Normal length of the menstrual cycle. How to count the menstrual cycle - phases and methods of calculation. When deviations are not considered a violation

The beginning of menstruation is always an important and exciting stage in the life of every woman. This is a kind of evidence from the body that it has matured and requires further development. It is important to know which menstrual cycle is considered normal. After all, only by the nature of the discharge and the regularity of menstrual periods at any age can one already judge many pathological conditions, including the likelihood of pregnancy. Many women, losing relatively large volumes of blood every month, consider this normal, especially if friends and relatives had similar conditions. Normally, critical days should not disrupt your general well-being and interfere with your normal way of life. How to understand where in which case there is already pathology, what do normal periods look like?

Read in this article

When does a girl get her period?

Puberty of children today is significantly different from what it was, for example, 20 - 25 years ago. If our grandmothers and mothers can tell stories about how they started menstruating at the age of 14 and 16, now this is an exception rather than a pattern.

But just like the duration of the cycle, the duration can be affected by all of the above factors, leading to the fact that the critical days proceed a little differently than usual. Additionally, the following can change the duration:

• Sexual intercourse during menstrual periods. Having sex at the beginning and end of your period can cause it to increase slightly but decrease the number of days. This is explained by the fact that during sexual intercourse, oxytocin is released, which causes contraction of the uterus, and this leads to the rapid cleansing of its cavity. Sex during heavy discharge usually causes it to increase even more.
• The intrauterine device, being in the uterine cavity, in many women contributes to an increase in the amount of discharge and the duration of critical days up to 14 days. A few days before and after menstruation is considered normal. It all depends on the individual properties of the body.
• While taking oral contraceptives, the nature of menstruation changes significantly. In most cases, the number of days is reduced to 2 - 4, and the discharge can only be spotty throughout its entire duration.

Norms of blood loss during critical days

How should a normal period go? Ideally, in 5 - 7 critical days, a woman can lose up to 150 - 200 ml of blood with discharge without harm to her health. On average, this is 50 - 70 ml per day. With this cycle, one package of pads containing 5-6 drops is usually enough for a month, provided they are almost completely filled.

Etiology. The ovaries and pituitary gland are responsible for the formation of the menstrual cycle. ... Even if a woman has long noticed that her menstruation lasts 1 day...

A 28-day menstrual cycle is considered ideal, which means that exactly 28 days pass from the beginning of one menstruation to the beginning of another. But under the influence of the environment, the state of health and the reproductive system, a woman’s lifestyle changes: for some women it is 25 days, for others it is 30 or more. Doctors consider the normal cycle length to be from 21 to 35 days, and if you deviate from this norm, it is advisable to check with a gynecologist and rule out possible diseases. If once or twice a year the cycle goes beyond these limits, but no more than ten days,...

A cycle that is too short or too long does not always indicate problems; this may be an individual feature of the woman, but it is recommended to undergo an examination.

The length of the menstrual cycle can change throughout a woman's life. With age, with changes in environment and lifestyle, due to illness and other factors, the cycle may become shorter or longer; if it remains regular, this is not a cause for concern.

Deviations from the norm

During the first year or two after the onset of the first, the menstrual cycle is irregular; several months may pass between periods, this is normal. In some cases, the cycle, on the contrary, is too short. Over time, the cycle will stabilize, but if after a few years this does not happen, you need to consult a gynecologist.

The length of your cycle may change and be outside the normal range after pregnancy or breastfeeding. In women who are breastfeeding, menstruation occurs at the end of lactation, and the cycle is restored within a few months. With mixed feeding, menstruation appears 3-4 months after birth, but the cycle also does not immediately become regular.

The duration of the cycle also changes before menopause, first for several days, then for months. When there is no menstruation for more than a year, menopause occurs.

Deviations in the duration of menstruation from the norm can be associated with inflammation of the genital organs, tumors - fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometritis. In some cases, congenital abnormalities in the reproductive system lead to too short or long menstrual cycles. Chronic diseases not directly related to the genital organs can also affect menstruation: diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction.

Menstruation is a monthly process that occurs in the female body and accompanies girls until the completion of the functioning of the reproductive system. During critical days, bleeding is observed. If we explain the process in scientific language, then menstruation is the rejection and removal of the endometrium from the vagina along with blood.

Types of menstrual flow

The first menstruation, which in gynecology is called menarche, usually begins in girls at the age of 12, and sometimes earlier. Most teenagers reach puberty by the time they turn 12. The onset of menstruation indicates that the girl’s body is ready to conceive and bear a child.

To eliminate the risk of developing pathological processes in the body, you should know about the types of discharge that are normal, as well as which menstruation signals a possible illness.

Menstruation can be of several types:

Normal menstrual flow should be bright red in color, but later it turns brown.

Each type of menstruation has its own causes, which only a doctor can determine.

What happens in the body

During menstruation, the endometrium is torn away from the uterus and excreted in the form of menstrual flow from the vagina. Blood contains enzymes that prevent it from clotting.

The remains of the endometrium are quickly removed from the female body due to the flow of blood fluid. Its volume depends on the cyclical characteristics and duration of menstruation for each specific representative of the fair sex.

If the egg is fertilized, the endometrium is renewed. For 9 months it protects the embryo. If pregnancy does not occur, the endometrium is excreted from the body along with the blood.

Signs of approaching critical days

Many women experience discomfort before and during menstruation. The reason for this is increased hormonal activity. According to statistics, 45% of women may not feel discomfort during menstruation.

The main signs of the onset of menstruation are:

Duration of critical days

Menstruation accompanies a woman throughout her reproductive period and ends with the onset of menopause. Monthly menstrual bleeding lasts from 3 to 7 days. Girls' first periods are heavy and long.

What is the menstrual cycle

This is the period of time from the beginning of one period to the onset of the next.

Regularity and duration

The duration of the period may vary for different girls. Typically, the menstrual cycle varies from 21 to 35 days. Small deviations are considered normal if the delay does not exceed 10 days.

The female body is constantly influenced by various environmental factors: illness, stress, poor ecology, nervous strain. All of them affect the regularity and duration of the menstrual period.

Cycle phases

Every woman who wants to understand the specifics of her physiological nature should know what happens in her body during menstruation. There are several phases of the cycle:

1. Follicular. In the first half of menstruation, the production of one of the main female hormones, estrogen, increases. It prepares the girl’s body for pregnancy, creates favorable conditions for possible conception, and strengthens bone tissue. Estrogen performs the main function, which is to thicken the endometrium.

In parallel with this process, a follicle grows in the ovaries. It is a small vesicle with an egg inside.

1. Luteal. On days 14-16 of the menstrual cycle, the follicle leaves the ovary and enters the fallopian tube. It can meet the sperm, after which ovulation occurs. The main feature of this process is the rapid production of sex hormones, which provide favorable conditions for subsequent pregnancy.

The highest chances of embryo implantation are established 2-3 days before ovulation and on the first day of the process. If the egg and sperm meet during this period, then the probability of pregnancy is very high.

Menstruation begins when conception has not occurred. After this, the endometrium is renewed again.

If we connect the phases of the period with the possibility of fertilization, this will allow us to draw the following conclusions:

1. With a 28-day menstrual cycle from the beginning of menstruation to the 11th day, fertilization will occur with a very low probability.
2. The right time for conception is set on days 12-16 of the menstrual cycle. Then the chances of fertilization are quite high.
3. From the 17th to the 28th day of the period, the probability of getting pregnant is very low.
4. It should be noted that calculations are effective only with a regular menstrual cycle. Violations can lead to any outcome. In addition, each woman’s body is individual, so you should not rely on calculations.

Girls are advised to celebrate the beginning of each period. This method will allow you to track the duration and regularity of the menstrual cycle. In addition, a woman may not immediately remember when her next period should begin, and the calendar will help her with this. In addition, this method will allow you to calculate the day of ovulation, as well as control the regularity of the menstrual cycle.

Disorders of the menstrual cycle

Critical days can occur with various disturbances. There are several etiological factors that lead to failures.

Frequent menstrual dysfunctions are:

1. Opsomenorrhea. This is a cycle disorder in which menstruation occurs infrequently and longer than usual. Pathology can be primary or secondary. The first type develops due to an abnormality of the female genital organs or some illness. Secondary opsomenorrhea is caused by pathological processes that disrupt brain functions.
2. Polymenorrhea. Characterized by a short interval between menstruation. The disease does not always have a pathological origin. When girls enter puberty, the menstrual cycle begins gradually. During menopause, polymenorrhea can develop due to the attenuation of the hormonal function of the ovaries. During childbearing age, it signals pathological causes of cycle disruption.
3. Oligomenorrhea. With this disease, menstruation occurs at intervals of 40 days or more. Discharge may appear only 2-3 times a year, and the duration of menstruation ranges from 2-3 hours to several days. The most common cause of oligomenorrhea is ovarian dysfunction.
4. Proyomenorrhea. The pathology is characterized by short intervals of the menstrual cycle - less than 20 days. Development factors may be different. Among them are excessive physical or emotional stress, hormonal imbalance, heart, kidney and liver diseases.
5. Hypermenorrhea. During this illness, excessive amounts of fluid are released. The pathology may be a consequence of a blood disease that does not clot well.
6. Hypomenorrhea. This is a condition characterized by scanty periods, when the discharge is represented by a few drops of blood. The cause may be dysfunction of the ovaries and pituitary gland.

Conclusion

Menstruation is a natural physiological process that occurs in a woman’s body. Thanks to modern technologies, critical days do not bring discomfort to the fair sex. Ladies can play sports, visit the swimming pool, cultural places, and participate in competitions. The main thing is to monitor the regularity of the menstrual cycle and, in case of any deviations, contact a specialist to avoid complications. Women should take care of their health.

Each female body is individual and the processes occurring in it can differ significantly for each of them. Therefore, you don’t need to look up to your friends, who seem to have everything perfect, but you need to accept yourself as you are.

Menstruation begins in early adolescence and continues throughout the entire childbearing period, gradually fading away by the time of menopause. From the moment of the first menstruation, it can take from a year to a year and a half before the cycle evens out and returns to normal.

But this does not mean at all that it will remain so throughout life, because various factors influencing the functioning of the female reproductive system can change the average duration of the menstrual cycle, both up and down.

How many days does a normal menstrual cycle last?

The normal length of the menstrual cycle is not a clear norm for every woman. For some it is 21 days, and for some it may be 35 days. Both are normal for an individual woman. But according to statistics, in most cases (about 60%), the menstrual cycle is 28 days.

If a woman suddenly notices that her cycle has become shorter or, on the contrary, lengthened, then perhaps we are talking about a hormonal imbalance in the body or some disease that is accompanied by a change in the duration of the cycle. It is unacceptable to self-medicate in order to return it to normal, because even such seemingly harmless drugs as herbs can cause serious harm when a woman is not examined and diagnoses herself.

Often, a slight disruption in the menstrual cycle is caused by various stressful situations, and even climate change. It is enough to eliminate this and everything returns to normal. Very vulnerable and impressionable people need to try to avoid conflict situations and emotional stress, even positive ones. Here, valerian and motherwort preparations, which can be taken without a doctor’s prescription, will help correct the psycho-emotional sphere.

Depending on the duration of the menstrual cycle, deviations can be as follows:

1. Polymenorrhea– when the interval between the onset of the next menstruation is less than three weeks.
2. Oligomenorrhea– more than 35 days pass before the next period.
3. Amenorrhea– a condition when menstruation does not occur for more than six months.

The nature of menstrual bleeding and the accompanying symptoms also differ:

1. PMS– the notorious premenstrual syndrome, when the mood is extremely unstable, there are weight fluctuations and chest pain of varying intensity.
2. Hypomenorrhea– bleeding lasts less than three days.
3. Hypermenorrhea– menstrual bleeding exceeds the limit of seven days.
4. Menorrhagia– prolonged (up to two weeks) bleeding.
5. – intermenstrual bleeding and spotting.
6. – very painful course of the menstrual period.

If a woman knows how many days of the menstrual cycle are normal and sees that her schedule is significantly different, this means that there is no way to do without treatment. After all, such deviations, not very noticeable at first glance, can lead to serious health problems in the future.

Early diagnosis of any disease, as is known, gives a good chance of recovery from any misfortune. To bring the cycle duration back to normal, three months of therapy with natural-based drugs is often enough. When the problem is not solved immediately after it occurs, it may take many months of hormone treatment for the body to return to normal.

Men and women differ from each other in many ways, the main one being their role in procreation. The highest purpose of a woman is to give birth to a child. The female body prepares for this long before the start of the menstrual cycle, which is a signal of readiness for conception.

Long before the moment when the first menstruation occurs, the body of a teenage girl undergoes some changes. As a rule, this occurs from the age of 8.

• Breast development. This process can last from 12 to 36 months. The nipple rises and the muscle tissue of the mammary gland begins to increase in size. The first menstruation usually begins 2 years after the start of the process.
• Body hair growth. Hair in the pubic area begins to grow, initially thin and soft. Then the vegetation becomes tougher and denser. Hair also appears in the armpits. The first menstruation occurs 12-24 months after this stage.
• Discharge from the genitals. The surest sign that your first period will begin soon is mucous, clear vaginal discharge. From the moment these discharges appear, it often takes from 6 to 12 months.

Girls' first menstruation can begin between the ages of 11 and 14. The optimal and most common term is 12 years. Often, a teenage girl begins her period at about the same age as her mother. Therefore, what is menstruation, why do girls have periods, where do periods come from, why are periods needed - explain in advance so that this phenomenon does not cause psychological imbalance or stress.

The question of how long the first period lasts is difficult to answer. Usually this can be one or two days with light discharge (“spot” or a few drops of blood). How long girls' periods last is an individual aspect. But the menstrual cycle is usually unstable and can last up to 45 days for the first time. Over time, the body will establish periods in girls and develop its own rhythm.

What are periods? The menstrual cycle is a very complex process regulated by hormones. To put it simply, the cerebral cortex sends signals to the hypothalamus, which, with the help of releasing hormones, affects the pituitary gland. It secretes tropic hormones, which send a corresponding signal to the hormonal glands, which, in turn, also secrete hormones. They stimulate the reproductive system, provoking it to perform certain functions.

You should know that the first day of your period marks the beginning of the menstrual cycle. What menstrual cycle is considered normal - from 21 to 35 days (plus or minus 5-7 days in one direction or another).

A normal menstrual cycle has the following stages.

• Follicular. Under the influence of estrogen, the follicle with the egg grows and develops. There are several of them, but only one becomes dominant and matures for ovulation. It is this stage that determines the duration of the entire cycle, since all subsequent ones last approximately the same amount of time. By the end of this period, the egg has fully matured and is released from the ovary. It is during this period that the most favorable time for conception, which should be taken into account when planning a pregnancy.
• Corpus luteum phase. At the site of the ruptured follicle, immediately after ovulation, the corpus luteum begins to form, secreting progesterone and estradiol - hormones that prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy. If conception has occurred, the corpus luteum continues to grow and secrete hormones until the placenta is formed. If the egg is not fertilized, it gradually turns into scar tissue and hormone production stops.
• Zero (ahormonal) phase – the beginning of menstruation. At this time, the functional layer of the uterus is torn away, damaging the small blood vessels on the walls, and exits through the vagina. This is why menstruation is accompanied by bleeding.

How much blood a woman loses during menstruation depends on the physiological characteristics of the body and psychological state. As a rule, from 50 to 250 ml per day, if women’s periods pass without pathologies.

How much blood a woman loses during her period during her entire cycle depends on how long her period is. If the menstrual cycle is normal, and menstruation lasted 3-5 days with normal blood loss, then the body recovers on its own quite quickly. If it is more than 7 days, then even 150-200 ml per day can cause anemia.

In this situation, which lasts more than one month, it is necessary to undergo examination by a specialist to exclude the development of pathologies of the reproductive system.

Menstruation cycle - processes

Why menstruation is needed will become clear if we consider the processes that accompany the normal menstrual cycle. This is what happens during menstruation in a woman's body.

• The first days (usually from 3 to 5) there is a slow separation of the functional layer of the endometrium of the uterus. It is accompanied by bleeding, along with which the remains of an unfertilized egg are released.
• On the second day of menstruation, the functional layer of the mucous membrane begins to recover. This process is completed by the fifth or sixth day.
• The uterine lining begins to prepare to receive a fertilized egg. The functional layer of the endometrium thickens approximately 4-6 times.
• During fertilization, the corpus luteum actively produces hormones and forms the placenta. If fertilization does not occur, it dies, stopping the production of hormones.
• Due to a lack of hormones, the functional layer undergoes hypoxic changes, is rejected and removed outside. The next menstruation begins.

How much blood comes out during menstruation depends on the individual characteristics of the woman’s body, as well as on some other factors that may indicate problems.

Normal and problematic periods

How many days should menstruation last normally is different for each woman. But there are several standards that indicate that the menstrual cycle in women can be called normal.

• It is considered normal for the discharge to be abundant from the first day, sometimes even with small clots. They gradually become scarcer and stop on about 5-7 days (depending on how many days menstruation lasts in each individual case).
• Menstruation begins with a scanty, dark-colored “smudge,” and the amount of discharge increases gradually. The heaviest discharge is observed on days 3-4.
• Blood discharge may change in intensity during menstruation. At first it is scanty, then abundantly, on the 3-4th day it practically stops, and on the 5th day it becomes strong again. But by day 7 the process is completed completely.

Another aspect - what color the period should be, may indicate the normal course of the process or the presence of pathologies.

• It is considered normal if in the first days the color of the blood is deep scarlet. But this depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. It can be called normal if in the first days there is a red-brown color, which turns scarlet on days 2-3.
• By the middle of menstruation, the color becomes darker and the consistency of the discharge is a little thicker.
• By the end of the cycle, the discharge becomes almost brown in color.

This is the average norm for menstruation, which lasts about 7 days. If menstruation lasts 5 days, then the color can change even during the day.

Ways to count your own cycle

• the first day of menstruation should be considered the first day of the cycle;
• note the duration (3-5-7 days);
• count down approximately 14 days for ovulation;
• count the number of days per corpus luteum phase;
• We celebrate the onset of the next menstruation.

Thus, you can calculate how your periods progress individually, which is very important when planning a pregnancy.

How long menstruation lasts depends on the body, age, existing diseases (chronic or acute), psychological state, childbirth and abortion.

Every woman should know about menstruation, because there are some points that should alert you and prompt you to consult a specialist.

• Amenorrhea – stopping or delay of menstruation. The period of pregnancy and breastfeeding does not count.
• Hypermenorrhea or menorrhagia is prolonged or painful periods. The duration of discharge is more than 7 days with high abundance or very painful (pains reminiscent of labor pains).
• PMS (premenstrual syndrome). Women's critical days pass with great psychological discomfort, which occurs a few days before menstruation. If such a condition significantly affects the quality of life and turns into a phobia, medication correction is required.

• Irregular periods in women may indicate a hormonal imbalance, which can have consequences at a young age. Practical medicine claims that such periods in girls can be observed until the moment of regular sexual activity. During menopause, hormonal activity decreases and this is considered normal. If your cycle changes more than 3 times a year, rush to see a doctor.
• Short cycle. A menstrual cycle lasting less than 21 days, if repeated within 3 months, is a reason to visit a specialist.

Rules of hygiene and behavior during menstruation

Every woman should know what menstruation is. Depending on how many days the discharge lasts and how abundant it is, you will need a certain amount of personal hygiene products:

• Pads and tampons used during this time must be changed at least once every 6 hours. However, depending on how much blood is coming out, more frequent changes may be necessary;
• You should wash yourself at least 3-4 times during the day;
• linen must be clean so as not to create a favorable environment for germs.

We have already found out what menstruation is, how long it lasts normally, what menstruation is for. But few people know about the rules of behavior, which are slightly different from everyday ones. The following processes cannot be done or must be significantly reduced:

• Limit physical activity as there may be increased discharge or bleeding.
• Swim in ponds, pools, take a bath or steam in a sauna.
• Drink alcoholic drinks, including low-alcohol ones.
• Having sex, although this is now left to the woman's discretion.
• Take any medications without consulting a doctor, especially new medications that have not yet been used.
• Be exposed to hypothermia.
• Carry out any cosmetic procedures.
• Eat spicy, fried, heavy foods.

Knowing why menstruation occurs, what happens to a woman’s body during this period and how to behave is important knowledge that helps reduce discomfort from menstruation, identify possible pathologies and seek help in time.