*This post contains mature content about women’s health, sex, and pregnancy. If you are under 18, please consult with a parent before proceeding. I am not a medical professional, just a girl with a computer who did some research online. Consult your actual medical professional before you do anything in relation to your health.
My daughter took high school health this year and, like we all remember, it was lacking in actual information. Especially information about how things actually work or how to take care of our bodies. Women’s bodies have, historically, been a mystery no one really wants to look into. After midwives (usually female) were generally replaced with OB/GYN’s (mainly male), a lot of information about the miracles, inner workings, and strength of a woman’s body got buried. No one wanted to talk about it. And, I get it, sometimes it’s hard to talk about periods and sex and everything that comes with it.
But ladies, we grow tiny human beings.
And then we give birth to them.
And that’s freaking amazing.
So, I decided to learn more and supplement her health lessons in a way that was positive about the female body and actually informative. And I learned some things.
We really are more awesome than we know.
So, here are 12 things most women don’t know about their health. (For more info on reproductive health or how to teach your high schooler, see my full lesson plans here)
1. The menstrual cycle of women has four phases, not one
The Menstrual Phase
The menstrual phase is the first part of the cycle, starting at day one of bleeding. This allows uterine lining to shed, leading to bleeding for 3-7 days (typically). It can include cramps, mood swings, bloating, and fatigue. In this stage, estrogen and progesterone levels drop. During this time, women need slightly elevated levels of sleep and calories, and many women use heat pads, hot water bottles, Tylenol, rest, and OTC medications to treat symptoms.
The Follicular Phase
The follicular phase starts during menstruation and continues until ovulation. During this phase, the ovaries are stimulated via hormones to develop follicles, containing immature eggs, the uterine lining thickens, and women often feel an increase of energy. This is a great time to push a little bit on workouts, get some extra projects done, or just do something fun that takes a little more energy.
The Ovulation Phase
During the ovulation phase (typically near day 14), the body releases a mature egg from the ovary, as it is ready to be fertilized by sperm. Women often notice changes in cervical mucus and libido (desire to have sex) during this time and may experience some abdominal pain. This egg can typically be fertilized for 12-24 hours after release. Testosterone (yes, women have it, too) is usually at its highest during this stage.
The Luteal Phase
The luteal phase occurs between the end of ovulation and the beginning of menstruation. During this time, the uterine lining is maintained by the release of progesterone, allowing for a fertilized egg to implant into the uterus. If no egg is implanted, estrogen and progesterone levels fall and preparation begins for menstruation. During this phase, many women experience fatigue, breast tenderness, bloating, and mood swings as their body prepares for menstruation (PMS).
Though many women are taught about periods and what happens during them, few understand all four phases and what they do to our energy, desire, diet, sleep cycles, and mood. We often compare ourselves to the men in our lives, who have a 24-hour hormone cycle. However, women’s hormone cycle is an average of 28 days, leaving us feeling different every week of the month. Understanding the importance of hormones and how each type of hormone affects us can help us plan for and accept the fact that we were never meant to feel or act the same way every day of the month.
2. Very few species of mammals have a period
In fact, only 1.5% of mammalian species menstruate. Humans, primates, a few types of bats, and a very cute shrew. That’s it. That’s the list. Evolutionary-wise, menstruation is a waste of resources and energy and makes females more likely to catch the attention of predators. Building the thick, large lining in the uterus and preparing eggs for fertilization uses a lot of nutrition and energy, so most mammals don’t do this until after implantation has occurred. They simply reabsorb what is created and skip menstruation altogether. Humans, though, create this lining every month and shed it if a pregnancy doesn’t happen during that cycle. (Source)
3. Periods have health benefits
Periods are the body’s way of flushing out materials that are no longer needed and may contain aspects that are unsafe to a woman’s body. They allow for the production of new blood cells, reduce the chances of infection, flush out eggs and embryos unfit for pregnancy, and reduce the chances of cancer. Periods also help regulate the production of certain hormones, aiding in processes and strengthening health throughout the body. Hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are important for more than just reproduction, they affect every aspect of your health. Though some religions teach that periods are a punishment for woman’s unrighteousness, periods are a method your body uses to protect you and prepare the best environment for any future offspring.
4. Regular checkups are Important
I know, I know. A visit to the gynecologist is not a pleasant experience. And truthfully, I’ve been avoiding it, too. But these checkups allow women the chance to learn more about themselves, doctors a chance to check for anything serious, and can help with family planning, questions about health issues, and even a better sex life.
That said, some doctors take advantage of the vulnerability and lack of knowledge most women have so it’s important to understand what a normal visit should look like, how often you should go, and what you can do to keep yourself safe. I say this as a woman who knew nothing about these visits, didn’t go until I was already pregnant, and was sexually assaulted without knowing it by my doctor (who is finally facing trail after hundreds of accusations).
What is an OB/GYN
An obstetrician (OB) is a doctor who delivers babies. A gynecologist (GYN) is a doctor that specializes in the women’s reproductive system. Many times a doctor will be an OB/GYN, meaning they do both
When Should I Go?
Girls should first visit a GYN between the ages of 13-18, or when they first become sexually active, and then yearly after their first visit. A GYN will talk to you about menstrual health, sexual history, sexual health, puberty, and general health. If you a pregnant, an OB will go over the same information and check both mom and baby.
What Happens During a Visit?
A visit generally includes discussion of medical history and/or any concerns and a physical exam. An OB/GYN can also discuss your mental/emotional state, contraceptives, cramps, acne, weight, sex, and STI/STD’s.
The physical exam is intrusive and includes a pelvic exam, a pap smear (every 3 years), and a breast exam. These exams require the doctor to touch each of these areas and a pap smear requires them to take a sample from inside the vagina. The pelvic exam includes looking at the vulva, vagina, and cervix, the insertion of a speculum (a tool used to spread everything open down there), and a gloved hand inserted into the vagina to check internal organs. The breast exam includes a visual inspection and open-handed touching to feel for lumps (breast cancer).
During an OB or GYN visit, you should always have another person in the room beyond you and the doctor. This protects you and the doctor from inappropriate actions or accusations. The extra person should be someone you are comfortable with (e.g. parent, spouse, nurse). If no extra person is there when the physical exam begins, you have every right to request a nurse. Bonus points if your support person is educated on what should happen at these appointments.
You also have every right to tell the doctor to stop the exam at any time, say no to any testing, or change doctors to someone you are more comfortable with. Your support person can also act as an advocate and ensure that your wishes are respected by standing up for you if needed.
What Else Should I Know
During unrelated procedures which require anesthesia (for example, surgery), there is a common practice for doctors and medical students to perform unneeded pelvic exams while the woman is under. This allows students to practice the procedure. However, you have to consent to this. Usually, the consent is hidden in the intake forms. However, women always have the option not to consent to this invasive, unnecessary procedure. If unsure, ask the intake receptionist.
You should also check for breast lumps yourself once a month and report any changes you notice to your doctor (see here for how to do this). After the age of 40, mammograms are also recommended. During this test, the breast is placed in a machine that takes images of the inside to check for lumps and possible cancer cells.
Finally, it is very important to have clear communication with and trust your OB/GYN. Research your doctor before you go to see what other women are saying, discuss the exam and what to expect with a woman you trust, and report any unprofessional comments or actions as soon as possible. Most doctors want to help people, but given the venerable state this appointment puts a patient in, some will use it for sexual abuse. Knowing what to expect, having a trusted person with you at all times, asking questions, and trusting your gut can help prepare and protect you from abuse.
5. Birth control has risks, too
Though many people use hormonal contraceptives to prevent pregnancies, treat intense cramps, or even control acne, it’s important to understand the risks of any pills, shots, patches, or IUD’s before putting them into or on your body. (Source)
STD’s/STI’s
Most hormonal birth control makes you more susceptible to STD’s and STI’s. While this is not fully understood, many people believe that it is a mixture of changes to the vaginal microflora (the natural bacteria and microorganisms that protect you), lack of condom use, and increase in sexual activity that causes this increase in illness.
Hormones
Birth control pills, mini pills, shots, patches, IUDs, and rings rely on hormonal treatment and control to suppress the reproductive cycle. This can interrupt the body’s natural hormones and cycles, even those outside of the reproductive system. Since the idea of controlling or suppressing hormones is relatively new, we really have no idea what this does to the body. However, we do know that hormones are important for brain health, bone health, sexual development, metabolism, emotional health, and the immune system. These hormones also affect sleep cycles, stress response, muscle mass, energy levels, and the way our body functions overall.
Birth control can cause side effects like mood swings, unnatural hormone cycles, difficulty getting pregnant later, weight gain, mental and emotional health issues (can cause depression), migraines, blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and stroke.
Birth control can also affect the safety of future pregnancies as hormone cycles are affected for years after stopping treatment. Stopping the pill doesn’t immediately let your body take control again. It takes time to recover from altered hormones.
Stalled Cycle
Birth control pills must be taken every day at the same time to be effective and can still fail. Some allow a week of placebo pills, which allows your body to have a false period. Rather than actually shedding the uterine lining, this is simply breakthrough bleeding and does not allow your body to go through the normal cycle. Instead, the pills control your hormones synthetically and prevent ovulation and/or implantation of fertilized eggs. Others do not allow any bleeding while you are taking them. IUDs, shots, and patches stop your period from happening, which does not allow your body to expel eggs/shed lining/create new blood cells.
What else?
Emergency contraception (Plan B) and many birth control pills force your body to be inhospitable to a fertilized egg and flush it out. If an egg is fertilized and these methods are used, the baby created is effectively aborted before implantation.
IUD’s can fail or come out. Rarely, they can also travel through your body and implant in places they are not supposed to be. Many women say they are very painful to place and few doctors prescribe any painkillers, especially in the US.
No birth control is 100% effective even when everything goes right.
6. Sex can change your body at a cellular level
Chemical Bonding
Sex creates an emotional and physical bond by releasing chemicals meant to keep couples together and support a child. This is especially true in women, who create higher levels of oxytocin than men. Sex is a bonding activity between couples, as well as a way to produce offspring. After sex, women’s bodies release dopamine, which makes them happy. During an orgasm, women’s bodies release oxytocin, which chemically creates the ability to bond to a partner, as well as dopamine and endorphins. (Source)
Women’s bodies also release oxytocin shortly after birth and during breastfeeding. In fact, it is an essential part of lactation. This helps a mother bond with her baby and creates feelings of empathy, love, and closeness with both baby and the father of the baby. This is a part of evolution that helps ensure that the family unit stays together to give the baby a better chance at survival. In fact, one of the greatest indicators for the success of a child is the stable and loving marriage of their parents.
Hormonal birth control can affect the level of oxytocin (and thereby the ability of a mother to bond with her baby or partner) in a woman’s body.
DNA Micorchimerism
When a woman is pregnant, the baby releases stem cells to help protect the mother’s health. It also leaves a part of its DNA behind, meaning a mother carries the DNA of her child and the child’s father for life.
During sex, seminal fluid is ejaculated from the male into the female. This fluid carries sperm, which fertilize the egg. Sperm carry the father’s DNA. If an egg is fertilized, implants, and grows into a child, the mother is carrying a baby that is a mixture of her DNA and the father’s DNA. She is connected to this child through the umbilical cord or placenta, which transfers blood between mother and child until birth. The baby’s stem cells can transfer and implant themselves in the mother’s body, leaving baby’s (and, in a way, dad’s) DNA behind even after the child is born. In fact, there are documented cases in which the baby has sent stem cells to the mother in when she is in distress (e.g. cancer) and healed the mother, thus ensuring the survival of both of them. This microchimerism is well documented and, while it doesn’t occur in every pregnancy, it does in the majority of them, even if the baby miscarries, is aborted, or is still born. Women literally carry a part of their children their whole lives. (Source)
DNA and fetal cells present in the mother from previous pregnancies may also affect future pregnancies and how siblings develop. (Source)
Gene Expression Alterations
In addition to carrying her child’s DNA, women are also affected at a genetic level simply by seminal fluid being present. Semen carries hormones, proteins, and other materials that actually affect the woman’s body, even if pregnancy does not occur. Semen can alter gene expression in a woman, turning on or off certain parts of her working cells. It can affect her hormones, immune response, how the cells in the vagina function, stress response, and brain function. While this response is usually temporary, it can affect pregnancy, immune response, and how the body remembers those materials in the future. (Source)
Finally, the theory of telegony states that the offspring of a woman may inherit genetics from previous sexual partners, even if those partners are not the genetic father of the offspring. While widely criticized, studies have shown a version of this to be true, at least in some species. A study done in 2014 bred a type of fruit fly to a larger male. The next breeding was to a smaller male, but the offspring from this breeding showed the genetic traits (larger size) of the first male. The conclusion was that the immature eggs in the female absorbed seminal fluid from the first male, which resulted in non-genetic inheritance. The first male influenced the gene expression of future offspring of the female, though he was not the genetic father. (Source)
7. Women are supposed to like sex, but most men aren’t good at it
Ok, before everyone loses their minds and starts a battle between the sexes, hear me out.
Research shows that there is an orgasm gap. Research. Not just women complaining at the hair dresser. (Source)
Straight men reported orgasms 95% of the time while straight women reported only 65%.
Here’s the crazy part though….in lesbian women, that rate jumped to 86%.
And while orgasms don’t have to be the end-goal of sex with a partner….they sure help.
Actually, they help scientifically. After an orgasm, women are calmer, sleep better, feel closer to their partner, have lower blood pressure, and reduced stress levels.
So, what’s the problem?
Well, most of us don’t understand the female reproductive anatomy or system of arousal. What we learn about sex is either very mechanical (like school lessons) or not centered on the pleasure of women. So much so, that we are just now, in 2026, getting doctors to realize that the cervix has nerves and can feel pain, the clitoris is really important if you want a woman to be happy, and guys, we need more than two minutes.
So, in doing research, I found out that the average straight sexual encounter lasts 5-6 minutes.
I know that may not be a surprise to many women.
But it was to me.
Research shows that women need a minimum of 15 minutes (and an average between 15-30 min) for the clitoris to become fully aroused and capable of a strong orgasm.
And while we are on the subject, very few women can orgasm without clitoral stimulation.
So, guys, learn your partner’s body parts and gain some stamina. Because if you make her happy, she will be more willing to be made happy in the future.
Girls, speak up and let them know what you need.
It really takes a lot of communication, and teamwork, to get to a point where you are both comfortable and satisfied.
8. The clitoris is real, important, and has SO MANY nerve endings
9. Menopause is NOT the end
I feel like millennials have really been fed this lie about menopause. That it’s the end of a woman being useful and the beginning of her “crazy” stage of life.
I mean, if it means I can buy a cottage in the woods and be a witch- bring it on.
But really, not a lot of research has been done on this front. Like….at all.
It’s really one of those things that the medical field doesn’t fully understand and so, we end up just treating symptoms, often with hormone replacement therapy.
We know that a woman’s hormones change during menopause, which is defined at 12 consecutive months without a period. The ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone. We know that those hormone changes cause symptoms like mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness, and brain fog. We also know that these changes can affect heart, bone, and urinary health.
We even know now that menopause starts with perimenopause, during which some of these symptoms, and irregular periods, begin. Perimenopause can last for years as the body builds up to menopause. Menopause usually lasts about a year, though symptoms can linger after, and then women are post-menopausal.
We also know that many symptoms are driven by bad sleep, and improving sleep can help balance out a woman’s mental state (who knew, right?), and overall health as she goes through hormonal changes.
But…there have also been some interesting new research on this phase of a woman’s life.
Menopause Misinformation
I feel like a lot of things could be solved quicker if people just….asked women.
Especially when the thing to be solved involves women’s health.
We’ve probably all heard that menopause includes a reduced libido.
But, in this article, it is suggested that a lack of knowledge about sex and women’s pleasure (see above) is actually what is happening.
In fact, research now suggest that a woman’s primary sexual pleasure organ, the clitoris, continues to grow throughout menopause.
And while hormonal and health changes may bring temporary libido issues, menopause doesn’t end sex or a woman’s pleasure. Bad sex does.
The Grandma Hypothesis
Another lie that I feel like a lot of millennials picked up was that menopause means a woman is near death.
Ok, that may be a little dramatic.
But, there’s definitely a feeling that older women who have raised their children and are done with that phase, have little to do in life.
However, in most species of mammals, it’s true. Females don’t live very long once their reproductive purposes have been fulfilled and the processes in their bodies for it have shut down.
They just die.
So, why don’t humans die after they hit menopause?
What evolutionary purpose does living on provide?
The Grandma Hypothesis states that most women live decades after menopause because they are still very much needed for the survival of the species.
Grandmas know things. They have a brain full of life experiences, skills, and problem-solving skills that their children and grandchildren can learn from.
They are skilled in childcare, which allows them to support their adult children as they become parents themselves.
How many times have you called your mom asking for advice?
For help with childcare?
For a recipe?
Or to ask how to adult?
Research shows that having a grandmother increases grandchild survival rates and provides support for new mothers, allowing them to reproduce earlier than normal and more often.
It also shows something we all know, grandmas can cook. Child nutrition is better in children who have a grandma around than those who don’t.
Menopause is simply a new phase in life. Your children still need you. Their children still need you. And the world can benefit from the things you have learned as you’ve gone through the phases we are still trying to survive.
It takes a village to raise a child and keep society functioning. And that village isn’t supposed to be a bunch of paid strangers. It’s supposed to be our own families.
10. Most of the world, including the medical world, was made for men
While I’m still learning about all the ways that this fact affects women’s lives, here a few examples. If you are interested in learning more about this subject read Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez.
Ladies, do you ever feel like the world wasn’t made for you? You’re too small, too clumsy, or everything is just a little bit awkward?
That’s because the things around you were likely designed for a man.
Things like car seat belts, phone sizes, masks, gloves, tools, work supplies, and furniture were designed around the male body. Not the female, which is, on average, smaller.
Importantly, this is also true of many of our medical practices. When men became the primary physicians, social boundaries barred them from researching, testing, or learning more about women’s bodies.
The stethoscope was invented because a male doctor didn’t want to get too close to a woman’s breast. CPR is less often performed on women for the same reason.
Medication doses and side effects, heart attack symptoms, dietary recommendations…all based on men because research wasn’t done on women. Studies on mental and developmental issues were done on boys, rather than girls, meaning that most symptoms we look for aren’t present in female and they are underdiagnosed and undertreated.
It also means that medical issues that only applied to women were understudied and misunderstood for longer than they should have been. Issues with the female reproductive system (e.g. endometriosis), pregnancy, and delivery are just now finally getting the research they deserve.
11. Women go to the doctor more, but it takes longer to get diagnosed
While we are on the topic of doctors, did you know that on average, women go to the doctor more often and for longer time periods than men before a diagnosis is reached? Even when symptoms are the same, men are treated more quickly because women are still fighting to find a reason they feel awful. (Source)
Or that it takes an average of 7-10 years to be diagnosed with endo, an extremely painful condition that affects women every month?
And while some of this stems from the fact that many of the symptoms and diagnostic tools we use are designed for men, any woman you ask can tell you the biggest problem.
Doctors don’t take women seriously.
In a U.K. study, 50% said they were dismissed or ignored because of their sex.
64% said they were told their symptoms were normal or they were imagining them.
And 68% of women said they didn’t feel that their health was taken seriously. (Source)
I am a medical child. I grew up in hospitals, have serious medical conditions, and have children who have serious medical conditions. I’ve spend more time around doctors than most.
And I’ve noticed that doctors tend to assume I am exaggerating my symptoms. They dismiss my concerns, refusing to test for the things I think might be wrong. If my husband goes with me, they focus on him rather than me. And they speak over me, using jargon they think I don’t understand, and don’t do that with my husband. I’ve had them hold me down for invasive procedures I did not consent to, laugh in my face when I told them I was worried about a specific condition, tell me I was feeling no pain when I was in tears and unable to move, and tell me that a serious knee injury was just a bruise. I’ve gone in for one condition that was making it impossible to get through a normal day and been asked when my last pap smear was, rather than had them focus on the actual issue, because he didn’t feel it was important. I’ve been sexually assaulted by doctors, verbally and physically dismissed, and I’ve had to fight, sometimes for months at a time, for any kind of testing.
Not all doctors.
But most.
So, I’ve learned to never to go a medical appointment alone. I take someone who is just as willing to tell them where they can shove their ideas as I am. I speak up and ask for things to be noted in my records. I switch doctors when they are dismissive. I research and learn about conditions and ask questions. I don’t sign consent forms until I am comfortable and I read those things like I was signing my life away, because I am. And I know for a fact that I’ve been labeled aggressive and resistant to treatment (that was never actually offered)
12. You need more water and sleep- but not 8 glasses a day
I feel like the world has finally decided to take hydration seriously. Gone are the days when teachers taught us to drink from the germ-infested water fountain as our peers said, “1, 2, 3, that’s enough for me.”
We all carry water with us everywhere.
The problem is, many of us don’t actually know how much we should be drinking or what the symptoms of dehydration actually are.
How Much?
We’ve all heard the 8-glasses a day advice, and many of us know by now that study was done on military men in harsh conditions which, naturally, would require more water than the average day-to-day work us regular people do.
The new recommendation is that women need 11.5 cups of water per day. Levels increase when there are physical labor, pregnancy, or medical conditions involved.
Tracking that and making sure it gets done, though, is a whole different story.
While many people have reusable water bottles, most of us don’t know how much water fits in there. Measuring out, making a plan, and sticking to it is the best way to make sure you are getting the right amount of water. Adding flavors (I like lemonade) can add calories and sugar but can encourage increase water intake. For chronically dehydrated people like me, the trade-off is worth it.
Dehydration
Dehydration is a serious medical condition that I don’t think we know enough about. While many of us know to check the color of our pee (pale is good, dark is bad), dehydration can cause a myriad of other, more ignored symptoms.
Headache, fatigue, dizziness, dry skin, difficulty concentrating, muscle cramps, weakness, confusion, low blood pressure, and general grumpiness can all be indications that your body needs more water.
The serious side of dehydration is that not having enough water makes your blood harder to move around, putting a strain on your heart and denying your organs vital blood flow. While your kidneys often feel it first (enter dark urine), dehydration puts stress on your heart, your brain, your digestion, your muscles, and your immune system.
Sleep
While most of us don’t get enough sleep, women tend to get even less overall. Between hormonal phases and being overwhelmingly responsible for childcare, women just don’t sleep the way they need to. In fact, most women need more sleep than men, especially deep REM sleep.
The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep, and women tend to need 10-20 minutes more sleep per night than men. During menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, and illness, women need even more sleep.
However, the amount of sleep needed can vary from person to person. If you are glued to your coffee or Dr. Pepper all day, feel sleepy, fall asleep quickly if you hold still, sleep extra on the weekends and feel better afterwards, or have difficulty concentrating throughout the day, you likely need to adjust your sleep schedule to get more sleep.
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about how amazing the female body is and what you can do to take care of it. For more info about what our bodies can do during pregnancy and birth, read my post 8 MORE Things Most Women Don’t Know About Their Health: Pregnancy Edition, here.