India, May 28 -- This World Menstrual Hygiene Day, doctors are calling attention to an often overlooked struggle during India's extreme summer: managing periods in peak heat. As the country faces a brutal heatwave with temperatures touching 47degC in northern cities like Delhi, most conversations are centred around dehydration and heat exhaustion. But for many women, dealing with periods in extreme heat is another challenge. Heat does not just make you sweat; it can also make periods feel far more intense. Dr Geeta Jain, HOD of Gynaecology at Maccure Hospital, explains, "Extreme heat can make periods feel more exhausting, as hormonal changes already affect the body's temperature regulation. For women with PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome), heat can worsen fatigue, mood swings and water retention even further." Dehydration can also make cramps feel sharper and more painful. "When the body lacks fluids, blood circulation becomes less efficient, muscle tension increases, and the body becomes more sensitive to pain," says Dr Jain. She adds that heat stress and poor sleep may also temporarily affect ovulation and menstrual timing, sometimes leading to early, delayed or skipped cycles....