Ounce for ounce?

[corrvin]

Random web search for "average menstrual flow ounces" produced the following numbers:

2.5 ounces. From National Women's Health Resource Center (caveat: for "normal flow")

1-2 ounces. From Gynecare.com.

4 ounces. From amotherstouch.biz which is a baby care store.

less than 2 ounces. From Yahoo! Health.

2 ounces. From peacefulmind.com which is an alternative medicine store. Stipulated "normal," with
"heavy flow" being 3 ounces or more.

So, um, why are all these people saying "average" and giving different numbers?

Hint #1: The actual volume of a non-pregnant uterus is between 2-3 ounces. So, rationally, you'd think "if this thing holds only 2 ounces, then only 2 ounces of stuff can come out of it."

By this logic, adorable babies should not be able to produce the amount of poop that they do at a single sitting. Nor should a cat fart fill an entire car.

So, how do we know a uterus only holds 2-3 ounces? Well, obviously, it's like a shotglass. You fill it up and then measure the volume. It's not like a uterus will stretch, after all.

Right? Right.

So, how'd they get all these different averages? That's what I want to know.

One thing I'm thinking is this. There's a lot of perfectly good ways to measure menstrual flow, mostly involving a scale, a disposable bowl, and knowing the pre-use weight of any tampons or pads you may be using (or the dry weight of your menstrual cup). Take out the whatever, weigh it, throw it away or wash it for re-use, and keep a tally.

However, this method doesn't allow for the lovely surprises of a heavy flow-- the "water balloon surprise" of a failed tampon, the "stabbed in bed surprise" that necessitates throwing your sheets AND mattress pad in the wash along with scrubbing your mattress, the "new white panties tempt fate surprise," and so on. Sure, with the heavy flow types, maybe all the stuff you catch in the tampon/pad/cup only comes up to 2 ounces, but what about the time you looked down in the shower and wondered where all the Kool-Aid came from?

I think somebody's fibbing here. Two ounces, my bleeding twat.