Long menstrual cycle. Monthly cycle. Body signals that should not be ignored

Nature has gifted women with many mysteries and miracles. Everyone should know what the menstrual cycle is, because it is thanks to it that you can calculate the days before ovulation and get pregnant safely or, conversely, protect yourself from an unwanted pregnancy.

What is the menstrual cycle?

So, to the question of what the menstrual cycle is, the answer is simple. This is a rhythmic physiological process in which a woman prepares for pregnancy. To explain in detail what the menstrual cycle is, we can say that it begins with the first day of menstruation and ends with the last day before the next menstruation. That is, the beginning of the menstrual cycle is the first day of menstruation.

The cycle is repeated monthly for all women, except pregnant and lactating women.

When a girl is born, about 1.5 million eggs are already deposited in her ovaries in utero. After puberty, their number decreases to 350-450 thousand pieces. After the onset of the first menstruation, once a month, one egg leaves the follicle and prepares for fertilization; if this does not happen, menstruation occurs.

Duration of the menstrual cycle

Girls begin their first periods between the ages of 11 and 14. At this time, the cycle can be of varying lengths and irregular. This is due to the girl’s incomplete hormonal stability. It may even take several years for the menstrual cycle to stabilize.

Many women wonder how many days does a normal menstrual cycle last? The duration of the menstrual cycle is individual for each woman, but it should be within the normal range - from 21 to 35 days. It happens that the duration of the menstrual cycle in women deviates from these figures by 2-3 units, but this is also considered the norm.

Interesting! The most ideal female cycle by day is 28 days. This is how long the menstrual cycle should last. But a slight difference from this figure does not mean pathology.

Normal parameters of the menstrual cycle

To answer the question of which menstrual cycle is considered normal, you should know how long a normal menstrual cycle is.

• The normal duration of menstruation is from 3 to 7 days. On average, menstruation lasts about 5 days.

During these days, a woman, if she has a normal menstrual cycle, loses no more than 60 ml of blood, on average - 40-50 ml.

• The normal duration of the menstrual cycle is from 21 to 35 days.

Phases of the menstrual cycle

There are 2 phases of the cycle, between which ovulation occurs.

First phase

What is the first phase of the menstrual cycle? The onset of the menstrual cycle begins with the follicular phase. The first phase of the menstrual cycle begins on the first day of menstruation and ends before the onset of ovulation. That is, it lasts about 14 days. The most important process in this phase is the maturation of the follicle, which occurs under the influence of follicle-stimulating hormone.

Follicles are small cavities containing an unripe egg. On the 1st day of menstruation, the level of follicle maturation is minimal, as is the low level of estrogen (female hormones). As the days pass, these numbers increase.

So, on the 13th and 14th day of the cycle, the egg is ready to leave the follicle, and estrogens create favorable conditions for fertilization. They increase the secretion of cervical mucus, through which it is more convenient for sperm to move, and also regulate at this time a good flow of blood with nutrients to the egg, so that in the event of pregnancy, the fertilized egg does not need anything.

Ovulation

At this moment, the concentration of estrogen reaches its maximum. During this, the level of luteinizing hormone begins to increase. Under its action, the follicle ruptures and the egg is released into the fallopian tubes. To the question of how to count the day of ovulation, the answer is quite simple - this day makes up exactly half of the cycles. For example, for a woman who is on day 24 of her cycle, ovulation will occur in approximately 12-13 days, while for one who is on day 27 of her menstrual cycle, the egg will be released in 13-14 days.

Ovulation is not necessarily rhythmic; it can occur with a difference of 2-4 days. Many women feel the release of an egg in the form of aching pain in one of the ovaries or lower back.

Also during this phase, in women, sexual desire greatly increases, discharge becomes more abundant, mucous, basal temperature rises and the skin becomes clearer (due to the maximum estrogen content).

Second phase

The second phase is called the luteal phase. After the egg leaves the follicle and passes through the fallopian tubes, it travels towards the uterus. Its life cycle is 24 hours, and the sperm cycle is 3-5 days. Therefore, 3-4 days before ovulation and the day the egg is released are considered fertile, that is, days when there is a very high probability of pregnancy.

The empty follicle begins to produce progesterone, and the corpus luteum is formed. Progesterone helps prepare the lining of the uterus for the attachment of a fertilized egg. The maximum amount of progesterone accumulates on days 6-8, after ovulation. Along with this hormone, the level of estrogen is also at an elevated level. As a result, women in the second phase experience symptoms such as:

• tearfulness;
• swelling of the mammary glands;
• irritability;
• swelling;
• increased appetite;
• headache;

If the egg is not fertilized, the concentration of progesterone and estrogen decreases significantly. Because of this, the process of endometrial rejection begins. This is how menstruation begins.

Menstruation also consists of several stages:

• First– desquamation. At this moment, the mucous layer of the uterus is directly rejected. How long this stage lasts, the woman will experience as many uncomfortable sensations.
• Second– regeneration. During this stage, healing and restoration of the epithelium occurs. The regeneration stage begins on days 4-5 of the cycle.

Reasons why the menstrual cycle is disrupted

Menstrual irregularities or absence of menstruation may indicate various abnormalities:

• stress. Outbursts of emotions greatly affect the menstrual cycle in women. This is due to a hormone imbalance that occurs during strong experiences. Therefore, you should not be surprised when, after severe stress, your periods come a little earlier or with a delay;
• change in climatic conditions. Very often, the menstrual cycle can be disrupted due to a trip to somewhere where the climate is different from usual. Or this is possible during sudden warming or cooling;
• lifestyle changes. Even such changes as changes in diet, lack of sleep, exercise, sudden lack of sex, or, conversely, its appearance, can affect the delay of menstruation;
• body mass. The duration of the menstrual cycle may also depend on sudden weight loss or weight gain;
• past illnesses. We are talking about diseases such as -,. After these infections, the follicles may be delayed in maturation. It is worth considering that a delay in menstruation is possible even after undergoing;
• . If a woman has disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system, then it is quite possible for her to have a shift in her menstrual cycle. Most often this is observed in pathologies of the thyroid gland, ovaries and adrenal glands;
• contraceptives. If you choose the wrong contraceptives, you may also experience a delay in menstruation. This is due to the fact that the basis of all medications is the restructuring of hormonal levels, which affects the duration of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, you should select contraceptives carefully, and always with the help of a doctor;
• abortion. Abortion is a serious stress for the whole body. It takes time to restore the hormonal system, so quite long delays in menstruation can be expected;
• pregnancy. One of the main “symptoms” of pregnancy is the absence of menstruation. To confirm this, you can do a test, or get tested for hCG. Human chorionic gonadotropin appears already 5-8 days after fertilization of the egg. This is the most reliable test to confirm pregnancy.

Types of menstrual irregularities

You can differentiate menstrual cycle disorders by its duration. To do this, you need to know which menstrual cycle is considered normal. So, there are these types of violations:

• Polymenorrhea. This term implies a short cycle, that is, if a woman has a cycle of 21 days or less. If a woman has a 22nd day of her cycle, this is considered normal. With polymenorrhea, ovulation may not occur. This is dangerous due to the difficulty in getting pregnant.
• Oligomenorrhea. If a woman has oligomenorrhea, then menstruation can occur with a difference of 40-90 days. That is, a situation where the menstrual cycle is 40 days can be considered a deviation. One of its manifestations is constant irregularity of menstruation, as well as scanty and light bleeding.
• Amenorrhea. This diagnosis is confirmed if a woman’s menstruation delay lasts more than 6 months. can be primary and secondary. Primary – when, in girls over 18 years of age, menstruation did not begin at all. Secondary – when menstruation suddenly stops, although before this, the woman had a normal menstrual cycle.
• Dysmenorrhea. The term means irregular menstruation, that is, constant shifts in the menstrual cycle. For example, if a woman’s cycle consists of 27 days, and her period begins on the 21st day of the cycle, this is considered dysmenorrhea. Or vice versa, when the cycle consists of 30 days, and menstruation began on the 24th day of the cycle, it is also considered a pathology.

It is possible to differentiate menstrual irregularities based on the nature of the bleeding:

• Scanty discharge(). In this case, only spotting bleeding is observed, with a cycle duration of 3-4 days. Usually for a woman they pass normally with absolutely pronounced premenstrual syndrome (without a feeling of weakness, nagging pain in the lower abdomen and lower back).
• Heavy discharge. Discharge of more than 250 ml per cycle is considered heavy. The duration of menstruation in such women is 6-7 days, with the presence of pronounced premenstrual syndrome.
• Intermenstrual discharge. If spotting appears after menstruation, this is a reason to consult a doctor, as it may indicate a serious pathology. During the release of the egg (in the middle of the cycles), a few drops of blood may be released due to damage to the endometrium. But, do not confuse intermenstrual bleeding with a small amount of blood during ovulation. It is worth noting that during such discharge the duration of the menstrual cycle should not change.

Which doctor should I contact?

If there are shifts in the menstrual cycle, a woman should consult a gynecologist. After an examination in a gynecological chair, the doctor may suspect a pathology associated with delayed menstruation. But, to clarify and confirm the diagnosis, a woman needs:

• pass general;
• submit a smear for microscopic examination;
• do an ultrasound of the genital organs.

If necessary, you may need to undergo CT or MRI examinations. Also, if the reason that caused the delay is associated with damage to other organs, you will need to consult a doctor of another specialization.

Treatment of menstrual disorders

Treatment for menstrual irregularities can be different, depending on the cause of the pathology. If a woman does not have a normal menstrual cycle, the problem is treated with conservative, surgical, folk and mixed methods.

Conservative treatment

Medicines are selected based on the cause of menstrual irregularities.

• If menstruation is irregular, women are prescribed oral contraceptives. The disadvantage of using these drugs is that quite often there are situations of individual intolerance to contraceptives, as well as a temporary effect (when a woman stops taking the drugs, the cycle starts again);
• hormones. If the absence of menstruation is associated with hormonal imbalances, the doctor may prescribe synthetic analogues of hormones. After a course of treatment with them, the menstrual cycle in women is completely normalized;
• hemostatic drugs. Such drugs are prescribed to women with heavy blood loss. It is worth remembering that you cannot take such drugs spontaneously, as they cause complications in the form of thrombosis.

Surgery

Surgery may be necessary for women who have. Also, surgical resolution is required if blood clots accumulate in the uterine cavity.

Typically, all of the above operations are performed under general anesthesia. How long the surgical intervention lasts depends on the pathology.

Important! After surgery, the woman will also need conservative treatment. Without taking medications, the desired effect cannot be achieved, and the normal menstrual cycle may not return.

Traditional methods of treatment

Treatment with traditional methods must be discussed with a doctor.

Remedy for painful menstruation

If a woman has a normal menstrual cycle, but is characterized by pain, a remedy can be prepared to reduce pain on these days. You should prepare a decoction of horsetail. To do this, you will need the leaves of the plant, which need to be poured with boiling water and then allowed to brew for 3-4 hours. You need to drink 1 tablespoon of the decoction every 3 hours.

The product helps especially well on the first day of menstruation - the most painful of all cycles.

Remedy for absence of menstruation

For amenorrhea, you can prepare a decoction of onion peels. To do this, you need to fill the peels of 1 kg of onion with 1.5 liters of water. Cook until the water turns dark red. After the prepared mixture has cooled, it can be taken half a glass 3 times a day.

Remedy for menstrual irregularities

If a woman has a cycle disorder and her periods are irregular, then you can prepare a decoction of parsley seeds. To do this, pour the crushed seeds (3 tsp) with a glass of boiling water. After this, the broth needs to be cooled and strained. You need to take it 1 tbsp 3-4 times a day. To restore normal cycles, the course of treatment will be 1 month.

If a woman’s monthly cycle is disrupted for any reason, it is necessary to consult a doctor, as self-medication can lead to multiple complications.

With puberty, a monthly rhythmic process comes into a girl’s life, which is clearly repeated throughout her life until the onset of menopause. The norm of the menstrual cycle, i.e. its duration in days and number of cycles per year is the main indicator of a woman’s health.

How many days does the menstrual cycle last?

The average menstrual cycle is considered to be 28 days. The normal range is 21 to 35 days. Everything that goes beyond this framework is already a deviation caused by any factors, external or internal. It is considered physiological when problems occur in teenage girls during the formation of their female function or in women during the period of its attenuation.

The duration of the menstrual cycle and its normal flow may be disrupted under the influence of:

• stress, work overload, overwork;
• climate change, change of place of residence;
• physical activity.

Deviations in the mechanism of the woman’s reproductive system also do not go away without leaving a trace; the duration of the menstrual cycle with normal rhythm is lost:

• in case of hormonal imbalance;
• gynecological diseases;
• during inflammatory phenomena in the female sphere;
• when infected with sexually transmitted infections.

Menstrual cycle

Normally, the menstrual cycle consists of two periods separated by ovulation.

First phase

In the first half, which begins on the first day of menstruation, follicles begin to grow under the influence of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and estrogen. Gradually, one of them breaks forward, a full-fledged egg develops in it, and the rest begin to disappear.

The level of the hormone of the first phase increases in parallel with the growth of the liquid vesicle, reaching its maximum value by the middle of the cycle, which forces the release of luteinizing hormone, which is a herald of the onset of ovulation.

Once a surge in LH is detected by measuring basal temperature or performing an ovulation test, there are 24-36 hours left before the female cell is released. This is the most favorable time for conception.

Phases of the menstrual cycle

Duration of the second phase

After the follicle ruptures, the second phase of the menstrual cycle begins, its norm is 14 days - a fixed value, the same for any woman. In the second phase, in the place of the ruptured vesicle, the corpus luteum begins to grow, producing progesterone. The latter controls fertilization, prepares the endometrium for the implantation of the embryo and helps its further growth and development.

If there is no fertilization in the second phase, the egg dies within 24 hours.

At the end of the second phase, the mucous layer of the uterus is shed, menstruation and a new menstrual cycle begin.

Errors in cycle time

We looked at what the norm is for a menstrual cycle that proceeds without deviations. But a number of women are faced with the problem of disruption of the regularity and duration of the menstrual cycle.

What are the dangers of deviations from the norm?

In such cases, shifts can occur at any stage, resulting in the following atypical phenomena:

• the follicle cannot develop;
• a mature cell is unable to leave the ovary;
• There is a deficiency of the corpus luteum, which prevents conception and attachment of the fertilized egg.

Duration of the menstrual cycle and its disruptions

In such circumstances, menstruation comes when they want. And therefore, it is difficult to say how many days the menstrual cycle normally lasts with such a deviation. This can be 17-20 days or last up to 40 days.

If the break between critical days is from 40 to 60 days, this is already a serious signal that requires contacting a gynecologist for a comprehensive examination and searching for the cause of the failure.

In such situations, determining the beginning of the menstrual cycle and how many days it should normally last is a very difficult task. It is especially difficult for girls who want to track the moment of ovulation in order to conceive a child. Simple calculations as with normal cycle duration will not help here.

How to avoid them

If doctors have determined that the problem is not pathological, but that there are no abnormalities in hormonal levels, then you need to reconsider your lifestyle:

• to refuse from bad habits;
• avoid stressful moments;
• organize healthy sleep and rest for yourself;
• adjust nutrition.

Detection of ovulation in the menstrual cycle

It is better to try to calculate a favorable day for conception using ovulation tests. To find the starting day of the study, you need to select the shortest one from the last 3-6 cycles and subtract 17 from its value. As a result, we get a number indicating the first day of testing.

It must be carried out daily until a positive result is detected. Sometimes the procedure is repeated for up to 5 days and sexual intercourse during expected ovulation does not always result in fertilization.

In general, at the birth of a girl, thousands of follicle rudiments are already laid in her ovaries, which begin to actively develop with the onset of maturity. Research by specialists proves that not all monthly rhythmic periods end with the maturation of the female cell and its release from the ovary.

In a lifetime, only about 400 cycles end in ovulation, and only a few eggs are fertilized. Therefore, it is difficult to say specifically how many menstrual cycles per year normally end with ovulation. It all depends on the individuality of each female body and on many factors, both external and internal.

But, since determining the day of cell release can play a significant role in planning pregnancy, medicine has a sufficient number of methods and means to help solve this problem.

In addition to measuring basal temperature with drawing up its schedule and ovulation tests, devices that calculate the desired time period using saliva are in demand. You can also simply listen to your feelings or monitor the nature of your cervical mucus.

Ultrasound is considered the most reliable and truthful method today. This study is especially useful for irregular cycle duration or cycle disorders. Under its control, you can track the entire process of growth and development of the follicle, as well as confirm the release of the egg.

Conclusion

The normal menstrual cycle in days is 21-30. Normal cycle length allows you to correctly calculate the moment of ovulation to plan conception. Minor disruptions in duration are possible. If they occur frequently and for a very long time, you should immediately consult a specialist. This interferes with conception, and may also indicate the onset of a disease or hormonal imbalance.

The nature of menstruation and its regularity are important indicators of women's reproductive health. The body reacts sensitively to any stress, so occasional deviations from the norm are possible, which are not considered pathology. However, if the disturbances are persistent, this may indicate a disease. It is convenient to mark the start and end days of menstruation on a calendar. This will allow you to find out the duration of the next cycle and not miss unusual changes. It is important to understand what processes occur between menstruation, when conception is possible, and why critical days occur more often or less frequently than usual.

Content:

Why is cycle duration calculated?

Processes in the female reproductive organs are repeated every month, on average after 28 days. Due to the individual characteristics of the body, the cycle can be shorter (up to 21 days) or longer (up to 35 days). The main indicator of health is not so much the number of days in it, but the constancy of this indicator. If a woman gets her period regularly after 5 weeks or after 3 weeks, this is normal. But if they occur either after 35-40 days, then after 20-21, and this happens repeatedly, this is already a pathology.

1. Prepare for the onset of menstruation, take measures to alleviate premenstrual syndrome (plan, for example, the load during critical days).
2. Provide for the possibility of pregnancy in the middle of the cycle, increase attention to contraception.
3. Take into account which days will be most favorable for conception and the onset of the planned pregnancy.
4. Notice the onset of pregnancy and approximately calculate the day of birth.
5. Plan a preventive visit to medical specialists (gynecologist, mammologist).

Having noticed persistent irregularities in the frequency of menstruation, it is necessary to consult a doctor in time to prevent early menopause or the occurrence of diseases of the uterus and ovaries.

What processes occur during the menstrual cycle

The processes occurring in the female reproductive system are directly related to the ratio of sex hormones that are produced in the ovaries. The cycle is conventionally divided into phases: follicular, in which the maturation of the egg occurs, ovulatory and luteal - the phase of the onset and maintenance of pregnancy.

Follicular phase

The first day of menstruation is considered the beginning. Its duration in different women ranges from 7 to 22 days (the duration of this particular phase determines whether a woman’s cycle is short or long). The phase begins with menstruation - the cleansing of the uterus from the endometrial layer that formed earlier. Menstruation occurs when fertilization of the egg does not occur.

By the end of menstruation, the pituitary gland begins to produce follicle-stimulating hormone, under the influence of which several follicles (vesicles with eggs) develop in the ovaries. Of these, one stands out, the largest (dominant), which grows to approximately 20 mm in diameter. The growth of the rest stops.

During the development of follicles, estrogens are intensively released, due to which a new layer of mucous membrane (endometrium) begins to grow in the uterus.

Ovulation

The follicle (the so-called Graafian vesicle) that has matured along with the egg bursts on days 7-22 (on average 14) of the cycle. At the same time, the hormone lutein is released from the pituitary gland, which promotes the formation of the corpus luteum from the ruptured membrane. Its purpose is to produce progesterone, which prevents the development of new follicles. Ovulation and progesterone production usually continues for 16-48 hours.

Luteal phase

It is called the corpus luteum phase. This temporary gland functions for approximately 12 days, producing progesterone. If fertilization of the egg occurs, the corpus luteum continues to function until the placenta forms in the endometrium. If pregnancy does not occur, the gland dies and menstruation begins.

Conception is most likely in those few days when ovulation occurs and a mature egg is released. By carefully observing the changes occurring in the body for six months, a woman can roughly predict when the “dangerous” days will come. The total duration of the luteal phase is 13-14 days and is practically unchanged.

Video: How to calculate the duration of menstruation and determine ovulation. Cycle phases

Causes of menstrual irregularities

In addition to fluctuations in the timing of menstruation, menstrual disorders also include the duration of menstruation less than 3 or more than 7 days, changes in the intensity of blood discharge (less than 40 ml or more than 80 ml on all days), and lack of ovulation.

The reasons for violations may be:

1. Diseases of the reproductive and endocrine organs. You need to know how to count your menstrual cycle so as not to miss the onset of the disease.
2. Hormonal changes during natural age-related changes (maturation, menopause). During puberty, the maturation of the ovaries is just beginning, so in the first 2 years, girls’ periods may be delayed by 2-6 months. Often, ovarian maturation is completed only during the first pregnancy. For many women, the cycle stabilizes after childbirth.
3. Physiological processes during the recovery period of the body after pregnancy and childbirth, during lactation.
4. Hormonal imbalances after abortion.
5. Hormone imbalance caused by stress, medication, sudden weight loss or weight gain.

The older a woman is, the greater the likelihood of disorders occurring, as possible causes accumulate (number of births, abortions, consequences of gynecological and other diseases), and the body ages.

Why does the cycle lengthen?

The reason for the increase in cycle duration may be the lack of ovulation due to inadequate development of follicles. In this case, the corpus luteum does not form and progesterone levels do not increase. Under such conditions, under the influence of estrogens, the endometrium continues to grow until it begins to break down mechanically. In this case, the onset of menstruation is significantly delayed.

Another reason for the lengthening of the cycle may be the existence of the corpus luteum for too long after pregnancy has not occurred. This anomaly is determined using ultrasound.

Addition: The opposite situation is also possible. A woman experiences a delay in her period due to the onset of pregnancy, but when she comes to be checked by a gynecologist, it turns out that there is no corpus luteum in the ovaries, although it should be there and provide nutrition to the embryo. This indicates a threat of miscarriage. Special treatment with hormones is required.

Reasons for shortening the cycle

The cycle is shortened due to the fact that the corpus luteum dies earlier than usual, or follicle maturation and ovulation occur faster.

Often, deviations in the duration of the cycle are the body’s response to the occurrence of extreme living conditions, when, for health reasons or due to a difficult life situation, bearing healthy offspring is impossible. For example, during the war, women lost their periods altogether.

Video: Duration of the menstrual cycle. Reasons for deviations

How is cycle time calculated?

The countdown starts from the first day of menstruation. And it ends on the last day before the next menstruation. How to correctly calculate the menstrual cycle, taking into account the different number of days in each month, can be seen in examples.

Example 1. The woman had her previous menstruation on March 5, and the next one came on April 2. The duration of the cycle is 27 (the number of days starting from March 5 and ending on March 31) + 1 day (April 1) = 28 days.

Example 2. The previous menstruation was on September 16, the next one on October 14. The duration of the cycle is: 15 (from September 16 to 30) + 13 (in October) = 28 days.

Example 3. The previous menstruation was on February 10 (it was a leap year), and the next one came on March 6. The cycle is equal to: 20 (from February 10 to February 29) + 5 (in March) = 25 days.

Single deviations should not cause alarm; they can be considered the norm. But in case of long-term violations, it is necessary to undergo an examination to find out the cause.

The female body is a great mystery! And like inexplicable events in nature, changes in the phases of the moon, a woman’s life also changes. Many scientists have noticed that the cyclical nature of the heavenly body is reflected in a girl’s menstrual cycle. But sometimes there are storms, and a woman’s health is susceptible to changes from the outside and disturbances occur in the body, which can bring a lot of inconvenience to a woman’s life, and most importantly, deprive her of the opportunity to experience the joy of motherhood!

Let's figure out what a normal menstrual cycle is

This is a cyclical, monthly period in the life of every healthy woman, except for the period of pregnancy and breastfeeding, starting from the first day of the appearance of bleeding (menstruation) and until the first day of the next period. Normally, this period ranges from 21 to 35 days, plus or minus 3 days. If the cycle is shorter or longer, then we can already talk about pathology and sound the alarm. The menstrual cycle plays a huge role in a woman’s reproductive function and is necessary for the ability to fertilize, bear and give birth to children.

A girl becomes a girl with the onset of her first period (menarche), which usually begins between 11 and 14 years of age. They may be irregular at first, but after a couple of years the cycle becomes established. And throughout life it is stable, until the period of premenopause, somewhere around 40–50 years.

From birth, a girl’s ovaries contain up to 2 million follicles; by the beginning of menarche, there are up to 400 thousand of them left. One menstrual cycle “uses” one ripening follicle to release an egg.

Cyclic changes normally in women have a two-phase cycle and are clearly controlled by the hormonal mechanism of influence of the endocrine glands.

Normal parameters of the menstrual cycle:

• The duration of the cycle is from 21 to 35 days. On average 28 days.
• The duration of menstruation is from 2 to 7 days. On average 5 days.
• Conditional blood loss is from 40 to 60 ml. On average 50 ml.

Cycle phases

• The first phase, or follicular. During this period, the follicle grows and matures in the ovaries under the influence of hormones from the pituitary gland and hypothalamus (follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH). An egg is released from a mature follicle during ovulation (the middle of the menstrual cycle), ready for fertilization.
• The second phase, or luteal. During this phase, again under the influence of brain hormones (luteinizing hormone or LH), the corpus luteum matures, releasing the follicle egg. If, nevertheless, pregnancy occurs during ovulation, then the corpus luteum of pregnancy is formed from this follicle, producing progesterone for up to 16 weeks, the high level of which helps to maintain pregnancy. And at 16 weeks, the placenta takes over this function.

In parallel with the ovaries, the endometrium in the uterus is also subject to cyclic hormonal influence.

The endometrium, as is known, consists of several layers, the superficial layers are represented by the functional and intermediate layers. The basal layer is not rejected during menstruation, but ensures the restoration of the rejected layers. The intermediate one, being rejected, comes out in the form of menstruation.

Cyclic changes in the endometrium are distinguished in the form of the following phases:

• Proliferation (follicular phase). The active hormone in this phase is estrogen. It lasts from the 5th day of the cycle for 12–14 days. During this period, the surface layer of the endometrium grows with tubular glands up to 8 mm thick.
• Secretion (luteal phase). During this phase, both progesterone and estrogen levels increase and lasts approximately 14 days. During this period, the tubular glands begin to produce secretions, the peak of which is reached on the 21st day of the cycle. Blood flow to the endometrial arteries increases on the 22nd day of the cycle, creating favorable conditions for zygote implantation.
• Menstruation. When pregnancy does not occur, due to the low amount of hormones produced by the ovary, blood supply to the endometrium decreases, blood clots and spasms form in the vessels, and then their sharp expansion leads to endometrial rejection. This is observed by the 24th–27th day of the cycle. Menstruation itself consists of the following phases:

1. Desquamation (rejection of the functional layer).
2. Regeneration (healing of the functional layer). This phase begins immediately after the endometrial intermediate layer is shed. The basis for this, as mentioned above, is the basal layer. And on the 4th day, epithelization of the entire surface of the endometrium occurs after its rejection.

The continuous cyclical process of friendly reproductive organs - glands, ovaries and endometrium, throughout the entire menstrual cycle contributes to the maturation, release of the egg from the ovary and its fertilization, attachment to the already prepared endometrium (thanks to a two-phase cycle) and the further development and maintenance of pregnancy to a greater extent by ovarian hormones . If fertilization does not occur, then the functional layer (necessary during pregnancy for the embryo to attach to it and ensure its vital activity) is rejected in the form of menstruation.

The process of regulation of the cyclic process is carried out by the neuroendocrine system through direct and feedback hormones, i.e. when some hormones decrease, others increase and vice versa. There is the following hierarchy of levels of regulation of the menstrual cycle:

1. The first level is the cerebral cortex, limbic system, hippocampus and amygdala. The influence of the highest level depends on its initial state and the action of external factors. Therefore, menstrual irregularities often depend on the mental state of the woman, and sometimes a delay in menstruation can be observed after suffering stress.
2. The second level is the hypothalamus. It is influenced by the feedback principle of sex hormones coming from the blood.
3. The third level is the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, which produces LH and FSH, prolactin, adenocorticotropic and thyroid-stimulating hormones.
4. The fourth level is the ovaries, thyroid gland and adrenal glands.
5. The fifth level is sensitive to the action of hormones (uterus, endometrium and mammary gland).

But, unfortunately, not all women have a regular menstrual cycle and work like a clock. All violations are divided into the following categories:

• Irregularity of the cycle.
• Pain when releasing menstrual blood.

Reasons why the menstrual cycle is disrupted

• Impact on the body from the outside - stress, overwork, malnutrition, change of place of residence and climate.
• Internal factors - concomitant diseases (pathology of the ovaries, central nervous system, adrenal glands, endometrial diseases, curettage of the uterine cavity and abortions, liver diseases, impaired hemostasis, etc.).
• Under the influence of medicinal substances (hormones, anticoagulants, drugs used in psychiatry, etc.).

Types of menstrual irregularities

Menorrhagia (hypermenstrual syndrome)– cyclical heavy menstruation. It in turn is divided into:

• Polymenorrhea is prolonged bleeding that occurs cyclically with an interval of less than 21 days.
• Proyomenorrhea – increased menstruation.
• Hypermenorrhea is a large amount of menstrual flow.

Hypomenstrual syndrome– external manifestation of decreased menstruation:

• Hypomenorrhea – scanty menstrual flow.
• Oligomenorrhea – duration of menstruation up to 2 days.
• Opsomenorea is an interval between menstruation of more than 5–8 weeks.
• Spaniomenorea - mensis is observed up to 2-4 times a year.
• Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation for more than 6 months.

• – bleeding that began a year or more after the cessation of menstruation in older women.
• Metrorrhagia is acyclic bleeding that is not accompanied by endometrial rejection.
• Intermenstrual bleeding – occurs between periods.
• Algodismenorrhea – painful menstruation.
• Juvenile bleeding is profuse bleeding in teenage girls.

Treatment of menstrual disorders

After a complete examination of the woman, including a medical history, a detailed general and gynecological examination, ultrasound, smears, clinical and biochemical blood tests, coagulograms, hormonal examinations, hysteroscopy, and sometimes MRI, treatment can begin.

1. First of all, it is necessary to exclude the influence of external factors.
2. Treatment of concomitant diseases.
3. Hemostatic therapy is provided for bleeding.
4. Surgical treatment (curettage of the uterine cavity, removal of the uterus).
5. Hormonal therapy. Combined oral contraceptives, gestagens, and GnRH agonists are used.

Self-medication is extremely unacceptable! This is dangerous for a woman's life. In case of menstrual irregularities, it is necessary to seek help from a medical institution, since delay can, in mild cases, lead to inflammation, endocrine disorders, infertility, and in extreme cases, death. Take care of yourself and your health - it is priceless!

Hello! What should every woman know about her monthly phenomenon, laid down by nature? The material, “The Menstrual Cycle in Women,” contains detailed answers to many important questions.

Features of the female body

What is menstruation? Once a month, the uterus grows new endometrium, or lining, in preparation to receive a fertilized egg. When it is not there, the uterus begins to reject the lining.

The menstrual period begins in girls when they are 11-14 years old and continues until about 50 years of age in women. Discharge becomes irregular at the age of 39-51 years, then stops completely.

Start This natural phenomenon can make the girl feel anxious. At first, in girls, bleeding may also be irregular. In a year everything will be back to normal.

Norm– this is 21,28,30 days. The menstrual cycle confirms that the girl is healthy, developed and capable of having offspring.

Women's cycle can lead a girl to pregnancy even from accidental sexual intercourse. A mother must prepare her daughter for adult life so that there is no trouble.

What is the menstrual cycle? A cycle is the period from the first day of bleeding to the first day of the next bleeding.

Duration of the menstrual cycle:

• average – 28 days
• short - 21 days
• long - 35 days
• in adolescents it is not uncommon - 45 days. This is normal, then everything will work out.

If you notice irregularities in the menstrual cycle, that is, it lasts more than 7 days, then you should consult a doctor. Perhaps he will prescribe treatment.

Control over the cycle is provided by hormones: estrogen and progesterone. What it is? These are the most important women's ones.

• Estrogen promotes the growth of endometrium in the uterus.
• Progesterone is formed in the middle of the cycle, that is, after ovulation.

Both hormones prepare the uterus to receive a fertilized egg.

Mid-cycle in women, what is it?

Around the middle of the cycle, an egg matures in the female body and is capable of fertilization, that is, ovulation occurs. If you are planning a pregnancy, then at this time the female body is ready to conceive a baby. How to determine this moment by day.

With a cycle of 28-30 days, ovulation occurs on days 14-15, if you count from the beginning of bleeding.

Sexual intercourse these days most often ends in pregnancy. Buy tests to determine egg maturation. Testing should be done 24-48 hours before ovulation. If you do not plan to have children, then these days are considered the most dangerous.

But testing can be tricky because there are many different factors that can affect cycle length. You can calculate the phases of your menstrual cycle yourself if you measure your basal temperature daily. Some women count these days for conception, while others - on the contrary, so as not to get pregnant.

1. Take a regular thermometer. Early in the morning, without getting out of bed, without making sudden movements (this is important!), insert it into the rectum.
2. Keep there for 7 minutes.
3. Write down the readings.
4. Based on daily readings, draw a graph. Indicate the days of measurements on the top line, and the basal rate on the side. Place points at the junction, which are then connected by a straight line.

When does this process begin?

On days when the temperature rises sharply, ovulation occurs.

It is important for every woman to know the phases of the cycle so as not to make mistakes in the calculation. Cycle phases, what are they? These are important periods between menstruation.

• First phase– follicular (the first phase, how many days does it last? 3-4 days);
• Second phase- ovulation;
• Third phase- luteal.

Follicular gives rise to the formation and maturation of the egg. Ovulation - designed to perform an important female function - conception.

What happens in the second phase?

In the first phase of the cycle, the temperature is approximately 36.8°C. 1-2 days before ovulation there is a decrease by literally a fraction of a degree. Then the indicator begins to increase within 3 days and remains at these levels until the end of the second phase (37.0-37.5°C). The body is preparing for pregnancy.

Attention! Any stress, illness, alcohol, bad habits can change your schedule and ovulation may occur on another day, followed by an unwanted pregnancy. What happens to the body if the elevated temperature lasts for two weeks? Congratulations on your pregnancy!

The average duration of the second phase of the cycle, what does this mean for a woman? Within 4-6 days you can conceive a child.

The luteal phase occurs in two ways:

• with a fertilized egg;
• or without it, if it was not fertilized;
• If conception has occurred, the corpus luteum begins to be produced, which actively secretes the hormone lutein. It is he who will support and “feed” the egg.

What prevents a woman from aging

These are hormones. A woman’s performance, attractiveness and mood often depend on them. In addition, the production of hormones changes almost every day during the process of bleeding, which is why women’s mood changes so often.

It is important to know the days of your cycle, the description of which will help you get to know yourself better. In 1 day The uterus throws out the spent endometrium, that is, bleeding begins. A woman may experience malaise and pain in the lower abdomen. To reduce pain, you can take No-shpu, Buscopan, Belastezin, Papaverine.

On day 2 heavy sweating begins. On day 3 the uterus is very open, which can contribute to infection. On this day, a woman can also become pregnant, so sex should be protected.

From 4 days The mood begins to improve, efficiency appears, as menstruation is nearing completion.

What is the cycle by day in the second half? Days starting from 9th to 11th day considered dangerous, you may become pregnant. They say that at this time you can conceive a girl. And on the day of ovulation and immediately after it is suitable for conceiving a boy.

On day 12 Women's libido increases, which entails a strong sexual desire.

When does the second half start? From 14 days when the egg begins to move towards the male principle, ovulation occurs. On day 16 a woman may gain weight as her appetite increases. Until 19 days the possibility of becoming pregnant remains.

From 20 days“safe” days begin. What are “safe days”? These days, the possibility of getting pregnant decreases.

Many women ask the question: is it possible for a woman to get pregnant before her menstrual cycle?

The probability is low, but no one can give a complete guarantee. The period of menstruation can change under the influence of many factors. No woman has an even cycle throughout her life. Even a cold, fatigue or stress can change it.

Many doctors warn that the body is capable of “giving out” repeated ovulation, so even 1 day before your period you can conceive.

Every woman should know the female cycle by day, what happens on these days, because it will show when you are ready to conceive, when you are passionate or, on the contrary, cold, why your mood changes so much.

Sexual cycles

When you hear - ovarian-menstrual cycle, it is the cyclicity of gonadotropin secretion that is established in the body. The concept of the sexual cycle includes the normal process that occurs in the ovaries under the influence of hormones, followed by menstruation.

Its duration is on average 28 +/- 7 days. What interval between periods is considered normal? If fertilization does not occur, then as soon as this cycle ends, the period of a new cycle begins. How long does it last? The interval between menstruation, the norm is from 21 to 35 days. But it also happens differently. Keep a small calendar where you will mark the first day of the appearance of discharge.

It is worth noting that 14 days should pass between ovulation and the next menstruation, but deviations of 1-2 days are possible. If you notice that your cycle is too short or too long, you should contact your gynecologist to find out the reasons.

Violation of cyclicity may indicate diseases of the genital area. When does cycle lengthening begin? The cycle can lengthen only after 45 years, as changes occur in the process of egg maturation.

Sometimes a woman may notice spotting after her period. This shouldn't happen!

A drop of blood can only be released at the moment of ovulation. If you notice sudden discharge, do not treat yourself - consult a doctor immediately!

Phases of the ovarian-menstrual cycle. Titles:

• Menstrual (desquamation phase)
• Postmenstrual (estrogenic, proliferative, reparative or follicular)
• Premenstrual (progestin, luteal, secretory phase preceding pregnancy).

Menstrual phase lasts on average 4 days. The first day of the cycle is the beginning of endometrial shedding. These days, progesterone is absent, and estrogen has not yet formed.

Postmenstrual phase– begins on the 5th day of the ovarian cycle, ends 1-2 days after ovulation. Ovulation occurs in the middle of the cycle. During this phase, follicles grow and develop. During the development of follicles, large amounts of estrogens are produced.

Premenstrual phase lasts 12-14 days. High levels of progesterone these days create favorable conditions for implantation of the embryo.

The graph shows the period of menstruation when you can get pregnant.

Girls' first menstruation

My daughter must go through all the stages of her growing up, including the beginning of her period. First of all, we need to explain what menstruation is in girls. The simplest explanation is that this phenomenon is inherent in nature and there is no need to be afraid of it. It is imperative to explain what the duration of the menstrual cycle is.

It is important for a girl to know the phases of menstruation, because in the middle of them a girl can become pregnant, which is very undesirable for an immature body. Which phase is considered the most dangerous, every teenager should also know about this.

How menstruation occurs is described in the test above. This process is the same for both an adult woman and a girl. But if an adult woman already knows what symptoms precede her, then the teenager needs to be clearly explained.

Before the onset of menstruation, the following are observed: phenomena:

• nagging pain in the sacrum, often in the lower back;
• headache;
• fatigue, weakness;
• nipple sensitivity;
• increase ;
• Sometimes mucous discharge occurs.

Selection by day:

• 1 day- scanty discharge;
• 2.3 day– abundant;
• 4.5 day- reduction of secretions;
• 6-7 day- cessation of menstruation.

Dear mothers, when your daughter is 10-11 years old, start a conversation about approaching the natural process. Teach how to use sanitary pads and other personal hygiene items. The main thing is to talk about early pregnancy and its consequences, so that your daughter’s life will be joyful and without unnecessary problems.