似乎从我们还很年轻时，就在某种程度上受到月经的影响。对于年轻的女孩来说，通过我们的姐姐、表姐、阿姨和其他女性亲戚，我们看到了月经的影响，它改变着她们的日常生活、心绪，像个孩子一样和我们互动。

　　In adolescence we look forward to the growth into womanhood. We think that menstruation will be a sign showing we’re becoming adults, even though we don’t understand the hormones and moodiness which we later learn will plague us through one week out of the month– not to mention the uncomfortable cramps, struggling with being at school when you don’t feel good, and not being able adequately process and deal with the all the changes happening in our suddenly strange little bodies.

　　青春期的我们期待成长为女人。我们认为月经会标志着我们成为大人，尽管我们并不了解其激素和喜怒无常的产生，而后来我们学到了这会在每月中足足折磨我们一星期–不用说不舒服的痉挛，还要在不舒服时仍要挣扎着呆在学校，也不能充分处理应对身体突如其来的所有变化。

　　Here are five things you may not have known about your cycle and how they can relate to your health.

　　这有你可能还不知道的关于月经周期的5件事，以及它们是如何与你的健康相关的。

　　1) Notice the Flow

　　注意流量

　　Just keeping an eye on your monthly flow can help you determine changes happening in your body. Is it lighter? Heavier? Did you have to use more protection or less? Are you suddenly bleeding more than usual?

　　关注你的月经流量可以帮助你确定你身体的变化。它更轻吗？还是更严重一些？你有没有使用更多的保护措施，还是更少一些？你突然比平常出血更多吗？

　　Granted, it may seem like you’re losing a lot of blood during your cycle, but, on average, women only shed about a cup from the uterine lining. It’s not unusual to have a few days of heavy flow. With that said, increased heavy flow for 5 days or more can cause anemia, polyps, or endometriosis, some very serious health issues.

　　在你的月经周期中的确可能会失去很多血，但是，平均而言，女性只会从子宫内膜中流出一杯血。有几天的大流量是不寻常的。这样的话，5天或更多时间内都增加了大量的流血的话，可引起贫血、息肉或子宫内膜异位症，都是些非常严重的健康问题。

　　On the other side of this, if you continually experience extremely light periods (without birth control) you could be suffering from poor nutrition, extreme stress, or it could be an indicator of an auto-immune disorder or other health issue.

　　另一方面，如果你持续经历很少流血的时期（没有避孕），那你可能患有营养不良、极度紧张，或者它可能是一种自动免疫障碍或其他健康问题的指标。

　　2) Notice the color

　　注意颜色

　　Ideally, you’re period will start with a bright cranberry color. However, if your cycle starts with brown, dried up looking blood this is old blood which didn’t get shed last cycle. This can be a symptom of low-progesterone. On the flip side, if it’s heavy bleeding with almost a dark purple look to it, this could be s symptom of too much estrogen in the body. An easy check. Does your period resemble frozen blueberries (too much estrogen), strawberry jam (too little estrogen) or cranberry (healthy).

　　理想情况下，月经期间你会流出鲜红色的血。但如果你流的血是暗红色、看起来干涸的血液时，那说明这是上次月经没有排出的旧血。这可能是低孕激素的症状。另一方面，如果它的大出血几乎都是深紫色，那这可能是身体过多的雌激素的症状。一个简单的检查。你的流血像冰冻蓝莓（雌激素过多），草莓酱（雌激素分泌过少）还是小红莓（健康）。

　　3) Notice the texture

　　注意质感

　　If you suddenly notice dark or liver colored clots and clumps in your period, where you normally don’t, it may be time to pay attention to what’s happening with your body. There are a lot of things in the body which an affect menstrual flow. Heavy, dark clots could possibly indicate an iron deficiency, a vitamin deficiency such as C or K. Painful menses with clots could indicate endometriosis, fibroids, or cysts.

　　如果你突然注意到月经期间，会排出平时不会有的暗色或是肝脏色的凝结和团块，那是时候来关注你身体的情况了。身体中有很多可以影响月经的东西。大量、暗色的血块可能表明铁缺乏、如C或K这样的维生素缺乏。而让你感到疼痛的月经血块可能表明子宫内膜异位症、子宫肌瘤、囊肿。

　　4) Notice PMS symptoms

　　注意PMS症状

　　As a young woman you may have been taught PMS is a natural part of having your monthly cycle, but the truth is, PMS isn’t something women should struggle with. Your first instinct might be to reach for painkillers, but pay attention first to what’s happening and how often.

　　作为一个年轻的女人，你可能已经学到PMS是你月经周期中自然的一部分，但事实是，PMS不是女人应该努力斗争的东西。你的第一反应可能是吃止痛药，但要注意先发生了什么以及其频率。

　　PMS can happen anytime between ovulation and menses and can be a source of real emotional and physical suffering for many women. Symptoms can including mood swings, bloating, headaches, and fatigue. Not to mention cravings.

　　PMS可以发生在排卵和月经中间的任何时间，对许多妇女来说可以是真正情感和身体的痛苦经历。其症状包括情绪不稳、腹胀、头痛、疲劳。更不用说渴望了。

　　Making some changes to your food/drink during this time will help. Look for foods high in magnesium, calcium, and B vitamins. Extreme PMS can be a symptom of emotional imbalance, which can lead to other health issues.

　　在这段时间内，对你的食物/饮料做出一些改变会有帮助。寻找高镁，钙，和维生素的食物。极端的PMS可以导致情绪失调症状，而这又可能导致其它的健康问题。

　　5) Notice the frequency

　　注意频率

　　Of course if you’re not on birth control and suddenly miss your period, the first thing you want to check is if you’re pregnant. If that’s a big no, then, keep in mind the absence or frequency of your cycle can tell you a lot about your health. The absence of your cycle can be called secondary amenorrhea, when it happens for six months or more. Furthermore, this is often seen in obese women, or incredibly lean women (less than 13% body fat). Excessive exercise for long periods of time can cause this also. If none of those factors fit, then keep in mind it could be an over-active thyroid or even a brain tumor.

　　当然，如果你没有避孕或是突然错过你的月经经期，你要检查的第一件事是就是你是否怀孕了。如果不是的话，那么，记住你月经期间的情况或频率可以告诉你很多关于你的健康。你的月经周期缺失可以被称为继发性闭经，发生六个月或以上。此外，这会经常在肥胖妇女身上或很瘦的女性（小于13%的身体脂肪）身上看到。长时间的过度运动也会导致这一情况。如果这些因素都不合适，那么请记住，它可能是一种过度活跃的甲状腺甚至是脑肿瘤。

　　On the flip side, super short cycles—bleeding more than once in a 28 day cycle—can indicate a possibly sluggish thyroid. If you’re cycle is three days or less, then it could indicate a shortage of estrogen in the body.

　　另一方面，超短的月经周期—28天周期内不止出现一次会显示这可能是缓慢的甲状腺症状。如果你的周期是三天或更少，那么它可以表明体内雌激素的缺乏。

　　Whatever may be happening with your cycle, keep in mind, your monthly flux can be a very strong indicator of your health. Instead of hating your cycle, use it to keep yourself in the best health ever.

　　无论你的月经周期有可能发生什么，记住，你的月经流量会是表征你健康的一个很好的指标。不要憎恨你的月经，用它来一直保持你的健康。