---
title: "Period, pregnancy and menopause guides: Ruva Learn"
description: "Plain-language guides to periods, PCOS, sexual health, contraception, fertility, pregnancy, life after a birth and menopause, each with its sources."
url: "https://myruva.co/learn"
language: "en-GB"
---

# Guides for keeping a record you can actually use.

Plain-language guides to periods, sexual health, contraception, fertility, pregnancy, life after a birth and menopause. Each one lists the sources it draws on.

Written by the Ruva team from the sources listed in each guide. Looking for a quick answer? Try the common questions page.

## [Getting started](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/getting-started)

What to write down first, how a tracker turns your dates into an estimate, and what to check before you trust an app with any of it.

- [Getting started with cycle tracking](https://myruva.co/learn/getting-started-with-cycle-tracking): Start a useful cycle record with dates, a few everyday notes and room for gaps. Keep it simple so tracking never turns into one more job.
- [How do period trackers predict periods?](https://myruva.co/learn/how-period-trackers-predict-your-period): How period apps turn your past dates into estimates, why they can miss, and how to read a predicted window without treating it as a promise.
- [Period tracker privacy: what to check](https://myruva.co/learn/period-tracker-privacy-what-to-check): A simple checklist for period tracker privacy: storage, sharing, analytics, deletion, phone access, and the questions to ask Ruva.

## [Your cycle](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/your-cycle)

Cycle length, what can shift it, and how to tell the difference between a pattern in your records and a prediction about next month.

- [Can stress delay your period? Sleep and exercise](https://myruva.co/learn/stress-sleep-exercise-and-your-cycle): What the evidence says about how stress, sleep and exercise affect your cycle, what low energy availability means, and when to get a missed period checked.
- [For teens: seeing a doctor about periods, contraception or sexual health](https://myruva.co/learn/seeing-a-doctor-as-a-teen-periods-contraception-and-confidentiality): When a period problem is worth an appointment, where to go, what a first visit involves and how confidentiality works for teens in the UK and US.
- [How long is a normal menstrual cycle?](https://myruva.co/learn/how-long-is-a-normal-menstrual-cycle): How to count your cycle, how the NHS and ACOG ranges compare, and when a short, long or changing cycle is worth raising with your GP.
- [Irregular cycles: what to log and when to ask](https://myruva.co/learn/irregular-cycles-what-to-log-and-when-to-ask): How to keep a useful record when your period dates vary, describe changes clearly and know when to get routine or urgent care.
- [Irregular periods: causes and when to see a doctor](https://myruva.co/learn/irregular-periods-causes-and-when-to-see-a-doctor): Common causes of irregular periods, from contraception to thyroid problems, with clear advice on when to see a GP or get urgent help.
- [Period products, safe use and help with cost](https://myruva.co/learn/period-products-and-period-poverty): Compare pads, tampons, cups, discs and period pants, spot symptoms that need urgent care, and find help getting period products.
- [Periods after stopping the pill and other methods](https://myruva.co/learn/periods-after-stopping-hormonal-contraception): What to expect after you stop the pill, patch, ring, implant, hormonal coil or injection, when fertility returns, and when to see a GP.
- [Recorded patterns vs predictions](https://myruva.co/learn/recorded-patterns-vs-predictions): How an entry, a pattern and an estimate differ, with a worked example and simple ways to read your own record without reading too much into it.
- [The hormones behind your cycle](https://myruva.co/learn/hormones-of-the-menstrual-cycle): What oestrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH do, why cycle timing varies, and what the evidence says about cycle-syncing claims.
- [Vulva and vagina: a plain guide](https://myruva.co/learn/vulva-and-vagina-a-plain-guide): The names for the outside and inside parts, how appearance varies, gentle care, and which changes are worth getting checked.

## [Symptoms](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/symptoms)

What is common, what needs a GP appointment, and what needs help straight away. Each guide lists the warning signs clearly.

- [Adenomyosis](https://myruva.co/learn/adenomyosis): How adenomyosis affects the womb, what scans can show, and the treatment choices for pain and heavy bleeding. Includes when to get help, with UK and US notes.
- [Bleeding disorders and heavy periods](https://myruva.co/learn/bleeding-disorders-and-heavy-periods): When heavy periods may point to a clotting problem, which other signs matter, and how to ask about specialist tests. Includes when to get help.
- [Endometriosis symptoms and keeping a symptom diary](https://myruva.co/learn/endometriosis-symptoms-and-keeping-a-symptom-diary): How to spot possible endometriosis symptoms, how it is diagnosed, and how to keep useful notes about pain and daily life for an appointment.
- [Endometriosis: getting diagnosed and choosing treatment](https://myruva.co/learn/endometriosis-diagnosis-and-treatment): What examinations, scans and keyhole surgery can tell you, how treatment is chosen, and where fertility care fits in. Includes when to get help.
- [Fibroids](https://myruva.co/learn/fibroids): What fibroids can cause, how treatment is chosen, and what to talk about when it comes to pregnancy and menopause. Fibroids often shrink after menopause.
- [Heavy periods: how much bleeding is too much?](https://myruva.co/learn/heavy-periods-how-much-is-too-much): Signs of heavy periods, possible causes, anaemia symptoms, what a GP may check, and when fast bleeding or feeling faint needs help.
- [Iron deficiency and anaemia](https://myruva.co/learn/iron-deficiency-and-anaemia): How low iron can affect you, why heavy periods matter, what blood tests check, and how food and treatment can help. Includes when to get help.
- [Is period pain normal? When to get help](https://myruva.co/learn/period-pain-whats-normal): Some period cramps are common, but severe pain needs care. Find out what may help, and when to see a GP or get urgent help.
- [Managing PMS and PMDD](https://myruva.co/learn/managing-pms-and-pmdd): Practical treatment choices for PMS and PMDD, from everyday support and CBT to medicines, specialist care and crisis help.
- [Ovarian cysts](https://myruva.co/learn/ovarian-cysts): Why ovarian cysts form, when they need watching or treating, and which kinds of pain need urgent help. Functional cysts form as part of the menstrual cycle.
- [PMS vs PMDD: symptoms and getting help](https://myruva.co/learn/pms-vs-pmdd): How PMS and PMDD differ, how PMDD is diagnosed, what may help, and where to get urgent mental health support if you need it.
- [Spotting between periods: causes and when to get help](https://myruva.co/learn/spotting-between-periods): What spotting between periods can mean, how it differs from a period, what to tell your GP, and which symptoms need urgent help.
- [When periods stop: amenorrhoea](https://myruva.co/learn/absent-periods-amenorrhoea): Why periods can stop, when to take a pregnancy test, when to get advice, and what a clinician may check. Includes when to get help, with UK and US notes.

## [PCOS](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/pcos)

Plain guides built on the 2023 international PCOS guideline: diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, fertility and looking after your health over the years.

- [How PCOS is diagnosed](https://myruva.co/learn/how-pcos-is-diagnosed): How symptoms, blood tests and scans fit together to diagnose PCOS, and why the checks are different for teenagers. No single test can diagnose PCOS.
- [Living with PCOS: food, movement and weight](https://myruva.co/learn/pcos-lifestyle-food-and-movement): What the evidence says about food and activity with PCOS, and support that respects your body, choices and situation. Includes when to get help.
- [PCOS treatment options](https://myruva.co/learn/pcos-treatment-options): How hormone treatments, metformin and other options fit different PCOS goals, and the limits of the evidence on inositol.
- [PCOS, fertility and pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/pcos-fertility-and-pregnancy): Options if you have trouble ovulating, planning a pregnancy, and the extra checks recommended in pregnancy with PCOS. Includes when to get help.
- [PCOS: changes to periods, skin and hair](https://myruva.co/learn/pcos-skin-hair-and-cycles): Why PCOS can affect periods, acne and hair growth, which treatments may help, and when to ask to be checked. Includes when to get help, with UK and US notes.
- [PCOS: long-term health and emotional wellbeing](https://myruva.co/learn/pcos-long-term-health-and-wellbeing): The checks recommended for diabetes, heart health and the womb lining, plus support with sleep, mood and eating problems.
- [What PCOS is, and why its name has changed](https://myruva.co/learn/what-is-pcos): What PCOS means, its new name PMOS, common symptoms, and why care goes beyond periods and fertility. Having PCOS doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant.

## [Hormones](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/hormones)

How hormones beyond the cycle itself can change your periods, and what blood tests can and can’t tell you.

- [High prolactin (hyperprolactinaemia)](https://myruva.co/learn/high-prolactin-hyperprolactinaemia): What high prolactin can mean for your periods, why medicines matter, and which headache or eyesight changes need urgent help.
- [Hormone blood tests: what they can and cannot tell you](https://myruva.co/learn/hormone-blood-tests-explained): What common hormone tests look for, why timing matters, and why an AMH result can’t forecast your future fertility. Includes when to get help.
- [Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)](https://myruva.co/learn/premature-ovarian-insufficiency): POI before 40: symptoms, tests, hormone treatment, bone and heart health, fertility options and emotional support. Includes when to get help.
- [Thyroid conditions and your cycle](https://myruva.co/learn/thyroid-and-your-cycle): How thyroid conditions can affect periods, fertility and pregnancy, and why symptoms after giving birth are worth checking.
- [Weight, eating and your cycle](https://myruva.co/learn/weight-eating-and-your-cycle): How food and weight changes can affect periods, why eating problems deserve care at any size, and where to find support.
- [When training affects your periods: RED-S](https://myruva.co/learn/red-s-low-energy-availability-and-periods): How not eating enough for your training can affect periods, bones and performance, and how to get support with food and rest.
- [Can stress delay your period? Sleep and exercise](https://myruva.co/learn/stress-sleep-exercise-and-your-cycle): What the evidence says about how stress, sleep and exercise affect your cycle, what low energy availability means, and when to get a missed period checked.

## [Sexual health](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/sexual-health)

Common infections and how they’re treated, where to get tested, screening, and the parts of sex that are worth talking about with a clinician.

- [Bacterial vaginosis (BV)](https://myruva.co/learn/bacterial-vaginosis): Changes in discharge, treatment and BV coming back, including advice in pregnancy and changing advice on treating partners.
- [Cervical screening](https://myruva.co/learn/cervical-screening): What screening checks, the latest England and US timings, testing yourself at home, and ways to make an appointment easier.
- [Common STIs: symptoms and treatment](https://myruva.co/learn/stis-symptoms-and-treatment): A plain guide to common STI symptoms and types of treatment, including infections with no symptoms and pelvic pain that needs urgent care.
- [Consent and healthy relationships](https://myruva.co/learn/consent-and-healthy-relationships): What freely given consent looks like, how control can affect choices about sex and pregnancy, and how to find support safely.
- [Cystitis and urinary tract infections](https://myruva.co/learn/utis-and-cystitis): Spot possible signs of a UTI, find the right care, and understand the warning signs of a kidney infection and what helps prevent UTIs.
- [HIV: testing, PrEP and PEP](https://myruva.co/learn/hiv-prevention-prep-and-pep): Testing, what undetectable means, ongoing protection with PrEP, and urgent help if you may have been exposed to HIV. Includes when to get help.
- [HPV and the HPV vaccine](https://myruva.co/learn/hpv-and-the-hpv-vaccine): How HPV spreads, what the vaccine prevents, and how vaccine programmes differ between countries. Having the vaccine doesn’t replace cervical screening.
- [Itchy or sore vulval skin: common conditions](https://myruva.co/learn/vulval-skin-conditions): How irritation, lichen sclerosus, lichen planus and vulval pain differ, and which skin changes need an appointment. Includes when to get help.
- [Low libido and changes in desire](https://myruva.co/learn/low-libido-and-changes-in-desire): Why desire can change, how desire can grow once things start, and when to ask about medicines, pain or other worries. Includes when to get help.
- [Pain during sex](https://myruva.co/learn/pain-during-sex): Possible causes of painful sex, what a check involves, and how treatment, including pelvic physiotherapy, may help. Includes when to get help.
- [Sexual health for LGBTQ+ people](https://myruva.co/learn/lgbtq-inclusive-sexual-health): Screening, STI care and contraception based on your body and the sex you have, with practical ways to ask for inclusive care.
- [STI testing: where to go and what happens](https://myruva.co/learn/sti-testing-what-to-expect): What happens at an STI appointment, how samples are taken, and how privacy, home kits and follow-up work. You can need an STI test even if you have no symptoms.
- [Vaginal discharge: what changes through the cycle and when to get it checked](https://myruva.co/learn/vaginal-discharge-through-the-cycle): How discharge shifts through the cycle, in pregnancy, after birth and later in life, and which changes in smell, colour or feel are worth a check.
- [Vaginal thrush](https://myruva.co/learn/thrush): What thrush can feel like, when treatment from a pharmacy is right, and why pregnancy or thrush that keeps coming back needs a clinician.

## [Contraception](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/contraception)

Every method side by side, what to do when a pill is missed or late, and where to get emergency contraception. Ruva’s estimates are never contraception.

- [A late ring, patch or injection: what to do](https://myruva.co/learn/late-or-forgotten-ring-patch-or-injection): What to do if your ring came out, your patch came off or your injection is late, why it matters when, and when to ask about emergency contraception.
- [Bleeding on hormonal contraception: withdrawal bleeds, spotting and no bleeding](https://myruva.co/learn/bleeding-on-hormonal-contraception): Why the bleed in a pill, patch or ring break differs from a period, what each method tends to do to bleeding, and what a clinician checks first.
- [Coils: the copper IUD and hormonal IUS](https://myruva.co/learn/iud-and-ius): Compare copper and hormonal coils, how they are fitted, how long they last, bleeding changes and when to get the threads checked.
- [Condoms and other barrier methods](https://myruva.co/learn/condoms-and-other-barrier-methods): How external and internal condoms, diaphragms and caps work, with practical advice on lubricant, latex and where to get help.
- [Contraception methods compared](https://myruva.co/learn/contraception-methods-compared): Compare hormones, how well each method works and STI protection, with UK and US figures kept separate. Includes when to get help, with UK and US notes.
- [Emergency contraception: your options](https://myruva.co/learn/emergency-contraception-options): Compare the copper IUD and emergency pills, when to get help, how medicines can affect them, and when to test for pregnancy.
- [Missed or late pills](https://myruva.co/learn/missed-pills-and-what-to-do): Find the right help after a missed pill, and why your pill type, place in the pack, vomiting and diarrhoea all matter. Includes when to get help.
- [Natural family planning and fertility awareness](https://myruva.co/learn/fertility-awareness-methods): What fertility awareness involves, why you need training, how well it works, and why a period app is not contraception. Includes when to get help.
- [Sterilisation and vasectomy](https://myruva.co/learn/sterilisation-and-vasectomy): How permanent contraception works, what to talk about before surgery, and why a vasectomy needs a follow-up test. Neither procedure protects against STIs.
- [Switching or stopping contraception](https://myruva.co/learn/switching-or-stopping-contraception): Plan a change of contraception, cover any gaps between methods, and talk about fertility returning, bleeding and symptoms.
- [The combined pill, patch and ring](https://myruva.co/learn/combined-pill-patch-and-ring): How combined contraception works, who may need a different option, and which symptoms need urgent care. You still need condoms for protection against STIs.
- [The implant and the injection](https://myruva.co/learn/implant-and-injection): Compare how long the implant and injection last, bleeding changes, bone health and how soon fertility returns after each.
- [The progestogen-only pill](https://myruva.co/learn/progestogen-only-pill): Learn about the types of mini pill, their different rules for late pills, changes to bleeding, and using it while breastfeeding.
- [Periods after stopping the pill and other methods](https://myruva.co/learn/periods-after-stopping-hormonal-contraception): What to expect after you stop the pill, patch, ring, implant, hormonal coil or injection, when fertility returns, and when to see a GP.

## [Fertility](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/fertility)

How the fertile window works, what tracking can and can’t show, when to ask for help, and support when things don’t go to plan.

- [After a miscarriage: recovery, your first period and trying again](https://myruva.co/learn/after-a-miscarriage-recovery-first-period-and-trying-again): How bleeding settles after an early miscarriage, when your period may return, contraception, and what UK and US sources say about trying again.
- [Ectopic pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/ectopic-pregnancy): Symptoms that need urgent care, how ectopic pregnancy is checked and treated, and support with recovery and future pregnancy.
- [Fertility and age](https://myruva.co/learn/fertility-and-age): How age affects eggs and sperm, what fertility figures can tell you, and why egg freezing can’t promise a future pregnancy.
- [Getting ready for pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/preconception-health): Folic acid, vaccines, medicines and everyday health: what to check before pregnancy, with UK and US advice explained. Includes when to get help.
- [Home pregnancy tests: when to test, faint lines and unclear results](https://myruva.co/learn/home-pregnancy-tests-when-and-how): When a home test gives a reliable answer, how to get a clear result, what a faint line or negative result can mean, and when to get help.
- [IVF, IUI and egg freezing: the basics](https://myruva.co/learn/ivf-iui-and-egg-freezing-basics): Compare the main fertility treatments, what they involve, costs and funding, donor options, and questions to ask a clinic.
- [Looking after yourself while trying to conceive](https://myruva.co/learn/coping-with-trying-to-conceive): Practical ways to make room for life, relationships and support while trying for a baby, without blaming yourself for stress.
- [Miscarriage: signs, care and support](https://myruva.co/learn/miscarriage): What miscarriage can look like, when to get urgent help, care options, and support for you and anyone close to you. Includes when to get help.
- [Recurrent miscarriage](https://myruva.co/learn/recurrent-miscarriage): How UK and US definitions differ, what tests may be offered, and where to find care and support after more than one loss.
- [Signs of ovulation and what they can tell you](https://myruva.co/learn/signs-of-ovulation): How cervical mucus, LH tests, temperature and ovulation pain can hint at ovulation, what each one can't tell you, and when to get help.
- [Sperm health and male fertility](https://myruva.co/learn/sperm-health): What affects sperm, why testosterone treatment needs a talk about fertility, and what to expect from a semen test. Includes when to get help.
- [Tracking ovulation: temperature and LH tests](https://myruva.co/learn/tracking-ovulation-bbt-and-lh-tests): What temperature charts and LH tests can tell you, where they fall short, and when to ask for help instead of tracking more.
- [Trying to conceive: when to get help](https://myruva.co/learn/trying-to-conceive-when-to-get-help): When to ask for fertility advice, how UK and US timings differ, and what a first fertility check may involve. Includes when to get help, with UK and US notes.
- [What a fertility window estimate can and can't tell you](https://myruva.co/learn/what-a-fertility-window-estimate-can-and-cant-tell-you): What an estimated fertile window can and can't tell you, and how it differs from a temperature reading, a test result or a prediction.
- [What is the fertile window?](https://myruva.co/learn/what-is-the-fertile-window): The fertile window includes days before ovulation. How long eggs and sperm survive, why the dates vary, and when to ask for advice.

## [Pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/pregnancy)

What usually happens at each stage, what’s safe to eat and take, and which symptoms mean calling your midwife or maternity unit now.

- [After a positive test: the first weeks](https://myruva.co/learn/first-weeks-of-pregnancy): How to arrange your pregnancy care, get ready for your first appointment, and get help with early symptoms. Includes when to get help, with UK and US notes.
- [Alcohol, smoking and caffeine in pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/alcohol-smoking-and-caffeine-in-pregnancy): Clear advice on alcohol, smoking, vaping and caffeine, with practical support and how UK and US guidance differs. Includes when to get help.
- [Antenatal care: what’s usually offered](https://myruva.co/learn/antenatal-care-by-region): Compare NHS appointments, US prenatal care planned around you and WHO contacts, with ways to plan visits and get help in between.
- [Common pregnancy discomforts](https://myruva.co/learn/common-pregnancy-discomforts): Practical help for heartburn, constipation, piles, aches, cramps, swelling and sleep, and signs that you need care soon.
- [Food safety in pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/food-safety-in-pregnancy): Which foods need care, why preparing them properly matters, and how UK and US advice differs for cheese, meat, eggs and fish.
- [Gestational diabetes](https://myruva.co/learn/gestational-diabetes): Who is offered a test, how gestational diabetes is managed, and the follow-up checks to arrange after the birth. Gestational diabetes often has no symptoms.
- [Going past your due date and induction of labour](https://myruva.co/learn/going-past-your-due-date-and-induction): What going past 40 weeks means, when induction is offered in the UK and US, how it's done, how it can feel and what you can choose.
- [Infections in pregnancy that can affect your baby, including group B strep](https://myruva.co/learn/infections-in-pregnancy-including-group-b-strep): How group B strep testing differs between the UK and US, signs of infection in a newborn, and which infections to tell your midwife about early.
- [Labour: signs, stages and when to call](https://myruva.co/learn/labour-signs-stages-and-when-to-call): Spot possible signs of labour, understand the stages, and know when to call your maternity team without waiting for a timing rule.
- [Medicines in pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/medicines-in-pregnancy): How to go through your medicines with a pharmacist or doctor, including the different advice on paracetamol and acetaminophen.
- [Mental health in pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/mental-health-in-pregnancy): Depression, anxiety and fear of giving birth: what support can look like, reviewing medicines, and where to get urgent help.
- [Planning for birth: choices to think about](https://myruva.co/learn/birth-planning-choices): Think about where to give birth, pain relief, support, and decisions about induction or a caesarean, while leaving room for change.
- [Pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure in pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/pre-eclampsia): Why blood pressure and urine checks matter, symptoms that need urgent help, and care during pregnancy and after birth. Includes when to get help.
- [Pregnancy and work: your rights in the UK and US](https://myruva.co/learn/pregnancy-and-work-rights): General information, not legal advice: antenatal appointments, changes at work, maternity leave, pay and US protections.
- [Pregnancy scans and screening tests](https://myruva.co/learn/scans-and-screening-tests): What scans, blood screening and diagnostic tests look for, how UK and US offers differ, and the choices you can make. Scans can’t find every health condition.
- [Pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum](https://myruva.co/learn/nausea-and-hyperemesis-gravidarum): What can help with sickness in pregnancy, how severe sickness is treated, and when to get help for dehydration. Includes when to get help, with UK and US notes.
- [Pregnancy symptoms that need help](https://myruva.co/learn/pregnancy-warning-signs): Which symptoms need emergency help, a call to your maternity team now, or advice today, with UK, US and local contacts. Includes when to get help.
- [Staying active in pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/exercise-in-pregnancy): How to adapt exercise during pregnancy, which activities to avoid, and the warning signs that mean stop and get help. Includes when to get help.
- [Stillbirth and losing a baby later in pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/stillbirth-and-later-pregnancy-loss): When a baby dies later in pregnancy: the birth, time with your baby, tests, your body afterwards, paperwork, grief and where to find support.
- [Unplanned pregnancy: your options](https://myruva.co/learn/unplanned-pregnancy-your-options): Continuing a pregnancy, adoption or abortion: practical next steps, how access differs by place, and questions about privacy.
- [Vaccines in pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/vaccines-in-pregnancy): Whooping cough, flu, RSV and COVID advice by region, including recent changes and questions to ask your maternity team. Includes when to get help.
- [Vitamins and supplements in pregnancy](https://myruva.co/learn/vitamins-and-supplements-in-pregnancy): Folic acid, vitamin D, iron and iodine: what the advice says, how it differs by country, and what to check on the label.
- [Your baby’s movements](https://myruva.co/learn/baby-movements): Getting to know your baby’s pattern of movements, why a change needs a call straight away, and how UK and US advice on counting differs.

## [After a birth](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/postpartum)

The first weeks and months after a birth: how bodies heal, feeding without judgement, sleep, mood, and the symptoms that need help straight away.

- [After a birth: symptoms that need help](https://myruva.co/learn/postpartum-warning-signs): When bleeding, fever, chest pain, headaches or changes in mental health after birth need urgent or emergency care. Includes when to get help.
- [After a difficult or frightening birth](https://myruva.co/learn/difficult-birth-and-birth-trauma): Common reactions after a frightening birth, how lasting distress differs from baby blues, what talking services offer, and which treatments help.
- [Baby blues, postnatal depression and postpartum psychosis](https://myruva.co/learn/baby-blues-postnatal-depression-and-psychosis): How baby blues, depression and psychosis differ after a birth, with clear ways to get treatment and urgent support. Includes when to get help.
- [Breastfeeding problems and getting help](https://myruva.co/learn/breastfeeding-problems): Help with painful feeds, swollen breasts, mastitis and tongue-tie, and when to check medicines with a pharmacist. Includes when to get help.
- [Contraception after a birth](https://myruva.co/learn/contraception-after-birth): When fertility can come back, contraception options while breastfeeding, and the rules for using breastfeeding as contraception.
- [Feeding your baby: breast, formula or both](https://myruva.co/learn/feeding-your-baby-breast-formula-or-both): Practical support for breastfeeding, formula and mixed feeding, with safe preparation and UK and US advice on vitamin D.
- [Getting active again after birth](https://myruva.co/learn/returning-to-exercise-after-birth): How to get moving again slowly, with advice on pelvic floor recovery, a gap in the tummy muscles and getting back to running.
- [Perineal tears and stitches: healing](https://myruva.co/learn/perineal-tears-and-stitches): A plain guide to the degrees of tear, caring for stitches, signs of infection, and getting help with pain or bowel control.
- [Recovering from a caesarean](https://myruva.co/learn/caesarean-recovery): Wound care, gentle movement, lifting and driving after a caesarean, with clear signs that you need to get help. Includes when to get help, with UK and US notes.
- [Safer sleep for your baby](https://myruva.co/learn/safer-sleep-for-your-baby): How to set up every sleep to lower the risk of SIDS, what UK and US advice says about bed sharing, and when to get help fast.
- [Sex and relationships after a birth](https://myruva.co/learn/sex-and-relationships-after-birth): Getting close again at your own pace, getting help for dryness or pain, and talking about support and contraception. Includes when to get help.
- [Sleep and tiredness after a birth](https://myruva.co/learn/sleep-and-tiredness-after-birth): Practical ways to share the nights and get rest, safer sleep for your baby, and when tiredness needs a medical check. Includes when to get help.
- [When your periods come back after a baby](https://myruva.co/learn/periods-after-having-a-baby): When periods tend to return after a birth, how feeding changes the timing, telling lochia from a period, and why pregnancy can come first.
- [Your body in the first weeks after birth](https://myruva.co/learn/first-weeks-after-birth-recovery): What to expect from bleeding, cramps, breasts and going to the toilet after birth, and when to get checked. Includes when to get help, with UK and US notes.
- [Your pelvic floor after birth](https://myruva.co/learn/pelvic-floor-after-birth): How pelvic floor exercises can help after birth, how to do them gently, and when to ask to see a physiotherapist. Includes when to get help.

## [Life stages](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/life-stages)

Periods change most at the start and towards the end. These guides cover what to expect and which changes are worth checking.

- [First period: a guide for teens and families](https://myruva.co/learn/first-periods-a-guide-for-teens-and-parents): What to expect from your first period, how a parent or carer can help, and when to see a GP or get urgent medical advice.
- [No period yet: when a first period is late](https://myruva.co/learn/late-first-period-and-delayed-puberty): When to ask about a first period that hasn’t come, why the ages for a check differ, and what a puberty check may involve.
- [Perimenopause periods: changes and care](https://myruva.co/learn/perimenopause-and-period-changes): How periods can change in perimenopause, which bleeding to get checked, when you still need contraception, and how to get support.
- [Puberty: what changes and when](https://myruva.co/learn/puberty-what-changes-and-when): Breast buds, growth, discharge and changing skin. What can happen before a first period, and when to ask for help. Breast buds can feel tender and grow slowly.

## [Menopause](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/menopause)

What changes, what helps, and how UK and US guidance differ, including HRT, other treatments, and which symptoms always need checking.

- [Bleeding after menopause](https://myruva.co/learn/bleeding-after-menopause): Why even a little bleeding after menopause needs checking, what the checks may involve, and how HRT changes things. Includes when to get help.
- [Contraception in perimenopause](https://myruva.co/learn/contraception-in-perimenopause): You can still get pregnant in perimenopause. Compare UK and US advice on stopping, choosing a method and using it with HRT.
- [Heart health after menopause](https://myruva.co/learn/heart-health-and-menopause): How heart risk changes around menopause, which checks to ask about, and why HRT is a separate decision from preventing heart disease.
- [HRT: types, benefits and risks](https://myruva.co/learn/hrt-benefits-risks-and-types): How types of HRT and ways of taking it differ, what HRT can help with, and how UK advice on risk compares with recent US label changes.
- [Menopause and work](https://myruva.co/learn/menopause-and-work): Practical ways to ask for changes at work, talk about symptoms, and understand the main UK and US protections. Includes when to get help, with UK and US notes.
- [Non-hormonal options for menopause symptoms](https://myruva.co/learn/non-hormonal-treatments-for-menopause): CBT, fezolinetant, elinzanetant and other options for menopause symptoms, with safety checks for medicines and cautions on herbal remedies.
- [Perimenopause symptoms beyond periods](https://myruva.co/learn/perimenopause-symptoms): How perimenopause can affect sleep, mood, joints and your bladder, what to write down, and when to get help. Includes when to get help, with UK and US notes.
- [Perimenopause, menopause and after: the stages](https://myruva.co/learn/menopause-stages-explained): What the stages of menopause mean, how age and medical treatment affect them, and why missed periods alone can’t tell you.
- [Starting HRT: what to expect in the first months](https://myruva.co/learn/starting-hrt-the-first-months): Which side effects and bleeding are common early on HRT, what the 3-month review is for, and which bleeding to get checked sooner.
- [Vaginal dryness and genitourinary symptoms](https://myruva.co/learn/vaginal-dryness-and-gsm): How menopause can affect comfort in the vagina and when you pee, what treatments can help, and when to get symptoms checked.
- [Weight and body changes in perimenopause](https://myruva.co/learn/weight-and-body-changes-in-perimenopause): Why your middle can change in perimenopause, what's known about HRT and weight, and why strength and steady eating help more than strict diets.
- [What the NICE menopause guideline says](https://myruva.co/learn/nice-menopause-guideline-what-it-says): A plain guide to NICE advice on diagnosis, CBT, the risks of HRT and fezolinetant, with the main UK and US differences. Includes when to get help.
- [Perimenopause periods: changes and care](https://myruva.co/learn/perimenopause-and-period-changes): How periods can change in perimenopause, which bleeding to get checked, when you still need contraception, and how to get support.

## [Wellbeing](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/wellbeing)

Everyday and long-term health topics that matter at any age, with what UK and US guidelines suggest and when to see a GP.

- [Alcohol, smoking and vaping](https://myruva.co/learn/alcohol-smoking-and-vaping): Current UK and US advice on alcohol, the link with breast cancer, how vaping advice differs, and where to get help to cut down or quit.
- [Autoimmune conditions and why sex matters](https://myruva.co/learn/autoimmune-conditions-and-sex-differences): Why many autoimmune diseases affect more women, how lupus, thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis differ, and planning a pregnancy.
- [Bone health at every age](https://myruva.co/learn/bone-health): How food, movement and hormones affect your bones, what osteoporosis is, and when it’s worth asking about a bone density scan.
- [Breast awareness and screening](https://myruva.co/learn/breast-awareness-and-screening): Know which breast changes to get checked, how UK and US screening plans differ, and what dense breasts and family history mean.
- [Breast pain and other breast changes that are usually not cancer](https://myruva.co/learn/breast-pain-and-benign-breast-changes): Why breasts get sore before a period or on hormones, what cysts and fibroadenomas are, what helps, and which changes still need checking.
- [Eating well: the basics](https://myruva.co/learn/nutrition-basics): A practical guide to food groups, fibre, iron and calcium, and how current UK and US advice differs. You can balance food groups over a day or a week.
- [Heart health: symptoms and risks to know](https://myruva.co/learn/heart-health): Spot the warning signs of a heart attack, understand risks linked to past pregnancies, and know when to call for emergency help.
- [Mental health and your cycle](https://myruva.co/learn/mental-health-and-your-cycle): What to write down when a mental health condition you already have gets worse around your period, how to talk about it, and where to get urgent help.
- [Migraine and hormones](https://myruva.co/learn/migraine-and-hormones): How periods, pregnancy and menopause can affect migraine, why aura matters for contraception, and which symptoms need urgent help.
- [Moving more: what the guidelines say](https://myruva.co/learn/movement-and-exercise-guidelines): What counts as activity, how advice on aerobic exercise and strength fits together, and how to make a start you can manage.
- [Skin and hair changes linked to hormones](https://myruva.co/learn/skin-and-hair-changes-and-hormones): Acne, darker patches in pregnancy, and hair shedding or thinning: what can change, what may help, and when to get care. Includes when to get help.
- [Sleep: what helps](https://myruva.co/learn/sleep-basics): How much sleep you need, practical habits, treatment for insomnia that won’t go away, and breathing signs that need a medical check.
- [Your pelvic floor at every age](https://myruva.co/learn/pelvic-floor-at-every-age): Leaks, a heavy feeling and pelvic floor exercises: what to look out for, why relaxing matters, and how to ask for specialist help.

## [Appointments](https://myruva.co/learn/topics/appointments)

Getting the most from a short appointment: what to bring, what to say first, and how to describe symptoms in your own words.

- [Preparing notes for a healthcare appointment](https://myruva.co/learn/preparing-notes-for-a-healthcare-appointment): Make a short, useful note for a GP or clinic appointment: the changes you've noticed, the dates that matter and the questions you want to ask.