in check.