The menstrual cycle consists of. Normal menstrual cycle. Reasons for shortening the natural menstrual cycle

The regular occurrence of menstrual periods is one of the important indicators of the functioning of the reproductive and endocrine system. Every girl needs to know which menstrual cycle is considered normal and why its duration may vary.

Keep your menstrual cycle calendar

Phases of the menstrual cycle

All processes in a woman’s body occur cyclically, monthly changes occur in the reproductive system, this is called the menstrual cycle, it consists of several phases.

Menstrual phase

The duration of the phase is 3–7 days, accompanied by bloody vaginal discharge, irritability, and mood swings. Pain appears in the lower abdomen, lower back, migraine, sometimes vomiting, diarrhea.

During this period, the follicles in the ovaries mature, under the influence of follicle-stimulating hormone, their growth begins, each follicle contains 1 egg.

During the menstrual phase, the girl's mood worsens

Proliferative (follicular)

In the second phase, the woman’s body begins to prepare for conception, the pituitary gland produces large quantities of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen levels increase, and the endometrium is saturated with nutrients. Against the background of hormonal changes, thin, sticky cervical mucus begins to be released, and the woman’s performance and sexual desire increase.

During the proliferative phase, cervical mucus is secreted

One follicle becomes dominant, the remaining vesicles stop growing and return to a dormant state. The average duration of the second period is 14 days, by which time the size of the egg reaches 200–250 mm.

Ovulatory

The shortest phase of the monthly cycle lasts 12–48 hours; it is during this period that conception occurs if the egg meets the sperm. The amount of estrogen and luteinizing hormone increases, the level of FSH decreases. The egg breaks the walls of the follicle, the epithelial villi help it move into the fallopian tube; if fertilization does not occur, it will die within 24 hours.

The ovulatory phase is characterized by the movement of the egg into the fallopian tube

Signs: abundant liquid discharge of white, pink or yellow color, breast enlargement and pain, basal temperature rises, the cervix rises high and becomes soft. During this period, there is an increase in appetite and sexual desire, and the lower abdomen, lower back, and head may hurt.

Luteal (corpus luteum phase)

Lasts 14 days. When the egg leaves the follicle, a small yellow vesicle begins to grow at the site of the rupture; it produces estrogen, androgens, and progesterone. This phase is accompanied by signs of PMS - migraine, pain in the abdomen, back, mammary glands, irritability and aggression. At the end of this period, you can find out whether conception has occurred or not. During pregnancy, it will be within 37.3 degrees, you can additionally do a test, take hCG.

During the luteal phase, a yellow vesicle begins to grow at the site where the egg leaves the follicle.

Despite the fact that the ovulatory phase lasts no more than 48 hours, the fertile interval is considered to be 5 days before and after the release of the egg from the ovary. This is due to the fact that sperm in a favorable vaginal environment can remain viable for up to 7 days.

How to calculate your menstrual cycle?

The countdown for the beginning of a new menstrual cycle begins on the first day of the appearance of spotting and ends before the appearance of the next spotting -.

To know exactly the favorable days for conception, it is better to mark the start and end dates of the cycle. To determine fertile days when there is a high probability of getting pregnant, you need to subtract 14 from the number of days in the cycle; the resulting result shows the beginning of the ovulatory period.

Calculator for calculating the cycle and day of conception

Duration of the menstrual cycle: days

Normally, the maximum total amount of menstrual blood released in the first phase is approximately 80 ml. Painful and heavy periods with nausea, chills, and severe headache are a sign of high levels of prostaglandins in the first phase; the hormone provokes intense contractions of the uterus, which can prevent conception.

Normal menstrual cycle - how many days are it?

The ideal duration of the female cycle for girls under 30 years of age is 28 days, but these values ​​are quite individual, so normally menstruation can occur in 23–36 days.

The length of the cycle is affected by age; in adolescents, during the first two years after the onset of menstruation, the cycle is irregular, it can be short, ranging from 21-25 days, or very long - more than 45 days.

Until the age of 35, the cycle is regular, you can correctly determine the date of ovulation, but gradually the intervals between menstruation lengthen, after 40 years, changes in the amount of discharge are observed, and as menopause approaches, the physiological processes in the reproductive system become less and less regular.

The corpus luteum phase in women with any cycle length is 14 days.

Reasons for deviations from the norm

An excessively long or short cycle, early and late ovulation, scanty or heavy discharge, pronounced manifestations of PMS - all these factors may indicate disruptions in the body, which is reflected in the length of the cycle.

Why does the loop fail:

• natural aging of the body - the closer to menopause, the less regular the cycle becomes;
• stress, nervous and physical fatigue;
• a sharp increase or decrease in weight by more than 10%;
• taking oral contraceptives;
• puberty;
• climate change;
• postpartum period, lactation;
• recent abortion;
• gynecological diseases of an inflammatory nature;
• venereal diseases;
• disturbances in the functioning of the pituitary gland and adrenal glands.

You should immediately consult a doctor if you have not had a period for more than 2 months, if this is not related to pregnancy, if the cycle lasts less than 21 days, if spotting lasts less than 3 or more than 7 days, appears in the middle of the cycle, or a year after the onset of menopause.

In diseases of the adrenal glands, cycle disruption occurs

Normalization of the menstrual cycle

If there is a one-time cycle failure, there is no reason to panic, but if the situation repeats regularly, there is no ovulation, it is necessary to undergo an examination to identify the cause of the deviations.

Diagnostics includes general, biochemical, hormonal blood tests, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, smear, and hysteroscopy. Treatment is carried out using conservative and surgical methods.

Oral contraception will help eliminate minor deviations in hormonal balance and reduce the intensity of PMS symptoms. The most popular are Janine and Yarina.

After 45 years, women begin to show signs of menopause and their cycles become irregular. To improve well-being, hormonal drugs are prescribed - Gestrinone, Danazol; drugs contribute to the gradual death of the endometrium and suppress the hormone that is responsible for the maturation of the egg.

One of the popular and effective drugs for restoring the cycle is Duphaston. The medicine is prescribed for irregular cycles, painful periods, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, endometriosis, and low progesterone levels. The drug is included in therapy for the treatment of infertility, which arose against the background of disruptions in the luteal phase.

Duphaston helps restore the menstrual cycle

Urozhestan is a hormonal drug that helps with dysmenorrhea; the medicine is prescribed in the presence of benign neoplasms in the uterus, infertility, endometriosis, and as a prophylactic against the threat of miscarriage and premature birth.

Non-hormonal drugs to normalize the cycle:

1. Cyclodinone is a herbal non-hormonal remedy, but it normalizes the balance of female sex hormones, reduces prolactin levels, and helps eliminate pain in the mammary glands. The duration of the course is 3 months.
2. Dysmenorm is a homeopathic remedy, used in complex therapy for disorders of the monthly cycle, the medicine effectively eliminates the manifestations of PMS. The minimum course duration is 3 months.
3. Cyclovita is a vitamin and mineral complex that helps reduce the symptoms of PMS, normalize the cycle, eliminate stress, and improve the condition of the skin. The course lasts 3 months.

Alternative medicine recipes to normalize the cycle

Traditional methods will help make your cycle regular, your discharge less painful and get rid of PMS. But in case of serious hormonal disorders or severe inflammatory processes, they should be used as an additional means of therapy.

Simple recipes:

1. If your periods are irregular – 1 tsp. Brew dried cornflower inflorescences with 250 ml of boiling water, strain after an hour. Drink 70 ml three times a day for 21 days.
2. If the discharge is abundant, you need to add 1.5 liters of water to the zest of 7 oranges and simmer over low heat until the amount of liquid is reduced by 3 times. Strain, cool, add 15 ml of honey. Drink 200 ml three times a day half an hour before meals.
3. An infusion of parsley will help eliminate amenorrhea - place 30 g of leaves in a thermos, pour 600 ml of boiling water, leave overnight. Drink 100 ml strained 30 minutes before meals 3-4 times a day. You need to continue treatment for 3 weeks, a second course can be started after a seven-day break.
4. If there is a short interval between menstruation, brew 10 g of shepherd's purse with 300 ml of boiling water, strain after an hour. Drink the infusion throughout the day in 5 doses. The duration of therapy is 14 days, the course can be continued after 10 days; taking the medicine during menstruation is contraindicated.

A decoction of shepherd's purse helps restore the female cycle

If you need to speed up the onset of menstruation somewhat, you need to drink lemon balm tea several times a day - 1 tsp. herbs per 220 ml of boiling water.

Knowing her menstrual cycle, it is easier for a woman to plan a pregnancy and monitor her health. Normally, the cycle is 28–30 days long, the duration of menstruation is 3–5 days, and the discharge should be moderate. Even significant deviations from the average parameters can be caused by individual characteristics, stress, and overwork. But if other unpleasant symptoms appear and you cannot get pregnant, you need to undergo examination and begin treatment.

Surely, you know quite a lot about your menstrual cycle, for example, about the frequency and intensity of menstruation. Here we take a closer look at the female menstrual cycle, ovulation and periods. Of course, no website can replace a full consultation with a medical professional, however, we will help you get a general idea of ​​how this happens.

Understanding your menstrual cycle

The length of a woman's cycle is not the same. The most common cycle length is 23 to 35 days. The difference in the length of the menstrual cycle usually concerns the period before ovulation (the so-called follicular or follicular phase). For most women, 12 to 16 days pass from ovulation (when the egg is released from the ovary) to the start of menstruation (the so-called luteal phase).

Phases of the menstrual cycle

Menstruation (periods)

The first day of the menstrual cycle is the first day of menstruation (day 1). Menstruation then lasts from 3 to 7 days. Surely, you know that if you have menstrual pain, you experience the most severe pain in the first few days of your period. This happens because your hormones actively promote the shedding of the uterine lining that has grown over the previous menstrual cycle.

Preparing for ovulation

At the beginning of your cycle, the pituitary gland, a gland located at the base of the brain, produces follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This is the main hormone that stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs. Follicles are fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries. Each follicle contains an immature egg. FSH promotes the maturation of a certain number of follicles and the production of the hormone estrogen. On the first day of menstruation, estrogen levels are at their lowest. It then begins to increase along with the maturation of the follicles.

As follicles develop, usually one of them becomes “dominant,” and the egg matures in that larger follicle. At the same time, the growing level of estrogen in the body is responsible for saturating the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity with nutrients and blood. This is to ensure that in the event of pregnancy, the fertilized egg has all the nutrients and support it needs to grow. High levels of estrogen also promote the production of mucus, a “sperm-friendly” environment (or technically known as fertile-phase cervical mucus). You may have noticed a thin, sticky discharge that may have a cloudy whitish tint. Sperm move through this mucus more easily and survive for several days.

Your body produces hormones that control your menstrual cycle. At the beginning of the cycle, an important hormone is follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). An increase in FSH promotes the maturation of follicles in the ovaries (fluid-filled sacs containing one immature egg each) and the beginning of the production of a second hormone, estrogen.

Understanding the Ovulation Cycle

Ovulation

The level of estrogen in the body steadily increases, and at some point it leads to a sharp increase in the level of luteinizing hormone (ovulatory LH surge). The surge of LH leads to the rupture of the dominant follicle and the release of a mature egg, which then enters the fallopian tube. This process is called ovulation.

Many women believe that ovulation occurs on day 14, but 14 days is average and most women tend to ovulate on a different day in their menstrual cycle. The day of ovulation differs from cycle to cycle. Some women claim to experience a painful cramp during ovulation, but most women feel nothing and ovulate without any symptoms.

The level of estrogen in the body is still rising and at some point it causes a sharp increase in LH - an LH surge. This LH surge initiates ovulation, the moment when an egg is released from the ovary. Although many women think that ovulation occurs on day 14, the actual day of ovulation depends on the length of your cycle. Some women experience cramping during ovulation.

After ovulation

Once released, the egg travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus. Its life cycle is up to 24 hours. The life cycle of a sperm is more variable, however, and usually ranges from 3 to 5 days. Thus, the days immediately preceding ovulation and the day of ovulation itself are the most fertile - that's when you have the greatest chance of getting pregnant. Immediately after ovulation, the follicle begins to produce another hormone - progesterone.

Progesterone contributes to the subsequent preparation of the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity to receive a fertilized egg. Meanwhile, the empty follicle in the ovary begins to shrink, but continues to produce progesterone and begins to produce estrogen. During this time, you may experience premenstrual tension syndrome (PMS), such as breast tenderness, bloating, drowsiness, depression, and irritability.

Once released, the egg travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus. The egg lives from 12 to 24 hours, but due to the fact that sperm lives for several days, the greatest fertility and the highest chance of getting pregnant is present when having unprotected sex on the day of ovulation and the day before. Immediately after ovulation, the destroyed follicle begins to produce another hormone called progesterone.

Preparing for your next period

When the empty follicle shrinks due to an unfertilized egg, estrogen and progesterone levels decrease. In the absence of a high level of hormones to maintain the necessary environment, the increased mass of the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity begins to peel off, and the body gets rid of it. This represents the beginning of menstruation and the beginning of the next cycle.

When the empty follicle shrinks, your progesterone levels decrease if the fertilized egg does not attach to the uterus. The uterus no longer needs to maintain the environment to support the baby, so the body needs to reset and prepare for the next cycle. Symptoms of premenstrual tension (PMT) will begin to subside. Without high levels of hormones to maintain the necessary environment, the formed uterine lining begins to break down and the body begins to eliminate it. This is the start of your period and the next cycle.

If the egg is fertilized and implanted in the uterus, the empty follicle is maintained by an increased level of the pregnancy hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin). The production of estrogen and progesterone continues for a long time until the placenta is strong enough to support the developing embryo.

The fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterine cavity. As a rule, this occurs a week after fertilization.

Once the egg is implanted, your body begins to produce the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which will keep the empty follicle active. It will continue to produce estrogen and progesterone to prevent the lining of the uterus from being shed until the placenta, which contains all the nutrients the embryo needs, has formed to support the pregnancy.

Knowing how many days a normal menstrual cycle lasts will help girls and women independently determine whether they have any problems with the health of the genital organs, even before visiting a gynecologist.

But knowledge of many subtleties about the menstrual cycle should in no way replace a consultation with a doctor in a gynecological office, which is mandatory in this situation. On the contrary, mastery of the situation should help the woman orient herself and give her the idea to seek medical help as soon as possible.

In addition, knowledge of how the menstrual cycle is calculated will help those planning a pregnancy choose the most favorable day for conceiving a child, or, conversely, use reliable contraception on ovulation days. The ability to calculate the onset of menstruation is necessary for every woman in order to simply prepare for it.

If a woman knows exactly how long normal periods should last, it will not be difficult for her to notice any changes in a timely manner. Since each organism is individual and self-sufficient, there is no specific time frame for the duration of menstruation. However, the norm is still highlighted.

Typically, periods last from 3 days to a week. In this case, a woman may experience weakness, deterioration in performance, and nagging pain in the lower abdomen. This condition is considered normal, so no special suspicions arise.

If there are deviations in duration in one direction (less than 3 or more than 7 days), then in this situation you should consult a gynecologist. A change in the duration of menstruation may result from:

• the presence of an inflammation process in the woman’s genital organs;
• disruptions in hormonal levels.

How to correctly calculate the menstrual cycle?

Correct periods are those that always begin after an equal number of days of the menstrual cycle, that is, they come regularly. What do regular periods mean?

Some women incorrectly believe that the menstrual cycle is equal to the number of days between menstruation. This assumption is wrong. In fact, the cycle is counted from the beginning of one period to the beginning of the next (the first day is included, that is, it should be taken into account in the calculations).

For a more complete understanding of the situation, you can calculate using the following formula: (number of days of present menstruation - number of days of previous menstruation) + 1 day = cycle duration.

The normal menstrual cycle is assumed to be 28 days.

However, the duration of the cycle for each woman can be influenced by the following conditions:

• overwork and stress;
• acute or chronic diseases;
• ecological situation;
• climate change.

When exposed to the above factors, the functioning of the organs and systems of the body undergoes significant changes from time to time. The performance of the reproductive organs is no exception, and therefore a deviation in the duration of menstruation by approximately 6-7 days in one direction is considered normal.

For this reason, a cycle that varies from 21 to 36 days is considered normal. And it will be correctly determined if the difference between all cycles does not exceed 5-7 days. Menstruation with such an interval is called regular.

To facilitate the task of counting your cycle, they resort to using a regular pocket calendar. The dates on which menstruation occurs are crossed out. This accessible method allows you to remember the dates and duration of each period, so that they can be reported to the gynecologist in the future.

What is the nature of menstruation?

The nature of menstruation differs for everyone. Here the situation may develop according to one of the typical schemes.

Normally, the nature of menstruation can be as follows:

1. From the first day, heavy bleeding begins, often combined with dark clots. Towards the end of menstruation, the amount of discharge decreases and then stops altogether.
2. The beginning of menstruation is associated with the appearance of a scanty dark-colored smudge, which becomes more abundant towards the end. The maximum volume of menstruation occurs on days 3-4.
3. Variable character of menstruation throughout. For example, at the very beginning the discharge is abundant, but after two days it becomes scanty. By day 5, a large volume of blood is released again, and by day 7 everything stops.

These examples are not reference ones. They only reflect the most typical cases of menstruation. Naturally, the process is individual for each woman.

What is the normal volume of menstrual flow?

Menstruation is also classified according to the volume of blood released. In this connection, bleeding is divided into:

• plentiful;
• scanty;
• norm.

It’s easy to determine for yourself whether bleeding is normal. Usually, with the heaviest bleeding, girls use 6-7 pads per day, changing them every 3-4 hours.

When there is a more frequent change of pads, and the bloody discharge still stains the panties, then such periods are called heavy.

In a situation where one pad can be used for 6 or more hours, we are talking about scanty discharge.

What do deviations from normal menstruation indicate?

Having found out the normal number of days of menstruation, women will be able to assess their situation. Having discovered a clear discrepancy with the norm, you need to go to the doctor to find out the reasons why this is happening.

A specialist may not see anything wrong in a particular situation, mistaking the duration of menstruation as a feature of the female body. This scenario is ideal. But in reality, everything may turn out differently.

For example, heavy bleeding lasting more than a week may indicate the presence of diseases:

• myomatous nodes;
• endometriosis;
• poor blood clotting;
• precancerous condition in the genitourinary system.

Regular, scanty bleeding may be a sign of the following problems:

• infertility;
• ovarian dysfunction;
• changes in hormone production;
• pregnancy developing outside the uterus.

What to do to normalize unpredictable periods?

Some of the women who notice irregularities in the course of their menstruation (sometimes they come ahead of schedule, sometimes they have to wait a long time, sometimes they last longer than the prescribed 6-7 days) do not know what can be done to restore the disturbed rhythm. First you need to find out why such jumps occurred.

A shift in the cycle should not be particularly alarming if the nature (color, consistency, etc.) of the discharge remains the same. However, failure can also occur due to more serious reasons. Then you can’t do without examination and treatment. It is extremely dangerous to ignore such cycle disturbances, and even more so you cannot wait for them to disappear on their own.

Such changes have medical names, they have their own symptoms and treatment options.

Classification of pathologies of the menstrual cycle:

1. Algodysmenorrhea is typical for most women with problematic periods. As long as your periods should go normally, that’s how long they last (about 3 - 6 days). The pathology here is that bleeding is complicated by severe, cramping pain, sometimes with nausea.
2. Amenorrhea is one of the dangerous conditions when menstruation is absent. Amenorrhea in nursing mothers and pregnant women is normal. For all others (especially at the age of 15-20 years), amenorrhea is an alarming sign.
3. Metrorrhagia means intermenstrual bleeding. It may indicate a benign tumor in the uterus or recent stress.
4. Dysmenorrhea is a temporary delay or the onset of menstruation earlier than expected. The causes of dysmenorrhea should be sought in changes in habitual living conditions (changes of time, climate, etc.).
5. Oligomenorrhea is characteristic of those representatives whose periods come inconsistently and are extremely scanty. Such a situation can become a favorable background for the development of the inability to conceive one’s own offspring.

Any postponement of menstruation should be a signal that observation by a doctor is required, as well as treatment.

Throughout the entire month, complex physiological, sequential processes take place in the female body, the external result of which is menstrual flow. These processes involve the hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary gland, the ovaries and the inner mucous layer of the uterus. Only if all participants in the chain work in a coordinated manner will a woman have a normal menstrual cycle with regular menstrual periods.

In this article you will learn everything about the menstrual cycle: what it is, how many days are normal, what are the permissible deviations from the nominal values ​​and what exist.

What is the menstrual cycle

One cycle is the time interval between the first days of two consecutive menstruation periods. The length of the cycle is measured in calendar days, and its first day falls on the beginning of menstruation.

Its duration

There is no consensus among experts regarding what the menstrual cycle in women should be, but there are certain norms for the menstrual cycle, within which the main indicators of this process can vary:

• the cycle must be stable, the permissible deviation from the standard for cycle duration does not exceed 2-3 days. The average duration of the menstrual cycle should be 21-35 days. For some women, the period between two menstruation may be less than 21 days or more than 35 days due to individual characteristics of the body. If such a duration is stable and there are no signs of pathologies, then such a phenomenon is recognized as a morphofunctional feature for a given representative of the fair sex;
• During regulation, the volume of bloody discharge should normally not exceed 80 ml. It is important that due to the content of an anticoagulant in the blood (plasmin enzyme), it does not clot;
• spotting during menstruation lasts 3-7 days;
• During menstruation there should be no severe pain, maximum mild discomfort.

Permissible deviations

The duration of the period, as well as all its other characteristics, depend on many factors, including the woman’s lifestyle, nutrition, the presence of stressful situations, taking medications, oral contraception, etc. For various reasons, the cycle can be shortened or lengthened. Of the physiological reasons why it can occur, the most basic are age-related changes in a woman’s body:

• in puberty, after the arrival of the first menstruation in a teenager, it is allowed for 1-2 years, menstruation can come with delays of up to 3 months, the discharge can be either scanty or too abundant;
• the first sexual intercourse can provoke a change in the cyclicity of menstruation, such disruptions can be caused by the stress of the situation, usually the deviation from the norm will not exceed 1-2 days;
• for women over 45 years of age who are entering the premenopausal period, cycle instability is also the norm; regularities may disappear for up to six months, occur less intensely, or develop into uterine bleeding;
• under normal conditions it should be absent altogether; after childbirth it normalizes depending on the type of feeding of the baby. When feeding a child with artificial formulas, the woman’s period will come as soon as possible. During lactation, the actively produced hormone prolactin suppresses the menstrual function of the ovaries, so the cycle is normalized when the level of this hormone decreases or even when feeding stops completely.

What phases exist

All processes in the female reproductive system directly depend on the amount of female sex hormones produced in the body. Depending on which hormone predominates in a particular period, the menstrual cycle is divided into several phases.

Let's look at each of them in more detail:

• follicular. Its onset coincides with the arrival of menstruation, and its duration ranges from 7 to 22 days. First, the uterine cavity is cleansed of exfoliated endometrium, which was not useful in the previous cycle due to lack of conception. When menstruation comes to an end, the pituitary gland begins to produce follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which provokes the development of several follicles in the ovary. The most developed follicle, the diameter of which can reach 2 cm, is usually called dominant. When it is formed, the growth of other follicles stops. At this time, estrogen is intensively released in the body, which ensures the normal growth of a new inner layer in the uterus. It largely depends on how long it takes the body to ripen the follicle whether the entire cycle as a whole will be long or short;
• ovulation. When the egg matures in the follicle or Graafian vesicle at 7-22 days of the follicular phase, it bursts. This usually happens on days 10-14. During ovulation, the pituitary gland actively begins to produce lutein. This is a hormone that promotes the formation of the corpus luteum in the area of ​​the ruptured follicle. The main function of the corpus luteum is the secretion of progesterone, which suppresses the development of new follicles. This process (ovulation and progesterone secretion) lasts from 16 to 48 hours. It is this period that is most favorable for conception;
• luteal phase or corpus luteum phase. It is a temporary gland that produces progesterone for about 12 days. If the egg is fertilized, the work of the corpus luteum continues until the placenta is formed. If conception does not occur, the corpus luteum dies and menstruation begins. This phase usually lasts 13-14 days, its duration is almost always constant.

Levels of cycle regulation

The regulation of the menstrual cycle has a clear hierarchy, according to which the brain is at the highest level, from the cortex of which an impulse is sent to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, and they in turn send commands to the ovaries, while the whole process is completed in the endometrium.

Let's consider the role of each level in more detail:

1. The cerebral cortex occupies the highest level of cycle control. It is at this level that menstrual disruptions of a psycho-emotional nature occur, which can be triggered by stress, fear of pregnancy, or an expectation of a delay in some important date. Such psychological “stops” provoke a command from the brain to the lower level to the hypothalamus to suspend the production of hormones. Also, a traumatic brain injury that affects the functioning of the cerebral cortex can provoke menstrual irregularities.
2. Hypothalamus. The hypophysiotropic zone of this region, which is responsible for neuroendocrine activity, takes part in the regulation of menstruation. The hypothalamus is responsible for the production of FSH and LH.
3. Pituitary. This is a gland that produces growth hormones necessary for the maturation of the female reproductive cell and the proper development of the embryo. Its anterior lobe is involved in the regulation of menstruation.
4. Ovaries. At this level of regulation, the follicle matures and ruptures, the female reproductive cell exits into the fallopian tube, and the production of the corpus luteum and steroids occurs.
5. Internal and external genitalia and mammary glands. This is the lowest level of regulation. Everything is simple here, if conception has occurred, then these organs provide the necessary “atmosphere” for the maintenance and development of the fetus, but if the egg is not fertilized, the endometrium is rejected and removed from the uterine cavity, and the cycle begins anew.

In hormonal regulation, all processes also have a clear step hierarchy. In the follicular phase, the pituitary gland produces FSH, which in turn stimulates the production of estradiol in the ovaries, which causes swelling and thickening of the inner mucous layer in the uterus. When estradiol reaches a certain level, the follicle bursts and the egg is released from the ovary, and in its place a corpus luteum is formed, which produces progesterone. If conception does not occur, the corpus luteum goes into a reverse phase of development, and the level of the pregnancy hormone (progesterone) drops. In this case, the endometrium also degrades, it is rejected and removed from the uterine cavity. After this, the process of hormone production starts again.

Reasons for violations

Let us list the main reasons for the disruption of the cyclicity of monthly processes in the female body:

• diseases of the reproductive and endocrine system. To know about the occurrence of pathology, it is necessary to keep a monthly calendar;
• hormonal imbalance caused by age-related changes in the level of female sex hormones (puberty and menopause);
• physiological processes provoked by pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding;
• abortions, surgical interventions;
• stress, taking medications, sudden weight gain or loss.

With age, the likelihood of hormonal imbalances from any of these factors increases significantly due to the aging of the body.

– scanty menstrual flow;

The cycle may lengthen if the follicle takes a long time to mature and there is no ovulation. In such a situation, the level of progesterone does not rise, since there is no corpus luteum, and over time, the constantly growing endometrium begins to break down mechanically, and menstruation comes with a significant delay. Also, lengthening can occur due to too long a life span of the corpus luteum, and shortening due to its premature death. The length of the cycle decreases if the follicle matures too quickly and ovulation begins prematurely.

Menstruation cycle– physiological changes in a woman’s body, the duration of which is usually considered from the day the bleeding begins and the beginning of the next. Their regularity is responsible for the ability to fertilize.

Duration of the menstrual cycle

The duration of the cycle depends on the characteristics of the body and its duration is purely individual. It can change throughout life.

The normal monthly cycle lasts 28 days, but can reach 35 days. The menstruation period itself lasts 5 days. Sometimes there is a delay. It is believed that such an absence of bleeding in women for up to 10 days is not a pathology and does not require drug treatment. But if the delay in menstruation exceeds this indicator, and the pregnancy test is negative, you should consult a gynecologist. He will not only conduct an examination and find out the reason for the absence of menstruation, but will also tell you how to correctly calculate your menstrual cycle, why it can change and what its average duration is.

What factor influences the duration?

If the menstrual cycle has increased or, conversely, the time interval between bleeding has decreased, this may be due to some kind of infection in the genitals or pathology. Also, how long the cycle lasts can be influenced by the following factors:

1. Diabetes;
2. Pelvic infections;
3. Diseases of various etiologies;
4. Obesity or underweight (with anorexia, periods disappear altogether);
5. Inflammation of the appendages;
6. Long transfers and travel;
7. Constant stress, hysteria and nervousness;
8. Changing of the climate.

As you can see, when a woman’s menstrual cycle begins and how many days it lasts is strongly influenced by external factors and the lifestyle itself. Thus, during physical and psychological stress, poor ecology, and unusual climate, secretions may be retained. Don't immediately panic and run to the doctor. Try to eliminate the influence factor, for example, relax, take sedatives or wait for acclimatization.

This is important to know! If the factors influencing the duration have not been identified, and little/a lot of time passes between menstruation, or unusual painful sensations appear in the pelvis, you should consult a gynecologist!

Phases of the monthly cycle

For all women, a normal cycle has several phases that vary in duration. During each of them, certain changes occur in the ovaries and endometrium.

The following phases are distinguished:

1. Follicular. The normal duration is 14-16 days. In some cases it can reach three weeks. During this period, follicle growth and maturation occurs, which is controlled by FSH. When one of the follicles becomes dominant (its size reaches 14 mm), the remaining eggs undergo regression and are slowly destroyed. It is believed that it is during this phase that the dead endometrium is removed, which leaves the uterus in the form of bloody discharge. After the end of menstruation, the development of a new layer begins and already before ovulation the endometrium is able to accept a mature egg;
2. Ovulatory. When the follicle has become dominant, its size continues to increase. Soon he becomes ready and his gradual rupture begins. At the same time, the mature egg moves into the fallopian tube, and luteinizing hormone increases. Then there are two options:

• Direct fertilization of an egg by a sperm. Pregnancy. No bleeding;
• Conception has not taken place and the unfertilized egg dies;

1. Luteal (corpus luteum phase). The normal duration is 12-16 days. After a mature follicle ruptures, its cells increase the amount of lipids and luteal pigment. During this period, it becomes yellow and develops into the corpus luteum, which prepares the uterus for conception, pregnancy and gestation. If fertilization does not take place, the cells of the corpus luteum are destroyed and endometrial swelling occurs. Soon it leaves the uterus in the form of bloody discharge.

How to calculate the duration of the menstrual cycle?

As mentioned earlier, cycle length is the amount of time between the start of a woman's period and the first day of her next uterine bleeding. Simply put, how many days pass between two periods.

Calculating how long a cycle lasts is not difficult. For example, if a woman had her last period on August 28, and her next period began on September 26, then the length of her cycle is considered 30 days and is normal. In this example, 08.28 is the first day, and 09.25 is the last, since 09.26 already begins the countdown of the next menstrual period.

It must be remembered that the length of the cycle is not affected by how long the bleeding itself lasts (3, 5 or 7 days). The main thing is to remember the day they started.

Determining cycle duration based on symptoms

Most women determine the beginning and end of the menstrual cycle, paying attention to changes in the body, well-being and discharge. For example, based on these symptoms, you can easily recognize:

1. Changes in the amount and nature of discharge (can be copious and stringy);
2. Increase in basal temperature;
3. Increased sexual desire.

It is also not difficult to determine the end of the monthly cycle, which is expressed in premenstrual syndrome. Signs of approaching menstruation begin about a week before the end of the cycle and are clearly felt:

1. Swelling of the mammary glands, increased breast sensitivity. Sometimes the appearance of pain, a feeling of “fullness”;
2. Emotionality, mood swings, tearfulness;
3. The appearance of pimples and blackheads on the face and back;
4. Bloating, swelling;
5. Headache;
6. Feeling tired.

Possible violations

The length of the menstrual cycle varies throughout life. After childbirth, it becomes unstable, “jumps” of menstruation appear, and during breastfeeding it is completely absent. The cause of this disorder is the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for the production of breast milk. After stopping breastfeeding, the cycle is gradually restored. This process is not a pathology and does not require any intervention.

How long a woman's cycle lasts and its course is affected by many diseases. It can be:

1. Endometriosis. The presence of inflammatory processes in endometrial tissue;
2. Algomenorrhea. During bleeding, it causes pain of varying intensity. Sometimes causes vomiting;
3. Tumor, uterine fibroids;
4. Polycystic disease;
5. Dysmenorrhea. Manifests itself in the form of the onset of menstruation before or after the due date;
6. Inflammation of the ovaries;
7. Oligomenorrhea. Bloody discharge is scanty and rarely occurs;
8. Amenorrhea. No periods for more than 6 months. Possible development of infertility.

Treatment of cycle irregularities

First of all, the gynecologist conducts an examination and is interested in the length of the previous menstrual cycle, the presence of pain, heavy discharge, diseases, including chronic ones. Taking medications plays an important role. Some of them have a strong impact on women's health and contribute to changes in the pelvic organs.

To accurately identify the cause of the disorder and make a correct diagnosis of the patient, a number of tests may be prescribed (pelvic ultrasound, smear, blood, etc.). The results obtained make it possible to choose the right treatment method.

Often, the doctor prescribes hormonal treatment and prescribes appropriate medications. They correct hormone imbalances, restore their normal balance and regulate the onset of menstruation.

If a violation of the menstrual cycle is caused by any disease, you must be under the supervision of a specialist. This will help avoid the development of serious complications.

A normal menstrual cycle is the main indicator of women's health. If it is violated, women experience heavy or very scanty bleeding. In this way, the body gives a signal about the disease, to which it is necessary to respond and visit a doctor.