Being a woman is not just about flair, glamour, curves and femininity. As you may know, part of the package includes bearing with a number of discomforts to balance all those perks. This page lists the three most common discomforts. Read on.

• MENSTRUATION. More commonly known as your “period,” menstruation is a process wherein your uterine lining or wall sheds itself off. This process is always accompanied by vaginal bleeding. Unless you are pregnant and unless you have an irregular schedule, menstrual cycles occur every 28 days or roughly once a month.

Very few women are lucky enough to brave through this monthly ordeal without experiencing mood swings and uterine cramps (also known as dysmenorrhea). Another very small number may be affected by amenorrhea, the absence of a menstrual cycle, which – if left untreated and uncorrected – may lead to difficulties in conceiving children.

• URINARY TRACT INFECTION. Urinary tract infection is an infection caused by bacteria or micro-organisms and can range from a simple inflammation of the tract to more complicated kidney infections. Yes, the cause is generally referred to as “poor hygiene” but please do not blush with shame when you are diagnosed to have one. In fact, the condition is more common to women than men because a female's urinary tract is much shorter than a male's, thereby allowing the micro-organisms a shorter time and a quicker route to infect the tract.

Urinating fully, wiping dry with soft tissue, and changing liners and pads regularly helps minimize the onset of UTI-causing bacteria. If you are plagued with UTI and the standard hygienic protocol is not enough, you may have to take antibiotics which your physician will prescribe for you.

• OSTEOPOROSIS. According to experts, bones are not static. Bones can build up and grow strong, but bones can also wear away and weaken. With osteoporosis, what happens is that the bones wear away at a faster rate than the buildup rate can cope with, so that what result are weaker bones and a greater propensity for fractures. Although you may notice the drastic changes a few years after delivering your first baby or at the onset of your menopause, be warned that osteoporosis is a silent disease that can attack when you are still at the peak of your health.

Poor and insufficient intake of calcium is one of the most obvious reasons. Another is inactivity; experts suggest that intake alone is not enough. For your bones to really absorb calcium, you must engage in an active lifestyle and indulge in regular exercise. Vices such as smoking and drinking alcohol are also contributing factors.

Being a woman is no bed of roses, but it's no bed of thorns either. Whether you are plagued with menstrual discomfort, urinary tract infection or osteoporosis, do not think that the world has just ended. These inconveniences may be part of your womanhood, but dwell in the positive thought that you can always do something about them.