The menstrual cycle is how many days. Menstrual cycle. Normal parameters of the menstrual cycle

Content

Every woman of reproductive age should know what menstruation, phase, ovulation and conception are, how to count the menstrual cycle, what changes occur during it. This information will help control the body, prevent various diseases and avoid unplanned conception.

What is the menstrual cycle

This is a certain period during which a woman’s body undergoes processes that prepare her for a possible pregnancy. The first day of the cycle is the beginning of menstruation, the end is the day before the next one. How many days should there be ideally between periods? How to count your menstrual cycle? The duration varies, the norm is from 21 to 35 days, the ideal is 28 days. It is curious that even for one woman, menstrual periods can differ - they can be longer or shorter.

Cycle phases

How to correctly calculate your menstrual cycle? To understand what day after menstruation ovulation occurs, you should learn more about the phases. There are two of them: follicular and luteal. Both are characterized by different processes occurring during the endometrium and ovaries. Since women have individual cycle lengths, the number of days in the phases is also different. For example, if the cycle is 28 days, the first (follicular) lasts on average 14 days.

Follicular

Starts from the day of menstruation. All processes that occur before the release of the egg from the ovary are caused by the action of follicle-stimulating hormone. Thanks to it, the follicles begin to mature, from which the egg is released. The process takes about half the cycle. At first, several follicles may form, but one becomes dominant, increasing to 14 mm earlier than the others.

Another process that occurs during this period is the removal of dead endometrium (it comes out along with the blood). When the uterus is cleared of everything, a new endometrium begins to develop and thicken. This is how the organ prepares itself to receive a fertilized egg. During the described phase, women's basal temperature does not exceed 37 degrees. It is worth monitoring it to determine the day of ovulation - during it there is a sharp decrease. The calendar of critical days is not so reliable, so those who are not planning a pregnancy should monitor their temperature.

Luteal

The phase begins after the ovulatory phase (after ovulation) and lasts approximately 14 days. Luteinizing hormone plays an important role. Processes occurring at this time:

• the main follicle ruptures;
• the corpus luteum is formed, which produces progesterone;
• the endometrium loosens and swells, preparing for implantation of a fertilized egg;
• under the influence of progesterone and estrogen, the breasts swell;
• basal temperature rises above 37 degrees;
• the amount of secretions increases (mucus promotes the survival and movement of sperm).

Without fertilization, after 10-12 days the corpus luteum dissolves and hormone levels drop. If the egg is fertilized, further changes occur and the placenta begins to form. Everything in the body is interchangeable - any failure affects menstruation and the onset of pregnancy. It will not be possible to correctly draw up a personal schedule (table) for conception, calculate periods or calculate safe days if the cycle is irregular.

What is ovulation in women

Establishing the time of ovulation is often of interest to girls who want to get pregnant. During the estrous period, a mature egg emerges from the follicle and begins to move towards the uterus. The cilia of the villous epithelium actively help her in this. Ultimately, she is either fertilized or dies after some time. The ovulatory stage (fertility state) lasts approximately 48 days. Note: sometimes there are anovulatory periods, the peculiarity of which is the absence of ovulation. This phenomenon is not accompanied by individual symptoms.

How to calculate your menstrual cycle

It is not difficult to calculate the calendar of the menstrual cycle, especially if they occur without problems, with the same frequency. You need to start counting from the first day of your period. Regular menstruation is not that common. The physiology of women is such that the “biological clock” is disrupted not only due to pathologies, diseases, but even due to stress.

Some are interested in how to correctly calculate the menstrual cycle using programs. If you don’t want to keep a paper calendar, you can calculate the timing of your menstruation in special electronic programs or use an ovulation calculator. Just keep in mind that such information is not always reliable, for example, if the ovulation date shifts under the influence of external factors.

How many days does a normal cycle last?

The ideal cycle length is 28 days. If it is stable, it is not difficult to calculate the beginning of menstruation, ovulation, and the end. When taking hormonal pills, menstruation occurs like clockwork, strictly every 28 days. If the cycle goes wrong, this is not considered a pathology - as already noted, the body often reacts to stress, illness, and so on. Irregular intervals and delays can be observed in girls and older women.

When does ovulation occur?

It is impossible to accurately determine when a woman will ovulate. As a rule, it occurs in the middle of the menstrual period. A subjective sign is mild pain in the lower abdomen. In addition, there is an increase in mucous secretions. To accurately calculate ovulation over several months, you can chart your basal temperature.

Duration of menstruation

Video about women's period calendar

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and make recommendations for treatment based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

Menstruation is a cyclical process of shedding the lining of the uterus, resulting in bloody discharge from the genital tract. It occurs regularly at certain intervals (once a month) throughout a large period of a woman’s life, when her body is reproductive, i.e. a woman is able to become pregnant.

The beginning of this period, as a rule, is adolescence, and the final stage is menopause, when menstruation stops, as does the systematic maturation of eggs. The main importance of the menstrual cycle is to prepare the female body for conceiving a child.

Menstrual cycle concept

The menstrual cycle is the period of time between two menstruation periods.

• The first day of the cycle is the first day of the appearance of bloody discharge from the vagina (the beginning of menstruation).
• The last day of this cycle is the last day before the next menstruation.

Example

Menstruation began on May 1st. This means that May 1st is the first day of the menstrual cycle. The next menstruation occurred on May 29. This means May 28 is the last day of the menstrual cycle in question (day 28). May 29 is the first day of the next menstrual cycle.

Duration of the menstrual cycle

A normal menstrual cycle is considered to be from twenty-one to thirty-five days. Most often, examples take a cycle of 28 days, although it is typical for fifteen percent of the female half. It should be understood that the duration of the first menstrual cycles differs from the last ones (during menopause). Also, the duration of the cycle may change after childbirth. This depends on the hormonal changes in the female body.

Duration of menstruation

Menstruation (the days when spotting appears) lasts a minimum of three, maximum of seven days. Its average duration is five days. The volume of blood released varies from fifteen to seventy-five milliliters.

Phases of the menstrual cycle

Follicular phase

In the first phase, due to an increase in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), ovarian follicles develop. An egg will then emerge from one of them. This phase begins on the first day of the menstrual cycle and ends with ovulation. In time, this period is approximately half the cycle.

During this stage, the hormone estrogen causes the endometrium (lining layer) of the uterus to grow and thicken. It is necessary to accept a fertilized egg if pregnancy occurs. Two to three days before the onset of ovulation, the amount of estrogen increases several times, and a day before the new phase it reaches its maximum value. This causes the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), causing the follicle to rupture, releasing the egg. Ovulation begins.

Ovulatory phase

This phase indicates that a mature egg enters the fallopian tube from the ovary, and from it into the uterus. The movement of the female reproductive cell to the final goal lasts several days (three to four). During this time, the lining layer becomes even thicker. This important moment for conception occurs eleven to sixteen days before the start of the next menstruation. Fertilization can occur within twenty-four hours of the onset of ovulation.

Luteal phase

During this period, the follicle produces hormones and due to this is transformed into the corpus luteum. Its cells secrete a spectrum of hormones (estrogen, progesterone) that stimulate the growth of endothermy. Next, there may be two options for changes in the body:

1. Pregnancy has occurred. The egg attaches to the enlarged lining of the uterus. The embryonic membrane cells reproduce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the so-called pregnancy hormone. It stops the menstrual cycle for forty weeks. The lining layer in this case is not rejected.

2. The egg was not fertilized. The corpus luteum stops producing hormones approximately twelve to fourteen days after ovulation. The lining layer stops growing and begins to be torn away.

The next menstruation occurs, during which it comes out through the cervix and vagina, accompanied by the release of blood. From all of the above, we can conclude that the menstrual cycle is a complex process of serious restructuring of the female body, regulated by a wide range of hormones. Its purpose is to create the conditions necessary for conception and development of pregnancy.

As is known, the normal duration of the menstrual cycle (menstrual cycle) in women is 21-35 days. The most common option is 28 days. However, this does not mean that for every woman it is equal to this figure. Let's take a closer look and talk about how many days should normally be in the menstrual cycle, and whether an increase or, on the contrary, a decrease always indicates a violation.

The menstrual cycle is divided into 3 stages: menstruation, the first phase and the second phase. Menstruation lasts on average 4-5 days. During this phase, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is rejected due to the fact that pregnancy has not occurred.

The first phase lasts from the end of menstruation until ovulation, i.e. on average up to the 14th day of the cycle with a 28-day cycle (days of the cycle are counted from the moment of the start of menstruation). It is characterized by the following events: the growth of several follicles in which eggs are located begins in the ovaries. During their growth, follicles secrete estrogens (female sex hormones) into the blood, under the influence of which the mucous membrane (endometrium) grows in the uterus.

Around the middle of the cycle, all follicles, except one, stop growing and regress, and one grows to an average of 20 mm and then bursts. This is ovulation. An egg emerges from the ruptured follicle and enters the fallopian tube, where it awaits the sperm.

Immediately after ovulation, the second phase of the cycle begins. It lasts from the moment of ovulation until the beginning of menstruation, i.e. about 12-14 days. During this phase, the woman's body waits for the pregnancy to begin. In the ovary, the “corpus luteum” begins to flourish - formed from a burst follicle, it grows with blood vessels, and begins to secrete another female sexual hormone (progesterone) into the blood, which prepares the uterine mucosa for the attachment of a fertilized egg and the beginning of pregnancy. If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum ceases its activity.

After this, a signal is sent to the uterus, and it begins to reject the no longer needed endometrium. A new menstruation begins.

Each organism is individual. Therefore, each woman has her own norm for the length of the menstrual cycle. However, in any case, it should not extend beyond the 21-35 days specified above. In this case, the duration of menstruation itself (the time during which bleeding is observed) is 4-5 days, and the blood volume should not exceed 80 ml. It is worth noting that these parameters are directly influenced by climatic conditions. Thus, scientists have proven that women living in northern countries often have a longer cycle than women living in the south.

No less important parameter of the menstrual cycle than its duration is its regularity. Ideally, when a woman is in good health and her hormonal system works stably and clearly, her periods are observed regularly, i.e. at regular intervals. If this does not happen, you need to consult a doctor.

In cases where the duration of the cycle is long, but it is regular, there can be no talk of a violation. Doctors usually call this phenomenon a long menstrual cycle.

Having talked about how many normal days the average menstrual cycle is in healthy women, It must be said that its installation usually takes 1-2 years. Thus, young girls quite often during this time may experience various problems associated with its duration and regularity. This phenomenon is considered to be the norm and does not require any intervention from doctors.

However, if a violation of the cycle occurs already at a time when it has been established, then to find out the cause it is necessary to consult a doctor. Indeed, in most cases, such a phenomenon is a symptom of a gynecological disease. The basis of such disorders, as a rule, is a malfunction of the hormonal system and, as a consequence, a change in the hormonal background of the female body.

The female body is a very interesting subject of study, since many different processes occur in it. The organs of the reproductive system deserve special attention, because their health and normal functioning are very important for the successful conception and bearing of a child.

The easiest way for a woman to notice any abnormalities is by regularly tracking her menstrual cycle, in particular recording the beginning and end of her period. What it is, what phases of this period exist and what you should definitely pay attention to, including at the beginning of menstruation in girls - we will tell you further.

What are periods?

Menstruation is a natural process that occurs in the female body and completes the monthly cycle of a whole set of other changes in it. Technically, this is the time when the endometrium that lines the surface of the uterus begins to be shed and excreted through the vagina along with some blood. Normally, such discharge should last no more than 7 days., while differing in different intensities (towards the end of the week there should be fewer of them).

Did you know? With such bleeding in the female body, on average, it becomes 35–40 ml of blood less, although this value can vary within 10–80 ml. Unlike bleeding wounds, in this case the blood does not clot, which is prevented by its fragment plasmin.

Menstruation was called menstruation, since spotting occurs every 30 days, although everything is individual here: while some women experience a similar phenomenon every 22–23 days, others buy special pads only after 35 days, and in both cases this is considered the norm. Also, when making calculations, it is important to understand that the first day of the menstrual cycle is the first day of menstruation, that is, the beginning of bleeding.

Symptoms of the first critical days

The first menstruation for a teenage girl is a very important stage in life, and how she perceives changes in her body largely depends on her psychological preparation by her mother. Puberty is a rather slow process, so the first symptoms of the approach of the first menstruation in many girls are observed 2–2.5 years before their onset, at approximately 11–13 years, although there may be exceptions.
Depending on the body type and other characteristics of the body, the onset of menstruation often occurs only at 15 years of age. In any case, the closer it is, the more noticeable the signs of hormonal changes become:

• light vaginal discharge appears (can be either white or transparent, but always without a strong odor, as this is already a sign of problems);
• the parameters of the figure change, and breast enlargement along with the rounding of the hips become more and more noticeable (such changes begin approximately several years before the appearance of spotting);
• sudden mood swings occur due to changing hormonal levels;
• Sometimes headaches are observed, discomfort is felt in the lower abdomen and fatigue increases.

It is generally accepted that the female menstrual cycle covers the period of time from the first day of the current menstruation to the first day of the next. As we have already mentioned, on average it ranges from 22 days (or even 21 days) to 35, although for most women indicators of 28–30 days are typical.
Bloody discharge indicates the beginning of this period, but this does not mean that nothing happens in the woman’s body the rest of the time. Thus, the menstrual cycle is always divided into several interconnected stages (phases): menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal.

Menstrual

Some women perceive the menstrual phase as the end of cyclic processes, others as their beginning, but in any case we can talk about a certain starting point. This period is the most noticeable and often the most painful of the 4 phases, and its duration ranges from 3 to 7 days. This is a normal period for the endometrium to be rejected and removed from the body, to which the fertilized egg has not been attached. In the first days of menstruation, bleeding is more abundant, and by the end of the week its volume decreases and gradually stops.

Follicular

Closely related to the first phase is the second - follicular, since the development of the follicle (the place of maturation of the egg) begins on the first day of menstruation, but does not end with them. This stage takes about half of the entire cycle and ends only with the release of the egg.

Special cells present at this stage produce estrogens - female sex hormones. Throughout the follicular phase, a woman’s basal temperature is maintained at +37 °C, and this value needs to be known if you want to clarify the specific moment of ovulation (when it occurs, such temperature readings will drop sharply).

Ovulation is the appearance of a fully mature egg from the follicle, ready for fertilization. She slowly moves through the fallopian tubes to the uterus, where she will wait to meet the sperm.

The first ovulation occurs a little later than the onset of puberty, and the last one occurs during menopause, after a decrease in menstrual function. Ovulation temporarily stops during pregnancy, but after the birth of the child, all processes return to normal.

Did you know? Before a girl reaches puberty, her body already contains about 300–400 thousand eggs, and all of them are laid in the ovaries from birth.

Determining the exact moment of egg release is mainly of interest to those women who are planning a pregnancy, since this possibility exists only in one of the 3-4 days before ovulation during it and 1-2 days after.

Luteal

The last phase of the menstrual cycle is the so-called “luteal” or, more simply, the “corpus luteum” phase. It appears in the ovary and takes the place of the released egg at the end of ovulation, remaining there for about 12–14 days (the phase itself lasts the same amount).

The main task at this stage is to maintain the balance of estrogen and progesterone secreted by the corpus luteum in preparation for possible conception. During this phase, basal body temperature reaches 37 °C, and drops sharply just before the onset of menstruation.

How do your periods go (by day)

If you analyze the period of menstruation by day (meaning the time from the beginning to the end of bleeding), then you should pay attention only to the first 5 days, because for many women, their periods stop within five days.

On the first day, the “old” endometrium exfoliates and, along with bloody discharge, comes out through the vagina. This process is often accompanied by pain (sometimes quite severe) in the lower abdomen and back, which is explained by contractions of the uterus.
The second day of menstruation is no longer characterized by severe pain, although heaviness in the abdomen still persists. A new egg begins to form in the body, and due to hormones, the functioning of the sebaceous glands may change, that is, special attention should be paid to personal hygiene.

On the third day of menstruation, a wound surface remains at the site of the endometrium that left the uterus, which is why during this period the likelihood of infection entering the body is especially high. The abundance of discharge, compared to the first two days, decreases slightly, and in some cases, menstruation practically stops.

A woman’s well-being on the fourth day of her period is already very close to normal, but if there is a sufficiently large amount of discharge, it is still worth limiting physical activity and not overworking, which will help reduce blood loss.
Usually, by the fifth day, the healing of the inner surface of the uterus is completely completed, and metabolic processes in the body accelerate, which contributes to the woman’s good physical and psychological well-being.

What is possible and what is not?

Of course, menstruation is not a disease, but at this time it is still worth taking care of yourself. Stop going to the gym and try not to do heavy housework for a few days. You should not visit saunas, swimming pools or baths, because during menstruation the cervix opens slightly and an infection can easily penetrate inside, which can subsequently provoke inflammation of the female organs or appendages. At the same time, a warm or even hotter bath will not be beneficial, which is better replaced with a slightly cool or moderately warm shower.

If the onset of menstruation is accompanied by very severe pain and you can’t relax to relieve the cramps, you can use painkillers, but, contrary to popular belief, these should not be medications containing acetylsalicylic acid or acetaminophen (present in traditional analgin and aspirin).
Some women find relief by walking, cycling, or using a warm heating pad on their abdomen.

Important! Do not get too carried away with hot water bottles or warm baths, as the amount of discharge may increase and this will lead to large blood loss.

During menstruation, it is necessary to limit rehabilitation and physiotherapy procedures, therapeutic exercises, and in some cases, massage. Many cosmetologists who apply tattoos, administer Botox injections and some other drugs also warn about the possibility of complications in the condition of their patients during this period. It would be wise to avoid deep chemical facial peeling, tightening and lifting procedures.

Many doctors also recommend stopping sexual activity for a while, or at least using latex contraceptives, being sure to follow the rules of personal hygiene by taking a shower several times a day. Review your diet. Surprisingly, but Plain water can cope with the symptoms of PMS and ease your well-being during menstruation itself. Try to eat more vegetables and fruits that contain liquid, drink juices and warm herbal teas. It is useful to add foods containing vitamin E and magnesium to your daily menu (for example, dried apricots, avocados and bananas), but it is better to exclude such familiar drinks as coffee and tea, as well as too salty or sweet foods.

Norms and deviations

The human body does not always work with the precision of a clock, so you need to be prepared for possible disruptions in its functioning. In particular, in order to promptly detect and eliminate a possible problem, it is necessary to understand what is normal and what should be considered a deviation.

Normal periods

Not all women experience their periods in the same way. The amount of discharge and its duration can vary significantly, which is influenced by a number of factors: stress, childbirth, diet and various methods of contraception. The characteristics of different menstrual cycles often differ for one woman, and this should not be considered a pathology - perhaps the load on the body over the previous month was stronger.
In a word, it is very difficult to talk about the norm in this case, since we are all individual, although most experts talk about a normal monthly cycle of 21–35 days and a monthly duration of about 3–7 days.

Also quite normal is pain before the onset of discharge, characterized by nagging pain in the lower abdomen and aching in the lumbar region. True, if the pain is very strong and you can’t do anything about it, then it’s better to consult a gynecologist for advice.

Cycle disorders

Most women monitor their cycle and can immediately detect whether there is a “delay” and how long it lasts. With regular sexual activity, even small deviations from the usual schedule often cause panic due to possible... But the absence of menstruation, not to mention a change in its duration or abundance, does not always indicate conception, just as it is not evidence of the presence of diseases.

For example, after the birth of a child, during lactation or during severe anxiety, the menstrual cycle will not be constant, since the hormonal background in the body changes greatly. There is no need to be afraid of this - when the influence of these factors ends, everything will fall into place.
However, with long delays for no apparent reason, the possibility of developing any gynecological diseases should not be completely ruled out. The most common of them is algomenorrhea, which is expressed in pain of varying intensity. These are no longer just pulling sensations in the lower abdomen; vomiting, nausea and severe migraines are often added to them. A similar condition is observed with endometriosis, and less significant signs of algomenorrhea sometimes indicate inflammation of the uterus or appendages.

Fluctuations in the duration of the cycle and the duration of menstruation may also be characteristic of dysmenorrhea, which often appears due to the lack of ovulation. In some cases, it is combined with pain in the menstrual cycle, and then they talk about algodismonorrhea, which occurs as a result of frequent flights, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis and inflammation of the appendages. Therefore, if there are symptoms of menstruation, but no menstruation itself, then it is still worth contacting a gynecologist.

Did you know?It has been established that the severity of dysmenorrhea is directly related to the social status of a woman and the conditions of her working activity.

Reasons for the absence of a menstrual cycle

There are many reasons for the absence of bloody discharge, called “menstruation”. So, they distinguish between primary absence, in which they do not begin in girls during puberty, which, it must be said, is a very rare phenomenon, and secondary absence, which we will talk about later. What are the grounds for the development of such a phenomenon in the second case? There are several reasons.

The first and most obvious reason is . By and large, this is the only reason for such a phenomenon in a healthy woman, and you can confirm your guesses by simply purchasing a special test to determine this special condition (sold in every pharmacy).
However, if the test strip shows one line, which does not confirm the presence, but you feel other signs of it, then a trip to the gynecologist and examination using a device will help to dispel all doubts. If the fact of fertilization is confirmed, then the return of menstruation can be expected no earlier than within a year after the baby.

The second and, I must say, quite common reason for the absence of menstruation is a disruption in a woman’s hormonal background. Such disorders are often caused by the development of various diseases (for example, ovarian dysfunction), although there are also situations where problems were caused by improper use of oral contraceptives. Special analyzes will help determine the presence of such failures. In this case, the normal menstrual cycle will be restored after the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor (sometimes this period lasts up to a year).

Normally, hormonal changes in the female body that cause the cessation of menstruation can also be associated with menopause (menopause), which occurs when a woman reaches the age of 45–50 years. Here you no longer have to wait for the return of menstruation, but there is no need to worry, since this is quite natural. Painful conditions of the body such as bulimia and anorexia sometimes serve as the basis for the absence of critical days for a woman. In both cases, evidence will be severe exhaustion of the body, in which it is simply impossible, and in some cases may pose a threat to the life of a girl or woman. The body itself understands this, so it activates its protective functions, stopping menstruation.

As soon as fat and muscle mass begin to increase and reach normal levels, the cycle will be restored, however, it usually takes much longer to restore reproductive function.

Did you know? The fair sex is more prone to bulimia (an eating disorder), but according to experts, up to 15% of people who are treated for this disease are men, who are much more aggressive in accepting psychological help.

The list of reasons for the absence of “female monthly discharge” also includes diseases associated with impaired functioning of the thyroid gland or metabolic processes, but these reasons are so rare that it makes no sense to talk about them for a long time. With timely and successful treatment of the underlying cause, the cycle quickly normalizes.
The situation is much more complicated in the presence of oncology. In this case, cancer and other diseases of this nature not only lead to the absence of menstruation, but also cause infertility. Surgeries, constant chemotherapy and huge doses of drugs have a serious impact on the female body, so it is not surprising that she has no time to maintain a normal menstrual cycle.

Cessation of menstruation (usually temporary) is sometimes characteristic of exacerbation or complication of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). As soon as a woman is cured of the underlying illness, she will be prescribed hormonal therapy, which is designed to restore and normalize the usual monthly cycle.

Important! Even if menstruation returns, fertility cannot be restored after some STDs.

We can talk with almost one hundred percent certainty about the absence of menstruation after prolonged use of alcohol and drugs. It stops within a year of regular abuse and, depending on the duration of such actions, is almost always accompanied by the complete destruction of the woman’s reproductive system. Of course, in this case, restoring the normal functioning of all organs, and with it the resumption of reproductive function, often turns out to be not just a difficult task, but also an impossible undertaking.
And finally, speaking about the possible reasons for the absence of menstruation, one cannot help but recall constant stressful situations and frequent depression, which often become companions for many modern women. However, it is much easier to deal with the psychological reasons for this problem, since they are usually situational in nature and pass quickly enough.

Be that as it may, the absence of regular menstruation is a fairly serious reason for visiting a doctor, because only a gynecologist, based on many tests, will help to find out the true cause of this condition and avoid serious consequences.

The female body is a rather complex system. To maintain reproductive health, it is important to understand its structure and how it functions. Let's figure out what a normal monthly cycle should be like. This knowledge will help determine the presence of problems in the sexual sphere before a gynecological examination.

If physiological processes occur in the body regularly and systematically, it means that a woman has excellent reproductive health.

Every representative of the fairer sex should know what interval between critical days is considered normal. The menstrual cycle is the period between menstruation. In a healthy woman it is stable. The duration of the cycle is individual. It is determined by a number of factors, the main one of which is the duration of desquamation (the process of separation of the uterine endometrium).

To prevent the possible development of pathology, you need to know how many days a normal cycle lasts. So, its duration depends on the number of days of desquamation. During normal menstruation, it lasts from 21 to 35 days, with an average of 27–28 days.

In the absence of hormonal disruptions, the cycle will be regular. If there is a pathogenic infection or neoplasm in the body, deviations from the standard are possible. Therefore, it is impossible to say unambiguously how many days the normal physiological interval lasts.

In women over 40 years of age, the interval between periods may increase. This is due to the body’s slow production of sex hormones.

Deviation from the norm of the menstrual cycle is a serious pathology. If a girl encounters it, she must undergo a gynecological examination.

First phase

We found that a normal cycle is characterized by a duration of 21–35 days. The first phase of this period is called follicular.

After menstruation, a follicle, a small vesicle, grows and develops in the ovary. Subsequently, a mature egg will be released from it.

This process takes about half the period between menstruation. Under the influence of sex hormones, the ovaries produce eggs, which during ovulation are released into the fallopian tube to meet the sperm. The duration of the follicular stage is 12–16 days.

Ovulation

If the duration of the menstrual cycle is average, that is, 27–28 days, then ovulation will occur on the 13–14th day. At this stage, the egg leaves the follicle in order to find a sperm that will fertilize it.

If the cycle between periods is disrupted due to hormonal imbalance, ovulation may occur twice. – from 1 to 3 days. If the release of an egg occurs regularly once every month and at the same interval, then the woman’s reproductive health is normal.

During ovulation, the follicle bursts, so at this stage pink spots may come out of the vagina.

Second phase

Before the onset of menstruation, a corpus luteum grows in the ovary in place of the released female cell. This phase is called the luteal phase and occurs after ovulation. Normal duration is 11–13 days.

When the corpus luteum develops in the ovary, the body actively produces sex hormones that prepare the body for a possible pregnancy.

During the luteal phase, body temperature should not be very high, although it may rise slightly.

Menstruation

Regardless of the length of the monthly cycle, a reproductively healthy woman regularly experiences the process of menstruation. It does not appear in pregnant and immature girls.

Your period should end on the 5th–7th day. If this does not happen, there is probably a hormonal imbalance. Also, prolonged desquamation is provoked by gynecological diseases, such as endometriosis.

If the duration of the cycle does not exceed 35 days, then there will be no more than 50–60 ml.

How to count the menstrual cycle

A stable interval between desquamations is an indicator of excellent reproductive functioning. To control your women's health, it is important to know how to do it correctly.

It starts from the first day of desquamation and ends with the beginning of the next one. Regardless of how long the menstrual cycle lasts, a woman should monitor her health throughout each phase.

This period is calculated in days. For convenience, it is recommended to use a calendar. Every month you need to mark the beginning of your period. In a healthy woman, the interval between critical days should not exceed 33–35 days.

Knowing the length of your cycle, you can determine the date of your next menstruation. To do this, the dates of the start of menstruation are marked on the calendar; the days of the past are subtracted from the number of days of current desquamation. 1 is added to the result. This will be the duration of the menstrual cycle.

The calendar method of monitoring reproductive health is very convenient. Its implementation makes it possible to determine not only the presence of pathologies that provoked the failure, but also pregnancy. If a woman still experiences toxicosis, she will probably soon become a mother. In this case, it is not recommended to postpone going to the gynecologist.

What determines the length of the menstrual cycle?

When talking about how long the normal period of the monthly cycle lasts, you need to take into account the characteristics of the female body. For some representatives of the fair sex, the normal interval between desquamations may be 21 days, for others – 35.

Cycling may be irregular. Most often this is due to changes in hormonal levels. To stabilize it, gynecologists prescribe drug treatment.

If a change in hormonal levels, in addition to menstrual irregularities, leads to symptoms such as nausea, menorrhagia (heavy menstruation), it is possible that a pathological process is developing in the body.

In addition to hormonal imbalance, there are other factors that influence the duration of the menstrual cycle:

1. Diseases of the endocrine system (for example, damage to the adrenal glands).
2. Inflammation of the pelvic organs.
3. Sudden weight loss or weight gain.
4. Gynecological pathologies (for example, uterine fibroids or polyposis).
5. Sudden change in weather or climate.
6. Psycho-emotional stress.

If the ovulatory or luteal phase comes late, you should not hesitate to visit a gynecologist. Lack of timely treatment of the pathology is fraught with dangerous complications, including infertility.