Menstrual cycle
Facts every woman should know about menstruation.
What is the difference between menstruation and the menstrual cycle? We share facts that every woman should know about the hormonal cycle that the female body goes through every month to prepare for a possible pregnancy.
Regular menstruation between puberty and menopause is usually a sign that the body is functioning properly. Most women bleed for three to six days, but it is normal to bleed 20-80 ml of blood, or just under a deciliter. Many women experience heavier bleeding, which can be due to the blood mixing with bodily fluids and mucus from the uterus. The menstrual cycle starts on the first day of the period and ends when the next period begins. So the menstrual cycle is more than just the menstruation itself. A menstrual cycle is on average 28 days but varies from woman to woman. It is also the case that the same woman can have different cycle lengths from month to month.
The different phases of the menstrual cycle:
The follicular phase
The follicular phase is the first phase of the cycle. It starts with your period and ends with ovulation. During this phase, your body prepares for ovulation. This means an increase in hormones that trigger ovulation. Later in the follicular phase, the level of the hormone estrogen rises. The uterine lining thickens in preparation for the implantation of a fertilized egg. This phase lasts between 10 and 14 days.
The luteal phase
The luteal phase is the second phase of your cycle – it begins after ovulation and lasts until the next period. When the period starts, the phase ends (the start of a new cycle). Towards the end of the phase, you may experience PMS symptoms. After ovulation, progesterone is produced, which the body needs to soften the uterine lining. This makes it easier for the fertilized egg to attach. If the egg is not fertilized, you get your period. The luteal phase lasts about 10–16 days.
If pregnancy occurs, the embryo enters the uterus and implants in the uterine lining within the first days after ovulation. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), produced by the placenta, interrupts the menstrual cycle by continuously stimulating the corpus luteum to produce estrogen and progesterone. The high levels of estrogen and progesterone prevent the endometrium from being shed. If fertilization does not occur, estrogen and progesterone levels decrease, signaling the uterus to begin shedding the lining. The luteal phase lasts until the start of the next period.
Your period changes with age
Our bodies change a lot throughout life. Our hair changes color, our skin becomes drier, metabolism slows down – age also affects our menstrual cycle. Hormonal changes, pregnancy, and menopause affect our menstrual cycle. You can go from mild cramps to having heavier blood flow and more premenstrual mood swings. What can I expect in each age category?
When you are in your twenties
After a few years of irregular periods during puberty, they have now become more regular. When your periods come more regularly each month, you will also experience PMS, cramps, and tender breasts. This can be somewhat of an unpleasant surprise. It is common to start using contraceptives at this age, which can affect the amount of menstrual blood or how long the period lasts. This is not dangerous. A disturbed menstrual cycle can be a sign of pregnancy, but the disturbance can also occur due to extreme stress.
The thirties
Your period can change after you have been pregnant. Some women experience heavier, longer, or more painful periods after having children. Many women do not have periods as long as they are breastfeeding.
The forties
As you approach your 40s, your menstruation may become less frequent or less regular. This is perimenopause, the beginning of the body's transition to menopause. Your periods may become shorter and lighter, or occur less often. Normal hormonal changes can cause your periods to become more irregular, and fluctuating estrogen levels can lead to some periods being missed, heavier bleeding, and longer periods of PMS. Menopause is the point when menstruation stops completely. For most women, this occurs in their 50s. Menopause is defined as when a woman has not had any periods for at least a year. When a woman reaches this phase, dry mucous membranes in the vagina (vaginal atrophy) are also more common.