Menstrual Cycle

Menstruation is the process by which women shed their uterine lining (also known as the womb). Menstrual cycle, monthly period, and period are also terms used to describe menstruation. During menstruation, blood and tissues from the uterus are present in the menstrual blood, which flows from the uterus through the cervix and leaves through the vagina.

What is a regular menstrual cycle?

A woman’s menstrual cycle is a term used to describe the series of events that occur every month as her body prepares to bear a child. Menstruation begins on the first day of the period. The average cycle lasts 28 days; however, some cycles can last as long as 35 days.

A woman’s menstrual cycle is triggered by chemicals called hormones rising and falling throughout her body. In the female reproductive tract, during the menstrual cycle, the pituitary and ovaries produce and release hormones that regulate the functions of certain organs in the reproductive tract. A menstrual cycle may include the following events:

• The menses phase: If a woman is not pregnant, this is the time when her uterine lining sheds from the vaginal opening. Women tend to have periods that last between three and five days on average, but it’s still considered normal to have a shorter or longer period depending on the circumstances.
• The follicular phase: Usually occurs between days six and fourteen. The estrogen level increases during this phase, encouraging the endometrium (uterine lining) to thicken and increase in size. A third hormone—follicle-stimulating hormone—helps the ovaries produce eggs. A developing hair forms an egg (ovum) between days 10 and 14.
• The ovulatory phase: During a 28-day menstrual cycle, the ovulatory phase occurs about 14 days before the next menstrual period. When the ovary releases an egg, there is a sudden rise in another hormone called luteinising hormone. Ovulation is the result of this process.
• The luteinising phase begins 15 days after conception and lasts for 28 days. When the egg is released from the ovary, it begins its journey to the uterus through the fallopian tubes.
• When a woman is pregnant, her progesterone levels rise to prepare her uterine lining for pregnancy. For a woman to become pregnant, her egg must be fertilized by a sperm and attached to the uterine wall. As a result of having low estrogen and progesterone levels, women who do not become pregnant shed their thickened uterine lining during their menstrual cycle.

What are some of the symptoms of normal menstruation?

• Sickness, moodiness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Craving food
• Cramps in the lower back and abdomen
• Bleeding
• Discomfort in the breasts
• Acne

Are there any symptoms that might lead me to consult with my doctor about my period?

Consult your healthcare provider if you experience:

• It is not normal to begin menstruating at 16 years old.
• You suddenly stop menstruating.
• Your periods are more extended than usual.
• Your bleeding is heavier than usual.
• You are in a lot of pain during your period.
• You experience bleeding between periods.
• You suddenly feel sick after using tampons.
• For example, you might be pregnant if you have had sex and your period has been delayed by at least five days.
• Having stopped birth control pills for three months, you have yet to have a period and know you are not pregnant.

What was your age when you first began menstruating?

On average, girls begin menstruating when they are 12 years old. As early as eight years of age, girls can start menstruating, while girls may start menstruating as late as 16. About 51 is the age at which women stop menstruating, called menopause. 

A woman stops producing eggs (stops ovulating) when she reaches menopause. Women cannot become pregnant after menopause, which lasts one year without periods.

Conclusion

• Many different glands and hormones control the menstrual cycle.
• Periods of menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation, and luteal phase make up the menstrual cycle.
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and painful or heavy periods are common menstrual problems.
• A woman can increase the chances of conceiving if she knows when she is most likely to become pregnant during her menstrual cycle.