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Menstruation (Menstrual Cycle, Period)

by | Jun 2, 2022 | Info | 0 comments

Menstruation (Menstrual Cycle, Period) Overview

Medically, menstruation (also termed period or bleeding) is the process in a woman of discharging (through the vagina) blood and tissue from the lining of the uterus at about one monthly interval from puberty until menopause (ceasing of regular menstrual cycles), except during pregnancy. This discharging process lasts about 3-5 days.

Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle helps the body prepare for pregnancy every month. It also makes you have a period if you’re not pregnant. The menstrual cycle and period are controlled by hormones like estrogen and progesterone.

It is a part of the monthly menstrual cycle (regular cycling of hormones) that occur in the female reproductive system that makes pregnancy possible.

How it works?

Every normal human female has 2 ovaries, and each one holds a bunch of eggs. The eggs are super tiny and are too small to see with the naked eye.

During the regular menstrual cycle, hormones make the eggs in the ovaries mature, and when an egg is mature, that means it’s ready to be fertilized by a sperm cell.

These hormones also make the lining of the uterus thick and spongy. So, if the egg does get fertilized, it has a nice cushy place to land and start a pregnancy. This lining is made of tissue and blood, like almost everything else inside our bodies. It has lots of nutrients to help a pregnancy grow.

About halfway through the menstrual cycle, the hormones tell one of the ovaries to release a mature egg. This is called ovulation. Most people don’t feel it when they ovulate, but some ovulation symptoms are bloating, spotting, or a little pain in your lower belly that you may only feel on one side.

Once the egg leaves the ovary, it travels through one of the fallopian tubes toward the uterus.

If pregnancy doesn’t happen, the body doesn’t need the thick lining in the uterus. The lining breaks down, and the blood, nutrients, and tissue flow out of the body through the vagina.

If a person does get pregnant, the body needs the lining, that’s why the period stops during pregnancy. The periods comes back when you’re not pregnant anymore.


What is a Normal Menstrual Cycle?

The menstrual cycle is a term used to describe the sequence of events that occur within a woman’s body as it prepares for the possibility of pregnancy each month. A menstrual cycle is considered to begin on the first day of a period.

The average cycle is 28 days long; however, a cycle can range in length from 21 days to about 35 days.

The steps in the menstrual cycle are triggered by the rise and fall of chemicals in the body called hormones. The pituitary gland in the brain and the ovaries in the female reproductive tract manufacture and release certain hormones.

At certain times during the menstrual cycle that cause the organs of the reproductive tract to respond in certain ways. The specific events that occur during the menstrual cycle can be described as follows:

  • The menses phase: This phase, which typically lasts from day one to day five, is the time when the lining of the uterus is actually shed out through the vagina if pregnancy has not occurred. Most women bleed for three to five days, but a period lasting only two days to as many as seven days is still considered normal.
  • The follicular phase: This phase typically takes place from days six to 14. During this time, the level of the hormone estrogen rises, which causes the lining of the uterus (called the endometrium) to grow and thicken. In addition, another hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone causes follicles in the ovaries to grow. During days 10 to 14, one of the developing follicles will form a fully mature egg (ovum).
  • Ovulation: This phase occurs roughly at about day 14 in a 28-day menstrual cycle. A sudden increase in another hormone, luteinizing hormone causes the ovary to release its egg. This event is called ovulation.
  • The luteal phase: This phase lasts from about day 15 to day 28. After the egg is released from the ovary it begins to travel through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. The level of the hormone progesterone rises to help prepare the uterine lining for pregnancy. If the egg becomes fertilized by a sperm and attaches itself to the uterine wall, the woman becomes pregnant. If pregnancy does not occur, estrogen and progesterone levels drop, and the thickened lining of the uterus is shed during the menstrual period.

When does Menstruation (Menstrual Cycle, Period) Starts?

During puberty, blood starts coming out of the vagina, and that’s the first period. Most people get their first period between ages 12 and 14, but some people get them earlier or later than that. There’s no way to know exactly when you’ll get it, but you may feel some premenstrual syndrome (PMS) syndrome a few days before it happens.

Many people get emotional and have cramps before and during their periods. This is sometimes called PMS. Cramps and PMS are normal and can be treated. If you don’t get your period by the time, you’re 16, it’s a good idea to visit a doctor.

Most people stop getting their period when they’re between 45 and 55 years old, this is called menopause. Menopause can take a few years, and periods usually change gradually during this time. After menopause is totally complete, it is not possible to get pregnant anymore.

Your period may start and stop around the time it did for other people you’re related to, like your mother, sisters or other close relatives.

Signs and Symptoms of Menstruation

Following are some of the signs and symptoms of a normal menstruation:

  • Acne
  • Bloating
  • Breast soreness
  • Cramps in the lower abdomen and back
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Food cravings
  • Headache
  • Moodiness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Tenderness in the breasts


How to Track Menstrual Cycle

To find out what’s normal for you, start keeping a record of your menstrual cycle on a calendar. Begin by tracking your start date every month for several months in a row to identify the regularity of your periods.

If you’re concerned about your periods, then also make note of the following every month:

  • Abnormal bleeding: Are you bleeding in between periods?
  • End date: How long does your period typically last? Is it longer or shorter than usual?
  • Flow: Record the heaviness of your flow. Does it seem lighter or heavier than usual? How often do you need to change your sanitary protection? Have you passed any blood clots?
  • Pain: Describe any pain associated with your period. Does the pain feel worse than usual?
  • Other changes. Have you experienced any changes in mood or behavior? Did anything new happen around the time of change in your periods?

What Causes Menstrual Cycle Irregularities?

Menstrual cycle irregularities can have many different causes, including the following:

  • Pregnancy or breast-feeding: A missed period can be an early sign of pregnancy. Breast-feeding typically delays the return of menstruation after pregnancy.
  • Eating disorders, extreme weight loss or excessive exercising: Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, extreme weight loss and increased physical activity can disrupt menstruation.
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Women with this common endocrine system disorder may have irregular periods as well as enlarged ovaries that contain small collections of fluid, called follicles, located in each ovary as seen during an ultrasound exam.
  • Premature ovarian failure: Premature ovarian failure refers to the loss of normal ovarian function before age 40. Women who have premature ovarian failure, also known as primary ovarian insufficiency, might have irregular or occasional periods for years.
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): This infection of the reproductive organs can cause irregular menstrual bleeding.
  • Uterine fibroids: Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus. They can cause heavy menstrual periods and prolonged menstrual periods.

How to Prevent Menstrual Irregularities?

For some women, use of birth control pills can help regulate menstrual cycles. Treatment for any underlying problems, such as an eating disorder, also might help. However, some menstrual irregularities can’t be prevented.


Treatment for Pain and other Symptoms caused by Menstruation

Treatment for the causes of menstrual pain depend on what the cause is, and may include birth control pills, heavy or prolonged periods, IUDs, noninflammatory steroid drugs (NSAIDs), for example, ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), and other-the-counter pain (OTC) medications to relive pain and cramping.

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Women should change the pad/tampon before it becomes soaked with blood (about every 4 to 8 hours); follow directions on the box to help avoid TSS (toxic shock syndrome), a potentially deadly disease. Call your doctor or other health professional if you have any abnormalities in your period, for example, excessive bleeding, no periods, severe pain, fever with tampon use, sudden irregularities, and other problems.

Spotting vs Period

Spotting refers to very light vaginal bleeding or brown discharge that occurs between menstrual periods. The menstrual period (menstrual cycle, periods) refers to the monthly vaginal bleeding that is experienced by women of reproductive age (and ovulate). Most women know that their period is approaching.

Similar signs and symptoms of periods and spotting include bloating and cramps in the pelvic area. Signs and symptoms of spotting that are different from periods include slight weight gain and tender breasts.

Signs and symptoms of periods that do not occur in spotting include pain and/or burning during sex or while urination and vaginal redness, itching, or discharge.

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