Heavy Flow : Understanding the Menstrual Cycle and Claiming Your Fifth Vital Sign

What do you know about your menstrual cycle? Your menstrual cycle is your fifth vital sign — a barometer of health and wellness that is as telling as your pulse or blood pressure. Yet most of us see our periods as nothing more than a source of inconvenience, shame, and stigma. The reasons for this are vast and complex and many are rooted in misogyny. The fact is, women around the world are taught the bare minimum about menstruation, and the messages they do receive are negative: that periods are painful and gross, turn us into hormonal messes, and shouldn't be discussed. By examining the history of period shame and stigma and its effects on women's health and wellness today, and providing a crash course in menstrual self-care, Heavy Flow aims to lift the veil on menstruation, change the narrative, and break the "curse" once and for all.

Finalist for the 2020 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize in Nonfiction What do you know about your menstrual cycle? Your menstrual cycle is your fifth vital sign — a barometer of health and wellness that is as telling as your pulse or blood pressure. Yet most of us see our periods as nothing more than a source of inconvenience and embarrassment. The reasons for this are vast and complex and many are rooted in misogyny. The fact is, women the world over are taught the bare minimum about menstruation, and the messages they do receive are negative: that periods are painful and gross, that they turn us into hormonal messes, and that they shouldn't be discussed. By examining the history of period shame and stigma and its effects on women's health and wellness today as well as providing a crash course in menstrual self-care, Heavy Flow aims to lift the veil on menstruation, breaking the "curse" once and for all.

"Your menstrual cycle is your fifth vital sign - a barometer of health and wellness that is as telling as your pulse or blood pressure. Yet most of us see our periods as nothing more than a source of inconvenience, shame, and stigma. The reasons for this are vast and complex and many are rooted in misogyny. The fact is, women around the world are taught the bare minimum about menstruation, and the messages they do receive are negative: that periods are painful and gross, turn us into hormonal messes, and shouldn't be discussed. By examining the history of period shame and stigma and its effects on women's health and wellness today, and providing a crash course in menstrual self-care, Heavy Flow aims to lift the veil on menstruation, change the narrative, and break the "curse" once and for all."-- Provided by publisher A woman’s cycle is considered her fifth vital sign, telling you as much about your health and wellness as your blood pressure or pulse. Yet, from a young age, girls around the world are taught the minimum, if anything, about their own bodies and this important function. Instead we are taught to expect periods to be painful and gross, that hormones will turn you hysterical every twenty-eight days, and that good girls definitely don’t talk about menstruation. This book examines the history of period shame and stigma and the far-reaching effects it has had on women’s health and wellness today, while providing a self-care guide to understanding menstrual cycles and reclaiming your fifth vital sign through holistic nutrition, lifestyle advice, and self-advocacy. A Modern Guide To Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle, Breaking Through Shame And Stigma, And Reclaiming Your Fifth Vital Sign Through Holistic Nutrition, Lifestyle, And Self-advocacy.