MENSTRUAL CYCLE 101

Here’s everything you need to know about your cycle, written in clear, factual and understandable language.

A 🧵 1. Although 28 days is considered the average cycle length, most women naturally have cycles that range from 21-35 days and that’s completely normal.

In the same way, normal periods can last 3-7 days, and not just the commonly assumed 5 days.

IF CIPROFOXACIN HAD FEELINGS,..it would be exhausted by now.

Typhoid? Give me Cipro
UTI? Cipro please
Back pain? Do you have Cipro?

I get it. It’s popular and “strong”, however when it is abused, everyone pays the price.

Here’s what so many people do not know 👇🏻 WHAT IS CIPROFLOXACIN?

Ciprofloxacin is a potent prescription only antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone class.

It works by stopping bacteria from multiplying, but not just any bacteria; specific bacteria.

It only works when it is indicated for that specific purpose.

It is not for general infection 📌

Amina is 9.

She woke up in the middle of the night to pee and saw her bedsheet stained with blood.

Terrified, she ran to her mum who’s a doctor.

Her mum hugged her and calmed her fears, but she was worried.

Because in their family, fibroids run deep.

Will Amina develop fibroids? So many people do not know that early onset of menstruation is a risk factor for fibroid growth.

This is because fibroids are fueled by estrogen and progesterone, and the earlier the exposure to these hormones, the greater the likelihood of developing fibroids.

MODERN TOOLS TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST STIs

The beauty of modern medicine is, it has given us a lot of alternatives.

Ignorance should no longer be an excuse to have a sexually transmitted infection.

What are those tools?
Let’s bridge the gap 👇🏼 1. PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis)

PrEP is a daily and on-demand medication that protects you before HIV exposure.

Basically, it prepares your immune system for battle.

Who’s eligible for PrEP?
- Those with an HIV-positive partner
- Sex workers
- People who inject drugs
- Those with multiple partners.

5 SILENT SIGNS OF INSULIN RESISTANCE

Insulin resistance is the underlying cause of so many chronic health conditions, notably type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Most people do not know they’re insulin resistant, until complications arise.

What signs do you watch out for? 1. Post meal crashes

You eat, feel a burst of energy, then crash into fatigue or brain fog some hours later.

- This happens because your insulin spikes but cells are not responding properly to it.

ARE YOU A MOUTH BREATHER OR A NOSE BREATHER?

Most people don’t know they breathe through their mouths.

Mouth breathing might not seem like a big deal, but it can cause serious facial and health complications if left unchecked.

6 signs that show you’re a mouth breather 👇🏼 WHAT IS MOUTH BREATHING?

Mouth breathing is a situation where a person consistently breathes in and out through the mouth instead of the nose.

It is normal for short periods of time e.g during intense exercise, but it becomes a problem when it’s a default sleeping pattern especially at rest.

10 REASONS FOR RECURRENT VAGINAL YEAST INFECTION

While most women would experience a yeast infection at least once in their lifetime, some experience repeated episodes.

If you experience 4 or more episodes of yeast infection yearly, this thread is for you. 👇🏼 A vaginal yeast infection, also called vulvovaginal candidiasis, is a common condition caused by an overgrowth of Candida.

Candida is a type of fungus that naturally lives in small amounts in the vagina

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Growing up, I had a friend whose mum had rheumatoid arthritis.

He would describe her pain like a living thing, and I genuinely got interested in the condition.

Why do people develop rheumatoid arthritis?
Can it be cured?

A thread 🧵 What is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?

RA is not “just joint pain.”

It’s an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the joints.

The lining of the joints (synovium) gets inflamed which leads to swelling, pain and progressive joint damage if untreated.

Unlike osteoarthritis, RA can also affect the eyes, lungs, heart & even skin.

GASTRO-ESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE

If you constantly have symptoms like heartburn, regurgitation or throat irritation, you need to listen up.

Antacids are just painkillers, they do not address the root problem.

How do you identify the root cause and what can you do about it? WHAT IS GERD?

GERD is a chronic condition where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus (the food pipe).

How does this happen?

Your esophagus is in charge of carrying food from your mouth to your stomach.

At the end of that pipe is a sphincter - a muscular valve that opens to let food in, and closes back to keep it in.

BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

So many men start to worry about their prostate gland when their urination pattern changes.

What does this mean?
Do I have cancer?
Can I have a good quality of life regardless?

Let’s answer all the questions you might have, and clear up some myths First, what is BPH?

The prostate gland is a walnut-sized organ below your bladder, wrapped around your urethra (the tube that carries urine out).

In Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, the gland enlarges with age — not because of cancer, but due to hormonal changes (especially the effect of dihydrotestosterone or DHT).

The bigger it gets, the more it squeezes your urethra, making urination harder.

GENITAL WARTS VS GENITAL HERPES

In just one week, I’ve seen the same mistake from both patients and some prescribers.

The mix-up between drugs given for warts and herpes

This can lead to inefficient treatment, wasted money and risk of spread.

What’s the difference? WHAT IS GENITAL HERPES?

Genital herpes is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), mostly type 2 (HSV-2), but HSV-1 can also cause it through oral-genital contact.

Once contracted, herpes stay in your body for life.

How do they appear?

They appear as painful, fluid filled blisters that can burst, crust over and healed.

They also appear in clusters or groups.

Some of their symptoms include:
- Burning, tingling or itching before sores appear
- Pain during urination
- Swollen lymph nodes in the groin region.

ARE BIRTH CONTROL PILLS SAFE?

There’s been a lot of talk about birth control pills.

“It causes infertility”
“It gives you cancer”
“You’ll gain uncontrollable weight”

These statements are just half truths mixed with fear and misunderstanding.

Here’s everything to know 👇🏼 WHAT ARE BIRTH CONTROL PILLS?

Birth control pills are oral contraceptives that are taken everyday to prevent pregnancy.

They contain man-made versions of the female hormones, and can be:

- Estrogen + Progestin (Combined pills)
- Just Progestin (Mini pills)

B-COMPLEX VITAMINS

Today at work, my colleague couldn’t stop talking about B-CO.

According to her, any time she has a sore throat, mouth sores, or just feels run down, she pops a B-CO tablet and feels like a brand new person the next day.

That caught my attention. So I thought to talk about it👇🏼 What is B-CO or B-Complex?

B-Complex vitamins are a group of 8 essential water-soluble vitamins that play key roles in the body.

They serve for energy production, nerve health, red blood cell formation, and skin repair.

HORMONES 101

Your hormones control EVERYTHING.

From your mood, metabolism, menstrual cycle, energy, sleep, skin to your vitality and libido.

Hormonal imbalance is a major, but often overlooked cause of many health issues in both men and women.

Let’s break it down 👇🏼 WHAT ARE HORMONES?

Hormones are chemical messengers released by glands in your body.

Their job is to control and coordinate key functions in your body, e.g reproduction, sleep, emotions, blood sugar and stress.

Basically, they keep your body system running smoothly.

HOW TO GER READY FOR MENOPAUSE

Menopause is a natural biological transition every woman goes through.

It is not an illness, however it comes with certain life changes you need to be prepared for.

What are those changes?
How do you prepare ahead of time? 👇🏼 Menopause is the permanent end of menstruation.

It’s officially diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a period, marking the end of reproduction.

It’s a normal part of aging — not a sign of illness — but it can bring about major shifts in your body, mind, and emotions due to changing hormone levels.

5 SAFER WAYS TO RELIEVE CONSTIPATION

Constipation is a signal that something’s not right.

If you experience it often, you need to slow down a bit and listen to your body.

Here’re 5 ways to say goodbye to constipation for good.

🔑 You have to be consistent. 1. Hydrate Aggressively

Constipation often starts with dehydration.
- Aim for 2–3 liters of water daily
- Add warm water + a slice of lemon first thing in the morning
- Limit caffeine & alcohol (they dry you out!)

Why? Water softens stool and stimulates bowel movements naturally.

EVERYTHING CAN BE TRACED BACK TO INSULIN RESISTANCE

- Type 2 diabetes?
- Cardiovascular disease?
- Erectile dysfunction?
- PCOS?

Everything can be traced back to insulin resistance.

What exactly is this concept?

Let’s talk about it 👇🏼 WHAT IS INSULIN RESISTANCE?

Let’s imagine your body is a house and insulin is the key that opens the doors to let sugar (glucose) into your rooms (cells), where it’s used for energy.

In insulin resistance, your house suddenly stops recognizing the key.

Even though insulin is there, the doors don’t open properly anymore.

POSTINOR-2: THE EFFECTS OF ABUSE

Postinor-2 is still one of the most popular, and most abused drugs out there.

And the problem?
Most people don’t understand the consequences until their cycle becomes a mess.

Let’s get informed👇🏼 WHAT IS POSTINOR-2?

Postinor-2 is an emergency contraceptive pill.

It contains a high dose of levonorgestrel, which is a synthetic hormone that delays or stops ovulation.

Its job is simple:
Prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.

Key word: EMERGENCY
It was designed for rare, unexpected situations—not routine use.

YES, YOUR PERIOD IS LATE.
NO, IT’S NOT ALWAYS PREGNANCY.

For many women, their heart skips when they have a late period.

Could they be pregnant?

Here’s the truth: Pregnancy is not the only reason your period can go missing.

5 other reasons your period is late..and more 👇🏼 1. STRESS

Your brain is the boss of your cycle, as it’s in charge of secreting hormones.

When you’re emotionally, physically, or mentally stressed, your brain may delay or skip ovulation. No ovulation = no period.

This is your body’s ancient survival response:
“If she’s stressed, it’s not safe to reproduce—shut it down.”

What to do:
Try stress-reducing routines—deep sleep, light exercise, journaling, or therapy.

Once your cortisol settles, your period often returns.

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

IBS feels like having diarrhea one day, and being constipated the next.

It feels like being bloated after every meal, or having constant stomach pain.

It is one of the most under diagnosed conditions, but it is real.

Here’s everything you need to know WHAT IS IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME?

IBS is a disorder of the movement and sensitivity of the nerves of the intestines.

It is a miscommunication between the gut and brain, which causes your digestive system to become overly sensitive and react to foods, stress and hormones.

Point to note: IBS can only be identified by the symptoms since there’re no structural abnormalities found when any form of test is carried out.

However, it is a real condition.

THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE EXPLAINED.

Every month, your body goes through the same process over and over again starting from adolescence till menopause.

This process is totally out of your control, as nature bids it to be.

However, knowing about it is powerful and helps inform your decisions.

Are you curious yet? Let’s get into it As a woman, your body naturally primes you to get pregnant and that’s what the menstrual cycle is all about.

During the cycle, your ovaries and uterus go through changes simultaneously but we’re going to simplify that.

Your cycle is divided into four phases:

- Menstrual Phase
- Follicular phase
- Ovulation
- Luteal/secretory phase.

These phases translate into one another as the hormones in charge of them rises or falls.