On the Secrets of Women

Verse: Add ten to three, thus you see the menses of women. Such purgation lasts until fifty. Note that a woman is purged by means of menstrual superfluity, because the superfluous humidity recedes, from which coarse humors would be dissolved if it remained. Therefore, a woman is not fit for discipline because of the coarseness of the brain's spirits, which cause blockage and dullness. And note that sexual intercourse is beneficial to women for this reason, because cold superfluity is emitted, and they receive heat, which tempers their coldness; the opposite is true in men. Hence women who have intercourse frequently are not of as short a life as men; this is attested by the nature of the sparrow, which dies because of frequent intercourse.

But from these things which have been said, many doubts arise. The first is whether that flow occurs through sanguine heat or through some other. Concerning this, it is to be noted that in all women, except for those who are corrupted, the color of the menses is sanguine, as it is in most cases. And I say in corrupted [women], [there are] bad and viscous humors. In these, the menses are often livid, that is, of a leaden color. And I am not speaking about the corruption of chastity, because indifferently, whether they are virgins or corrupted, if they are of such an age, they suffer the flow, and there are many signs for this part, namely that the menses flow, about which will be spoken later.

Here the author raises four questions in order, as is evident in the text. Note that the menstrual flow