Menstruation

Menstruation, often called a period, is when blood and tissue from the lining of the uterus come out through the vagina. It happens because of changes in hormones and shows that pregnancy has not happened. Special products help people stay clean during this time.

The first period, called menarche, usually starts during puberty between the ages of 11 and 13. But it can start as young as eight years old. The time between periods can be different for each person, usually lasting from 21 to 35 days. Bleeding generally continues for a few days to a week.

Many people feel changes in their bodies before or during their period, such as bloating, tiredness, or mood changes. These are called premenstrual syndrome or PMS. Menstruation stops during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, and it usually ends altogether around the time of menopause, which happens between the ages of 45 and 55.

Characteristics

Further information: Menstrual cycle

The first menstrual period, called menarche, usually starts between ages 12 and 15. It can begin as early as age eight. It often starts later in the developing world and earlier in the developed world. The time between the start of one period and the next is usually 21 to 45 days for younger girls and 21 to 35 days for adults, with an average of about 28 days.

During menstruation, a small amount of fluid leaves the body. This fluid is reddish-brown and contains blood and a little tissue from the uterus. Some people notice small clumps of blood, known as blood clots, which are normal. The body usually handles the small amount of iron lost during this process well.

Side effects

Many girls and women notice changes in their bodies during their menstrual cycle. Hormone levels go up and down, which can cause physical sensations such as cramps in the stomach area. These cramps can sometimes be painful and make daily activities harder. Treatments like certain medicines, heat pads, or other pain relievers can help.

The menstrual cycle can also affect how someone feels. It’s normal to have different feelings at different points in the cycle.

Moods and premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Interactions with other conditions

Known interactions between the menstrual cycle and certain health conditions include:

• Some women with neurological conditions experience increased activity of their conditions at about the same time during each menstrual cycle. For example, drops in estrogen levels may trigger migraines.
• Many women with epilepsy have more seizures in a pattern linked to the menstrual cycle; this is called "catamenial epilepsy".
• Research indicates that women have a higher likelihood of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the pre-ovulatory stage, than post-ovulatory stage.

Sexual activity

Further information: Culture and menstruation

Fertility aspects

Peak fertility (the time with the highest likelihood of pregnancy resulting from sexual intercourse) occurs during just a few days of the cycle: usually two days before and two days after the ovulation date. This corresponds to the second and the beginning of the third week in a 28-day cycle. This fertile window varies from woman to woman. A variety of methods have been developed to help individual women estimate the relatively fertile and the relatively infertile days in the cycle; these systems are called fertility awareness.

Menstrual disorders

Main article: Menstrual disorder

Menstrual disorders are health issues that change the usual pattern of a woman's period. Some women might have very light periods, called hypomenorrhea, or very heavy periods, called menorrhagia. Others may have periods that come too often, called polymenorrhea, or sometimes they might not have a period at all, which is called amenorrhea. These changes can happen because of many reasons, like hormone levels or stress.

Some women have painful periods, known as dysmenorrhea. The pain can be strong and may make daily life harder. It is important for anyone with unusual or painful periods to speak to a doctor. This helps make sure there are no other health problems that need care.

Menstrual hygiene management

Main articles: Menstrual hygiene management and Feminine hygiene

When girls and women have their periods, they use special products to catch or absorb the blood. These products include tampons, sanitary napkins, menstrual cups, and reusable cloth pads. Some products are disposable, like sanitary napkins and tampons, while others can be reused, like menstrual cups and cloth pads.

Not all women can afford these products, especially in some parts of the world. This is called "period poverty." Without proper products, women may use other materials they can find. Proper disposal of used products can also be a challenge in areas with limited waste disposal systems.

Menstrual suppression

Main article: Menstrual suppression

Sometimes, periods can be delayed or stopped using special methods. One way is by using hormonal contraception, like pills with certain hormones. These pills can change when, how much, and how often a period happens. Some women choose to skip their periods for convenience or to avoid discomfort, and this can be done safely with the right type of pill.

Another natural way periods might be delayed is through breastfeeding. When a mother breastfeeds often, it can affect the hormones in her body, which might pause her periods for a while. This varies for each woman, and periods return at different times after having a baby.

Society and culture

Main article: Culture and menstruation

The word menstruation is linked to the word moon. This is because the Latin word for month, mensis, is related to the ancient Greek word for moon, mene.

Different cultures have various traditions and beliefs about menstruation. For example, some religions have special rules for women during this time. In many places, learning about menstruation is important to help people understand it better.

Some countries have policies allowing women to take time off work during menstruation, though this is debated. The length of the menstrual cycle is about the same as the lunar cycle, but they are not related.

Other mammals

Most female mammals have an estrous cycle, which is different from the menstrual cycle. Some animals close to humans, like chimpanzees, also have menstruation, just like humans. This shows that menstruation is not only for humans but is shared with some other animals.