I lost my period for six years. After being on hormonal birth control for 10 years, I decided to give my body a break and let her return to her natural rhythm — but to my surprise, my period never returned. (I discuss more of my hormone journey here.)

I’m happy to report that after six years, my period finally returned last January and I’ve had a happy and healthy period consistently ever since. (Woo hoo!)

Some of you may be thinking losing your period for six years would be the greatest thing ever — but really, it’s not. There are benefits of having a period. Heck, there are even benefits of menstrual blood. 

This is why each and every month when I get cramps, cravings, and even feel extra tired in my workouts, I know my period is on its way and I get so happy because I’m so grateful for it. When I see that first drop of blood, I’m absolutely thrilled and literally repeat to myself, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

If you’re someone who dreads your period every month (including those period poops), you may want to change the narrative you’re telling yourself and flip that script to something more positive — because having your period freaking rocks, IMHO. Hear me out on all the benefits of having a period below.

Period benefits

1. Confirms your brain and body are communicating properly

Your monthly menstrual cycle is a coordinated conversation between various parts of the body. It’s a very delicate dance between your brain and the body, specifically the brain and the ovaries of the reproductive system.

Two regions of the brain, the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, are the key players in this convo — and they also just so happened to be connected to the adrenal glands, gut, and thyroid. 

When one of these systems is disrupted, they can all become disrupted. One of the first indicators of a miscommunication somewhere in the body is usually an irregular or missing period. Disrupted signaling along any one of these channels can not just affect reproductive health but overall health as well.

2. Creates self-awareness and better wellness

It’s taken me years to finally lean into my monthly cycles. Well, now that I have a consistent cycle, that really helps — but when I track my cycles (whether using an app or just a good old-fashioned calendar), I’ve learned that in the week leading up to my period I need things like more rest, more sleep, and yes, even more of certain foods. (Give me all of the dark chocolate and red meat because hello, iron.)

In the past, I would have days where I would drive myself crazy wondering why I had almost no energy and why I wanted nothing for dinner except dark chocolate — but when I finally started paying attention to my monthly cycles, I learned how to honor my body and work with it instead of constantly fighting against it.

The benefits of having a period can include things as innocuous as creating more self-awareness and better wellness in your life. Now, as I work with my monthly cycles, I no longer feel like a mad woman — instead, I know what I need and honor it as opposed to denying it and making my life worse.

3. Helps you determine your hormone health

One of the benefits of having a period is that it helps you know whether or not your hormones are balanced. “Menstruation is part of the hormonal feedback system that regulates the menstrual cycle, and regular menstruation helps to maintain a healthy hormonal balance,” remarks Michael Green, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn at Winona.

If your period runs like clockwork each month — somewhere between 21-36 days, with a similar flow each month — then that’s a good indicator your reproductive health and hormonal balance of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are in good shape.

A consistent monthly period also signals that the reproductive system is working correctly, shares Green. “A regular menstrual cycle indicates that the reproductive system is functioning properly, which can be reassuring for women trying to conceive,” he says.

4. Indicates good bone health

Period benefits also include bone health. A regular menstrual cycle can indicate good bone health as estrogen levels are closely linked to this. Green explains that estrogen helps regulate bone metabolism, and low estrogen is sometimes associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis.

However, the relationship between menstruation and bone health is complex, and other factors, such as diet and physical activity, also play essential roles in maintaining bone health. So Green says you should take steps to protect your bone health, regardless of your menstrual status.

5. Prevents certain types of cancers

The benefits of having a period also include the prevention of endometrial cancer and a reduced risk of ovarian cancer. “Regular shedding of the endometrial lining during menstruation can help to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer, and it can also reduce the risk of ovarian cancer,” shares Green.

Some studies have even shown that people who have more menstrual cycles in their lifetime have a lower risk of ovarian cancer.

6. Signals your body is in homeostasis

Speaking of hormone health, one of the other benefits of having a period is that it shows your body is in homeostasis. As defined by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), homeostasis is the process by which the human body strives to maintain a relatively stable equilibrium.

Regular menstruation tells you that your body is in homeostasis, which is a good thing. We all want our bodies to feel stable — and when they’re feeling out of balance from being under constant stress, our periods and reproductive health are one of the first things to be affected.

It may be frustrating if you’re someone like me who has longed to have a healthy cycle for so many years — but when you live with irregular periods that are all over the board and erratic, it’s actually a pretty ingenious way for our bodies to signal to us that something is off.

If our bodies don’t feel safe enough to create another life form, our reproductive system is going to hit the pause button and say, “Okay wait, we can barely take care of ourselves let alone another person, so we’re going to walk it back a bit and shut that system down in order to get your attention so you can get yourself back on track.”

When you think about it like that, it’s actually a pretty neat way our bodies tell us something is off and we need to be taking better care of ourselves.

7. You can plan activities better

The first day of your monthly cycle is counted as day one, and during the first half of your cycle, your body is in the follicular phase. This is when your body is firing on all cylinders, which is why things like HIIT workouts may seem effortless in the first half of your monthly cycle. Learn how to work out for each week of your cycle.

However, once ovulation hits, you may enjoy a few days of feeling extra frisky (hello masturbation, sex toys, and all of the sexy time with your partner). But after that, the luteal phase may have you signing up for a week or two of gentle yoga — and that is A-OK.

This is why one of the other benefits of having a period is that it can be a great marker in your month to help you better plan activities like sex and workouts to honor where your body and hormones are at each week of your cycle.

Other benefits of having a period

• It’s an awesome way to bond with friends. It may even be the catalyst for making new friends. (Oh hey there, got a period product I can use?)
• It’s the ultimate excuse for an early night in at home complete with self-care.
• It tells you that you’re not pregnant, which is a wonderful reminder if you don’t want to have children now or ever. 

Are there any benefits of menstrual blood?

What about menstrual blood? While menstrual blood itself doesn’t offer any specific health benefits, Green says the presence of menstrual blood can be a useful diagnostic tool for healthcare providers.

“Changes in color, menstrual blood flow, and texture can all indicate various health issues, including certain types of cancer, hormonal imbalances, and infections,” he explains.

Why you should be grateful for your period

Having a period each month may seem like a total drag — but in all reality, it provides a plethora of benefits. Period benefits are numerous, from better self-awareness to brain function to hormone health, so the next time you get your period, be grateful for it! It’s a blessing.