What is menstruation? 7 Period facts

Menstruation, also known as period - is a physiological, natural process occurring in the female body. It involves the cyclical exfoliation of the endometrium, or lining of the womb, which manifests itself in the characteristic cyclic menstrual bleeding. Menstruation takes place approximately 14 days after ovulation. Its duration and the abundance of bleeding varies from woman to woman.

Table of content:

• What is menstruation?
• When do periods start?
• When do periods start?
• How long does a period last?
• How does your period change over time?
• When do periods stops?
• 7 Period Facts
• What sanitary products should you use?
• When should you worry about your period?

What is menstruation?

What is period? Menstruation (women period) is the physiological manifestation of the menstrual cycle. The cycle is the repeated regular changes in a woman's body caused by the action of hormones. The length of the menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of bleeding until the last day before the next period. The first phase of this cycle is the menstrual phase, which is when menstruation occurs. It involves the exfoliation of the uterine mucosa, which is swollen and enlarged under the influence of hormones. The fluid coming out of the vagina during this period consists largely of blood and mucous membrane tissue. Menstruation is often accompanied by painful cramps in the lower abdomen, back pain and thigh pain.

Find out how to calculate your menstrual cycle!

When do periods start?

The first menstrual period in women usually occurs between 11 and 16 years of age. The first bleeding can occur either earlier or later. It all depends on individual circumstances - on genetic and environmental factors, but also on diet. However, it is not a rule, but it is worth remembering that if you do not have your period by the age of 17, you should consult your doctor. At first, menstruation is usually irregular, but over time the timing of the cycle and menstruation itself normalizes. Initially, the bleeding is also not very heavy. It is worth familiarising yourself with home remedies for irregular periods occurring in teenage girls.

What does a period feel like?

Menstruation can be associated with pain. This pain is most often located in the lower or middle abdomen. Sometimes, however, the pain radiates to the sacrum and thighs. Often severe menstrual pain occurs together with:

• nausea,
• headaches and dizziness,
• diarrhoea,
• abdominal cramps.

Prostaglandins are released during menstruation and cause contractions and vasoconstriction which can cause pain. In most cases, the pain associated with menstruation can be eliminated with painkillers.

How long does a period last?

The duration of menstruation varies from woman to woman. The average lasts between 2 and 7 days for a 28-day cycle. If bleeding is prolonged or does not stop, see your doctor.

How does your period change over time?

Menstruation in the first few years can be irregular. As our age approaches 20, it becomes more regular and predictable. The average menstrual cycle then lasts 28 days. At the age of 30, menstrual periods are not very different from those at 20. However, heavy bleeding and stronger cramps than before are becoming more frequent. At 40, menstruation may become shorter, but may be heavier to bear. They may not appear regularly.

When do periods stops?

There are various reasons for stopping your period and it is not always synonymous with getting pregnant. It can also be caused by:

• medical conditions,
• weight loss,
• discontinuation of the contraceptive pill,
• stress,
• long journeys,
• menopause.

7 period facts

Menstruation can be a mysterious thing. But it’s really quite amazing! That’s why we’ve put together a short list of fascinating period facts. Read on and get a whole new appreciation for your monthly periods. Facts about menstruation:

1. The word "menstruation" comes from menses, the Latin word for "month". That gives you a big clue to what it’s all about. Or if you’ve heard friends talk about "that time of the month," you can probably guess that women go through menstruation about every month.

2. A menstrual cycle is the time between the first day of one period and the first day of your next period. The amount of time it takes for menstruation to happen is about a month (the average cycle lasts 28 days). One complete cycle is made up of several phases.

3. You are born with all the eggs you’ll ever have! Over your lifetime, you will release about 500 mature eggs. The number of eggs that you have depends on your age. The number is actually highest before you are born!

4. On average, a woman menstruates for about 7 years during her lifetime.

5. During normal you lose less than one cup of blood. In general, it is estimated that on average a woman loses about 35 ml during her period.

6. Watch out for the symptoms of toxic shock syndrome! Despite the fact that this ailment is not common and does not affect many women, it is still worth remembering and taking care of intimate hygiene, especially during menstruation. You should change your sanitary pads and tampons several times a day.

7. Premenstrual syndrome is a common ailment. It is estimated to affect around 90% of women - or at least experience it once in their lifetime. It is then worth using period tips to alleviate the symptoms.

What sanitary products should you use?

Pantyliners, tampons and sanitary pads are items that can be found in every woman's bathroom. Their purpose is to keep us clean during menstruation. Sanitary pads can be used at the beginning of bleeding, with very light bleeding. You can also use smaller sanitary pads or tampons. The size of the product in question should be adapted to our needs.

When should you worry about your period?

It is a good idea to see a doctor when your period:

• is late or very often irregular - irregular periods are those that occur more than every 21 days, less than every 35 days, that last longer than 8 days,
• it disappears - it is then worth checking what causes this (for example, pregnancy, stress, menopause),
• clots appear in it, it is intense and profuse,
• it is very painful and makes it difficult to function normally.