Menstruation

Menstruation, often called a period, is the regular release of blood and tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. It happens because of changes in hormones and shows that pregnancy has not occurred. Special products called feminine hygiene items help people stay clean during this time.

The first period, known as menarche, usually starts during puberty between the ages of 11 and 13. But it can begin 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. Some also have painful periods or heavy bleeding. 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 happens between ages 12 and 15, though it can start as early as eight. It often begins later in the developing world and earlier in the developed world. The time between the start of one period and the next is typically 21 to 45 days for younger women and 21 to 35 days for adults, with an average of about 28 days.

During menstruation, a small amount of fluid, mostly blood, leaves the body. This fluid is reddish-brown and contains blood, mucus, and tissue from the uterus. Some people notice small clumps of blood, known as blood clots, which are normal. The body usually manages the small amount of iron lost during this process well, though very heavy bleeding can sometimes cause issues.

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, also called dysmenorrhea, can sometimes be painful enough to 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 about sexual activity. Some people feel more interested before and during ovulation, while others may feel less interested during their period. It’s normal to have interest in sexual activity at different points in the cycle, and there is no medical reason to avoid sexual intercourse during menstruation.

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, especially when the woman who has migraines is also taking the birth control pill.
• Many women with epilepsy have more seizures in a pattern linked to the menstrual cycle; this is called "catamenial epilepsy". Different patterns seem to exist (such as seizures coinciding with the time of menstruation, or coinciding with the time of ovulation), and the frequency with which they occur has not been firmly established.
• Research indicates that women have a significantly 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, just as the ovulation date often varies from cycle to cycle for the same 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 conditions that affect the normal pattern of a woman's period. Some women may have very light periods, known as hypomenorrhea, or very heavy periods, called menorrhagia. Others might have periods that come too often, known as polymenorrhea, or not come at all, which is called amenorrhea. These differences can be caused by many factors, including hormone changes or stress.

Painful periods, known as dysmenorrhea, are also common. Some women experience severe pain during their periods, which can affect their daily lives. It's important for anyone experiencing unusual or painful periods to talk to a healthcare provider, as these symptoms can sometimes indicate other health issues that need attention.

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

Menstruation can sometimes be delayed or stopped using special methods. One way is through hormonal contraception, which includes pills containing certain hormones. These pills can change the timing, amount, 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, with periods returning 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. Some groups now use the term “menstruator” to include people of all genders who menstruate.

Different cultures have various traditions and beliefs about menstruation. For example, some religions have special rules for women during this time. In many places, education about menstruation is important to help people understand it better. In some cultures, women were historically isolated during menstruation due to beliefs about purity, but these practices are changing.

Some countries have policies allowing women to take time off work during menstruation, though this is debated. Overall, the length of the menstrual cycle is about the same as the lunar cycle, but they are not related. Research also shows that the idea that women living together will have synchronized menstrual cycles is likely not true.

Other mammals

Most female mammals have an estrous cycle, which is different from the menstrual cycle. However, some close relatives of humans, like chimpanzees, do experience menstruation, similar to what humans have. This shows that menstruation is not unique to humans but is shared with some other animals.