Introduction
Menstruation is a natural process that happens to women around the age of 11 to 45. It is a monthly occurrence that prepares the body for a potential pregnancy.
While menstruation is a normal bodily function, it is often accompanied by a lot of pain and discomfort. In this article, let us discuss in detail about menstruation.
What is menarche?
Menarche is the beginning of a teen’s first period when they hit puberty. This happens when the female sex hormone progesterone and estrogen begin to function. It happens around 10 to 15 years of age.
Although menarche can happen anytime, there are a few signs and symptoms with which we can predict it:
- Breast development
- Rapid body growth
- Pubic hair growth
- Spotting
- Acne
What is menstruation?
Menstruation also called periods is when the menstrual blood from the uterus passes out the body through the vagina.
Menstruation is a common phenomenon in women of the reproductive age (around 12 to 45). Every month after puberty, the lining of the uterus prepares itself for pregnancy.
When pregnancy doesn’t happen, the hormones estrogen and progesterone start to fall which causes the shedding of uterine lining leading to periods.
In short, Each month, one of the ovaries from the body releases an egg. If the egg isn’t fused by a sperm, menstruation happens.
What is a menstrual cycle?
A menstrual cycle days of a woman is the time from the first day of your period till the last day before getting the next period.
Ideally, a woman is said to have a regular or normal menstrual cycle if the number of days between two periods is around 23 to 35 days.
The day you get your period is called the day 1 of your cycle and the day before your next period is the last day of the cycle.
The phases of menstrual cycle
The four phases of the menstrual cycle are:
- Menstruation : Starts on the first day of periods or menstrual cycle and goes till 3 to 7 days till bleeding from the vagina stops.
- Follicular phase: Starts on the first day of periods and goes on till the 13th day of the cycle. In this phase, the pituitary gland produces a hormone which stimulates follicles in the ovary.
- Ovulation: The phase where the mature egg is released from the ovary and is waiting to be fused by the sperm. The released egg stays alive for up to 24 hours.
- Luteal phase: After ovulation, the body produces progesterone and some estrogen which thickens the uterus lining to prepare for the baby. If pregnancy happens, corpus luteum (mass of cells that grows in the ovary to prepare for the baby) continues to produce progesterone and estrogen. If not, then menstruation occurs.
When do menstruation start?
Teens get their first period usually around the age of 10 to 15. Although there isn’t any particular way to predict the exact time, puberty usually happens within 2 years of breast development and slight vaginal discharge a few months before getting their first period.
When do menstruation stop?
After menopause, periods stop completely. Menopause is a natural aging process that typically happens around the age of 45 and 55.
What is PMS?
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a set of both physical and emotional symptoms that most women go through before their menstrual cycle.
Although it is a common phenomena, the symptoms can vary with every individual.
Common signs and symptoms of PMS:
- Abdominal cramps
- Mood swings
- Joint pain
- Insomnia
- Food cravings
- Fatigue
- Breast tenderness
- Bloating
- Anxiety
Premenstrual cramps can be as painful as menstrual cramps. If there are extreme cramps, it is important to consult with a doctor and do not self medicate yourself.
Signs and symptoms of menstruation
The usual signs and symptoms of menstruation, also called as PMS (Premenstrual syndrome) are:
- Vaginal discharge
- Abdominal or period cramps
- Body pain
- Headache
- Mood swings
- Food cravings
Period pain relief
Period pain or menstrual cramps is something a lot of women face during the menstrual cycle.
While the pain is bearable for some, others find it difficult to manage the pain. In that case, there are a lot of period pain relief products one can use to soothe the pain.
Popular period cramp relief products include:
- Hot water bag/ Electric heating pad
- Pain relief patch or roll on
A few natural period cramp relief options are:
- Warm bath
- Essential oils application
- Herbal teas (ginger, chamomile)
- Abdomen massage
Apart from this, there are a lot of pain relief medications available over the counter. But, it is important to consult with a gynecologist before using any medicine.
What is a regular and irregular menstrual cycle?
The average number of days between 2 menstrual periods is called a menstrual cycle. If the number of days is less than 23 days or longer than 35 days, it is considered to be an irregular menstrual cycle.
Why should I keep track of my menstrual cycle?
It is important to track your menstrual cycle to:
- Predict ovulation: Ovulation typically happens around the 14 days of the cycle. To track ovulation, it is important to track your menstrual cycle.
- Plan pregnancy: If you are planning pregnancy, it is important to time ovulation with intercourse. To track ovulation, you must definitely track your menstrual cycle.
- Prepare for menstruation: It is important to keep menstrual hygiene products such as sanitary pads, tampons or menstrual cups ready when your period arrives.
- Analyze your body: Periods are one of the main things that get affected when there are any issues in the reproductive system. Hence it is important to track your period and analyze your health.
- Detect irregular periods: if you are battling irregular periods, tracking the menstrual cycle is the best way to know if your periods are regular.
How much should I bleed during my period?
Ideally, women bleed up to 20 to 40 ml of blood during their menstrual cycle every month and sometimes, it may go up to 60 ml.
But if the bleeding is so heavy and you drench a pad or tampon every hour, you need to consult with your gynecologist immediately as this can be a cause of underlying medical conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids.
When should I worry about my period?
You should worry if your period is:
Irregular: If your menstrual cycle is shorter than 21 days or if it is longer than 38 days per cycle.
Heavy bleeding: If you drench one sanitary pad, tampon, or fill up a menstrual cup with menstrual blood in 1 or 2 hours
Heavy cramps: If you experience heavy menstrual cramps that you cannot bear
Heavy spotting: If you experience persistent spotting throughout the cycle
Vaginal discharge: If the discharge is green or brown in colour, chunky and foul smelling.
Blood clots: If you have persistent blood clot discharge that are bigger in size
Longer days: If your period lasts longer than 7 days.
When can I get pregnant during my menstrual cycle?
There are high chances for you to get pregnant during the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle.
Ovulation usually happens around the 14 th day of your cycle considering the first day of menstruation is the first day of the cycle.
But for those with irregular periods, ovulation might not happen on the 14th day.
It is important to track your ovulation to predict the ovulation and time it with intercourse to increase the chances of conceiving.
How to track ovulation?
The best way to track ovulation are:
1. Follicular study
Follicular study is the study of follicles as the name suggests. The healthcare expert monitors the follicles and when the dominant follicle grows around 20 mm in size, a dose of HCG is given to rupture the egg.
Ovulation typically happens around 24 to 36 hours of the HCG dosage. This is one of the most reliable means of predicting ovulation.
2. OPKs (Ovulation Prediction Kits)
Ovulation predictor kits available in the market can be used to predict ovulation. Just like pregnancy kits, ovulation kits use urine to predict ovulation.
The LH (luteinizing hormone) increases when ovulation happens. The ovulation prediction kit checks for the rise in LH hormone and shows 2 lines predicting egg release.
3. Monitor the basal body temperature
The basal body temperature is the temperature of your body when it is fully at rest or immediately after waking up. The basal body temperature slightly rises when ovulation happens.
The average basal body temperature of a woman is 96 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit. But during ovulation, it slightly rises to 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Seek a healthcare professional
It is important to consult with a gynecologist to predict ovulation and increase the chances of conceiving.
Common Menstrual problems
It is important to consult with a doctor if you face one or more of symptoms such as:
- Irregular periods
- Painful periods
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Bleeding in between periods
- PMS
Vaginal discharge
Vaginal discharge is the release of fluid and cells from the vagina. It is usually of clear, white or off-white in colour.
It is a natural phenomenon which occurs throughout the menstrual cycle which helps keep the vagina clean and healthy.
Most women experience vaginal discharge before their period and during ovulation.
The colour and the thickness of the vaginal discharge or the cervical mucus changes with regards to the menstrual phase.
But when the vaginal discharge is chunky, foamy or brown, green , gray in colour, it is important to consult with a gynecologist as it is not considered normal.
Vaginal discrete before period
The vaginal discharge before periods is usually white and stretchy.
Menstrual hygiene
Menstrual hygiene is taking care of the genital area preventing it from any infections.
Maintaining menstrual hygiene is very crucial as it has a huge impact on the overall wellbeing of the body.
Menstrual hygiene tips
It is important to follow a few things in order to maintain proper menstrual hygiene.
- Wash your hands before and after using any menstrual products
- Clean the genital area with clean water.
- Change the sanitary pads / tampons every 3- 4 hours.
- Ensure to clean the menstrual cup well before and after use.
- Maintain the pH level of the vaginal area.
- Do not use any harsh chemicals in and around the vaginal area.
- Use breathable cotton underwear.
Menstrual products
Menstrual products are the ones used during the menstruation cycle typically to absorb the menstrual fluid or collect the fluid.
Types of menstrual hygiene products
1. Sanitary pads: Sanitary pads are one of the common menstrual hygiene products that a lot of women prefer. It is easy to use and dispose of.
How to use: Simply peel the sticker on top of the adhesive and stick the pad to the inside of your panties.
If the pad has wings, fold the wings and paste it on the outer side of your panties.
It is important to change the sanitary pad after every 4 hours to maintain proper hygiene.
2. Tampons: Tampons are menstrual hygiene products that absorb the menstrual fluid made up of cotton and rayon. Tampon is a cylindrical shaped menstrual hygiene product that typically comes with strings.
How to use: Sit in a squatting position or stand by spreading your legs. Insert the tampons into the vagina aiming at the back. It is important to replace the tampon after 6 to 8 hours of application.
3. Menstrual cups: As the name suggests, menstrual cups are cup shaped menstrual hygiene products that collect menstrual fluid.
Unlike sanitary pads and tampons which absorb the menstrual fluid, a menstrual cup holds the fluid that needs to be emptied out.
How to use: Sit in a squatting position and fold the menstrual cup to desired shape and gently insert it into the vagina using your fingers.
There are many different types of menstrual cup folds which makes the insertion process easier.
It is important to dunk the fluid from the menstrual cup and clean it every 12 hours or when you feel the cup is almost full.
4. Menstrual panties or period panties: Period panties are sanitary pads that can be worn as panties and disposed of after use.
Period panties are great if you have heavy periods as they can hold a lot of fluid than a pad and are more comfortable to sleep with.
How to use: Open the wrap and take out the period panties. Wear it like how you would normally wear underwear. It is important to change the period panties after 6 to 8 hours of usage.
How does your period change over time? Will I Have Periods for the Rest of My Life?
A woman’s period can start around 10 years of age and can go on up to 50 years. These are called the reproductive years of a woman where she can get pregnant.
After 45 to 50 years, a woman attains menopause which is the end of the menstruation where she can no longer get pregnant.
After 40 to 45 years, a woman enters the pre menopausal state where the estrogen and progesterone hormones drastically reduce and the frequency and heaviness of the periods is reduced.
What is menopause?
Menopause is the end of a woman’s periods or menstrual cycle. It typically occurs around 50 years of age. It is confirmed that a woman has hit menopause when she doesn’t get her period for over 12 months.
In short, menopause means a woman’s period stops completely and she cannot become pregnant henceforth.
Before menopause, most women go through a phase called pre menopause or perimenopause where the ovulation process gradually decreases.
This is because the hormones progesterone and estrogen drop.
Symptoms of perimenopause:
- Spotting in between cycle
- Irregular or missed periods
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Hot flashes – a sudden feeling of heat in the upper body (Chest, Neck)
Conclusion
While menstruation and menstrual cramps is a common bodily function of women, it is important to consult with a doctor twice every year and get a routine gynecological check up done.
There are few gynecological problems including fibroids and PCOS that sometimes do not show any symptoms at all and can be found only during a routine gynecology check up.
It is also necessary to seek medical help when you have heavy bleeding during periods, irregular periods and other symptoms as mentioned above.
Book your appointments with Dr. Deepthi Jammi, the best gynecologist in Chennai. Contact Jammi scans at 7338771733.
Chennai women’s clinic is now Jammi Scans
FAQ
1. How many days is menstruation?
Ideally, menstrual bleeding lasts about 2 to 7 days. If the bleeding is less than 2 days or more than 7 days, it is important to consult with a gynecologist.
2. When does menstruation begin?
Menstruation usually begins around the age of 10 to 14 of teens.
3. How to delay your period?
Although there are a few home remedies and over the counter medication available to delay your period, it is important to consult with a gynecologist before taking any medication or home remedies.
4. Is 21 days between periods normal?
Although a 21 day menstrual cycle can seem short, it is still considered normal. Anywhere between 21 to 35 days is considered normal.
4. How long is ovulation?
After the egg is released from the ovary, the egg stays alive only for about 24 hours.
