Why do periods appear? How are menstruation normal for girls and women?

Period or menstruation (lat. mensis - month, menstruus - monthly) is a monthly process of cleansing the female body, during which girls experience bleeding from the vagina.

According to science, menstruation is the shedding of the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus) and its removal along with blood from the vagina.

Often, during a conversation, instead of “menstruation” you can hear: critical days, affairs, monsters, Bloody Mary, guests from Krasnodar, guests from Krasnoarmeysk, guests on the Red Cossack, days of closed doors, days of the Red Army, hedgehog in tomato sauce, ship gave flow, crimson rivers, friends have come, red days of the calendar, accident, revolution.

The color of menstruation. Blood clots during menstruation

The blood during menstruation in the first days is bright scarlet, in the end it is dark, with a specific smell. If you find lumps and clots in the blood during menstruation, do not be alarmed, these are areas of the inner layer of the uterus - the endometrium, which is secreted along with the blood. If a woman is not pregnant, the endometrium is constantly renewed: the old layer dies and comes out during menstruation, and a new one grows in its place.

First menstruation (Menarche)

The first period is called "Menarche". Menstruation begins between the ages of 9 and 16 and indicates the body's ability to become pregnant. Often, the age at which a girl’s first period begins depends on the age at which her mother began menstruation, i.e. - established by inheritance.

Signs of your first period may begin a couple of months before your period appears. White or mucous discharge becomes more frequent, the lower abdomen feels a little tight and the chest ache.

The first menstruation may appear as just a couple of drops of blood, which over time develop into regular and equal discharge.

Symptoms during menstruation

Before and during menstruation, almost all women experience the same symptoms, only in some they are less pronounced, in others in full:

- nagging pain in the lower abdomen;
- swelling, heaviness and pain of the breast;
- lower back pain;
- irritation;
- fatigue;
- heaviness in the legs;
— ;
- apathy.

Cycle and duration of menstruation

The menstrual cycle is the period from the first day of the onset of menstruation to the first day of the start of the next menstruation. The normal menstrual cycle is 20-35 days. The duration of menstruation is from 3 to 7 days.

After the first menstruation for a year, the cycle may not be regular, but then it improves and repeats clearly each time.

You can track your menstrual cycle using a calendar by simply marking each day of your period. There are also special applications for PCs and smartphones, by installing which you can mark and track your cycle.

In order for women to feel less discomfort during menstruation, scientists have come up with some hygiene products - pads, tampons, and even a device that I think not everyone still knows about - the menstrual cup.

Both pads and tampons are classified according to the amount of secretion they hold. This capacity is indicated by the number of drops on the package. The more droplets, the longer the tampon/pad lasts until the next time they are replaced.

Of course, it is advisable to have these hygiene items in different capacities. For example, at the beginning and end of menstruation it is better to use a tampon or pad with 2-3 drops, at the height of menstruation - 4-6.

What to use - pads or tampons - is up to you. You can alternate, for example, if you go to the pool, you can’t do without a tampon, but at night you can use a pad. For some girls, pads create diaper rash, while for others, the tampon causes enormous discomfort. Therefore, try and look for the most convenient option for yourself.

As I already said, there are menstrual cups in the world that are reusable. They need to be removed and the contents poured out. True, this is not always convenient.

During menstruation, it is necessary to strictly observe. Wash yourself at least 3 times a day, and when changing a pad or tampon, be sure to wash your hands, both before and after contact.

If you have inserted a tampon or pad and suddenly become very ill, immediately take out this care product, and if you do not feel better, consult a doctor immediately.

What not to do during menstruation

During your period you should refrain from:

- going to the beach or solarium;
- facial cleansing;
- depilation;
- Do not drink alcohol, coffee and spicy foods.

All of these factors can increase bleeding and lengthen your period.

When should you see a doctor?

For questions about menstruation, please contact.

You should contact a gynecologist if:

- first menstruation appeared before 9 years of age;
- You are already 17 years old, and your first period has not yet appeared;
- menstruation lasts 1-2 days or more than 7 days (menstruation failure);
— the discharge is very scanty (a couple of drops) or very copious (change your pad or tampon more often than after 2 hours);
- the menstrual cycle lasts less than 20 days or more than 40 days;
- feel severe pain during menstruation;
— when using a tampon you suddenly began to feel unwell;
- there is bleeding between periods;
- after the cycle was settled, the failure began;
— I haven’t had my period for a couple of months.

Video: All about periods

Lasts 28 days.
1) From the first to the fifth day of the cycle, menstruation occurs - the old mucous membrane of the uterus is thrown out (occurs endometrial dismantling).


6) Starting from the sixth day, a new endometrium grows in the uterus so that on the 22nd day it can adequately meet a fertilized egg.


14) The egg hatches from the ovary on day 14 of the cycle (ovulation), only on this day is fertilization possible for a person.


22) If fertilization has occurred, then on the 22nd day of the cycle the embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus, the wall of the uterus begins to secrete, and the whole body learns about the new plans of the owner for the next 1.5 years.


28) If two weeks have passed since ovulation, and there is still no hCG, it means that fertilization has not occurred. Nobody needs the overgrown uterine mucosa - so it is thrown away (see point 1).

Do animals menstruate?

Menstruation occurs only in apes*. In all normal animals, the old uterine mucosa is not thrown out along with a portion of blood, but simply dissolves directly in the uterus.


Why exactly did the apes decide not to process the uterine mucosa quietly and peacefully inside the body, but to throw it out - and in such a way that everyone could see it?


Below there will be several versions of the answer to this question, but first you need to read one more introduction.

Introduction #2: The Estrous Cycle

In all animals, the uterine mucosa (endometrium) behaves approximately the same: before and during ovulation it grows; if fertilization does not occur, it is dismantled. The significant difference here is what exactly is on display.


In normal animals:

  • Dismantling the endometrium occurs unnoticed (it dissolves directly in the uterus, nothing is thrown out).
  • Moment ovulation(days on which fertilization is possible) is clearly highlighted with estrus (estrus):
    • the uterine mucosa secretes odorous substances that attract males;
    • the female’s behavior changes, she begins to favor mating.

In apes, the opposite happens.

  • Dismantling the endometrium occurs through menstruation - the boundary between cycles is clearly indicated (by smell, behavior).
  • Moment ovulation(the day on which fertilization is possible) is not externally indicated in any way - in humans.

This is some kind of nonsense. The day, which should be told to all potential suitors, is strictly classified in our country, but everyone knows about some completely absurd moment - the cleansing of the uterus from the old epithelium. - Why is all this? - Patience...

Why is the menstrual cycle better than the estrous cycle?

1) In normal animals, the female is favorable to sex only at the time of estrus - this is literally a few days a year; the rest of the time the female drives away the males. Human women are capable of having consensual sex every day.


2) In normal animals, males know exactly when it is possible to fertilize a female and when not. Human men do not know on what day their woman is fertile. To raise their children, they must drive competitors away from their woman every day.


And if a couple has sex every day and sends away competitors, then what do we get? - A unit of society, a family, what else. And getting her husband to feed him well, clothe him and put on shoes, take care of himself and his children is the sacred duty of every normal woman.


Without constant With male help, ancient women would not have been able to raise human children, who remained helpless for an abnormally long time (at least 7 years). Thus, the menstrual cycle is a human occurrence.

Why is menstruation necessary?

Version No. 1 (evolutionary): menstruation is an unplanned effect of the transformation of the estrous cycle (overt ovulation, sex once a year) into the menstrual cycle (hidden ovulation, sex every day). Obviously, quite a lot had to be changed in the mind-bogglingly complex interaction of female sex hormones - and the detachment of the mucous membrane turned out to be simply a by-product.**


Version No. 2 (relaxed): epithelial tissues do not contain blood vessels***, so they simply must. The intestinal epithelium (300 square meters, by the way) is completely replaced every 2 days - and nothing, no one objects. The epithelium of the skin - like the epithelium of the uterus - is completely replaced in one month. The only difference between them is that the epidermis peels off gradually, in separate scales (dandruff), and the endometrium falls off at once.


Version No. 3 (sci-fi): the sudden loss of the uterine mucosa serves as a way for a woman to quickly and painlessly get rid of an unwanted embryo. Let's say the fetus has serious chromosomal abnormalities, or the woman has. The uterine mucosa somehow senses this and is rejected along with the failed embryo; the woman doesn't even notice anything.
_____________________________
* According to not very well verified information, all great apes, some other monkeys, some bats and long-eared jumpers have menstruation. All. If someone claims that cats, mice and cows have menstruation, then he is simply confusing menstruation with estrus. These are the opposite things, let the person read introduction #2.


** Is it possible to leave women only the ability to daily interbreeding and hidden ovulation, and somehow do without menstruation? - Well, if we were to ask the evolutionary god to correct at least some of his mistakes, then I would still start with the teeth. Well, what is it? - Just two generations, always sick, unrecoverable... It’s the same with sharks.


*** “The endometrium is a complex, multicomponent system, consisting of the integumentary and glandular epithelium, stroma, ground substance, and blood vessels.” (Wikipedia) Of course, there are blood vessels in the stroma and the main substance of the endometrium, otherwise where would the blood come from during menstruation. There are no blood vessels in the epithelial component of the endometrium.

Menstruation is a period of the menstrual cycle during which a girl experiences bleeding from the vagina. The blood released during your period is thick and dark in appearance and may contain clots or lumps. This is due to the fact that during menstruation, not only blood is released from the cavity, but also parts of the inner layer of the uterus, which is called the endometrium.

Where does blood come from during menstruation?

Bloody discharge during menstruation appears due to damage to the blood vessels of the inner layer of the uterus. The destruction of these vessels occurs during the death of the uterine mucosa (endometrium) if the woman is not pregnant.

At what age should menstruation begin?

Most girls experience their first menstruation between the ages of 12 and 15 years. Often (but not always) a girl’s first period comes at the same age as her mother. Therefore, if your mother’s first period came late (at 15-16 years old), then there is a high probability that you will have it at this age. However, your first period may come several years earlier or later than your mother's. This is completely normal.

Some studies show that girls get their first period when they reach a certain weight, which is about 47 kg. Thus, on average, thin girls get their periods later than plump ones.

What are the first symptoms of menstruation?

A few months before your first period, you may feel aching pain in the lower abdomen, and also notice white or clear discharge from the vagina.

If you notice even a small amount of brown discharge on your panties, this is your first menstruation. Often the first menstruation is very scanty - just a few drops of blood.

What is the monthly cycle and how long does it last?

The monthly or menstrual cycle is the period of time from the first day of one menstruation to the first day of the next menstruation.

The duration of the cycle may vary for different girls. Normally, the length of the menstrual cycle should be from 21 to 35 days. For most girls, the menstrual cycle lasts 28-30 days. This means that your period comes every 28-30 days.

What is a regular menstrual cycle?

The regularity of the menstrual cycle means that your period comes every time after a certain number of days. The regularity of your menstrual cycle is an important indicator that your ovaries are working correctly.

How to determine the regularity of the menstrual cycle?

To do this, you can use a calendar in which you will mark the first day of your period each time. If, according to your calendar, your period comes on the same date every time, or at certain intervals, then you have regular menstruation.

How many days should your period last?

The duration of menstruation can vary from girl to girl. Normally, menstruation lasts from 3 to 7 days. If your period lasts less than 3 days, or more than 7 days, then you need to see a gynecologist.

How much blood should be released during menstruation?

You may think that you release a lot of blood during your period, but this is not true. Usually, during 3-5 days of menstruation, a girl loses no more than 80 ml of blood (this is about 4 tablespoons).

To understand how much blood you are releasing, you can monitor your pads. Pads vary greatly in the amount of blood they can absorb. On average, a 4-5 drop pad can absorb up to 20-25 ml of blood (while it looks evenly filled with blood). If during one day of your period you have to change pads every 2-3 hours, this means that you have heavy periods and you should consult a gynecologist.

Pads or tampons?

Most girls prefer to use pads during menstruation. On our website there is a separate article about which gaskets are best to choose, how to use them correctly and how often they need to be changed:.

Do periods hurt?

A few days before the start of menstruation and in the first days of your period, you may feel aching or cramping pain in the lower abdomen. This is normal. If the abdominal pain is severe, you can take a painkiller (No-shpu, Ibuprofen, Analgin, etc.) or use other tips described in the article.

If you experience frequent severe abdominal pain during menstruation, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist. You may need to undergo treatment.

Is it possible to exercise during menstruation?

During your period, you can exercise if you do not feel pain in the abdomen and if your periods are not too heavy. When playing sports, avoid exercises in which your butt is higher than your head (for example, you cannot hang upside down on a horizontal bar, do somersaults, or do a “birch tree”).

Is it possible to take a bath and go to the pool during menstruation?

Can. A warm bath during your period can reduce abdominal pain and make you feel better.

When swimming in a pool, water cannot enter your vagina either during your period or on other days of your cycle. You can go to the pool if your period is not heavy and you have used a tampon. At the same time, you should not stay in the pool for a long time, and immediately after swimming you need to change your tampon or replace it with a pad.

Is it possible to go to a bathhouse or sauna during menstruation?

No, this is not advisable, as high ambient temperatures may cause increased bleeding.

Is it possible to go to a solarium and sunbathe during your period?

No, this is not advisable, since during menstruation the female body is more susceptible to ultraviolet rays. Tanning (in the sun or in the sun) during menstruation can lead to increased bleeding or the appearance of other undesirable symptoms (headaches, weakness, dizziness, etc.)

Menstruation or menstruation is the period of the menstrual cycle in girls and women of childbearing age during which the endometrium (the upper layer of the mucous membrane) of the uterus is shed.

What happens in the body?

In the last days of the menstrual cycle (before the onset of menstruation), the endometrium is characterized by increased elasticity, as it prepares to receive a fertilized egg into the uterus.

If pregnancy does not occur, the hormonal levels in the woman’s body change, which leads to a deterioration in the blood supply to the upper layer of the uterine mucosa, it stratifies and is gradually rejected. Along with it, blood that has accumulated due to the rupture of small blood vessels also comes out of the vagina - menstruation occurs.

From the second day of menstruation, simultaneously with the rejection of the upper layer, the endometrium begins to recover and is renewed. This process is completed on days 5-7 of the cycle. Next, the mucous layer begins to thicken and again prepares for the possible conception of a child.

At the same time, in the first half of the menstrual cycle, the egg matures in the ovaries. Around the middle of the cycle, a woman ovulates: a mature egg leaves the ovary and enters the fallopian tube. If conception occurs at this time, pregnancy occurs; if not, the endometrium of the uterus is rejected again and the whole process begins all over again.

What does the discharge consist of?

Menstruation consists of blood, particles of mucous membrane and vaginal discharge and has a specific odor. Normally, their color can vary from red to dark brown, sometimes with clots. The volume of blood loss during menstruation, on average, for the entire period is about 250 ml (about a glass), and from 20 to 50 ml per day.

Throughout life, the volume of secretions may change. For example, young girls may have heavier periods than older women. However, a sharp change in their color, volume or duration should alert you at any age.

If bleeding from the vagina is very heavy, prolonged (more than 7 days), there are a large number of clots in the discharge, or, conversely, they suddenly become very scarce, and also if the blood during the entire menstruation is only scarlet in color - this is a serious reason for an unscheduled visit to gynecologist.

How long do they last?

The menstrual cycle is a period that is counted from the first day of menstruation to the first day of the next. On average, for girls and women it is 28 days. However, for some, the number of days of the cycle may differ: a variant of the norm is considered if it lasts from 21 to 35 days.

As you can guess from the name, menstruation occurs only once a month. But if the menstrual cycle is short, they may come twice, and if it is very long (35 days), menstruation may not occur every month.

Periodic menstrual bleeding lasts from 3 to 7 days.

The absence of menstruation in women of childbearing age may indicate:

  • serious illness
  • hormonal changes,
  • but most often - about the onset of pregnancy.

If your periods suddenly stop, you should urgently go to a gynecologist to find out the reason.

At the age of about 55, menopause occurs - the last menstruation, after which periodic bleeding in a woman stops. Menopause can occur at any age from 40 to 60 years.

At what age do teenagers get their period?

When should your first period appear? It is impossible to give an exact age; it depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Usually, the first menstruation begins between the ages of 11 and 14 years, but there are cases when it occurs very early - at 8, or, on the contrary, late - at 16 years.

Most often, a girl's first period comes around the same time as her mother's. However, the arrival of menstruation too early or late in adolescents often indicates hormonal disorders, so in this case it is highly advisable for a young girl to visit a gynecologist.

Menstruation symptoms

What symptoms may indicate your period is approaching? Everyone is different. Some people do not feel any changes in their well-being at all, and only learn about the onset of menstruation when it occurs. However, most of the fair sex still experience a number of characteristic symptoms.

Most often in girls before menstruation:

  • breasts swell,
  • the lower abdomen begins to hurt,
  • they become irritable and hot-tempered.

These are symptoms of the so-called premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which makes itself felt several days (from 2 to 14) before the onset of menstrual bleeding. According to statistics, at least 45% of women experience it.

In addition to the symptoms listed above, the following may also appear during PMS:

  • feeling of anxiety, melancholy,
  • irritability,
  • aggression or depression
  • heartache,
  • panic attacks,
  • frequent urination,
  • heaviness in the lower body,
  • some even experience bouts of vomiting and a slight increase in body temperature.

However, if such manifestations are so strong that they interfere with concentration at work, or are accompanied by fever and severe pain, we recommend that you bring them to the attention of your doctor.

What should you not do during your period?

Menstruation is not a disease. On the contrary, this is a sign that the girl’s health is fine and she can give birth and carry a child if she wishes. However, this does not mean that you do not need to take care of your health at this time.

During menstruation, it is very important to observe a number of restrictions so as not to harm your body and not increase bleeding.

Experience physical activity

On critical days, it is highly advisable to limit physical activity, and this applies to even the most notorious sports fans. Do not lift weights, run, or do strenuous physical work.

Why? Because all these actions increase blood flow to the pelvic organs and aggravate bleeding from the vagina. Because of this, the hemoglobin level may drop significantly, causing a feeling of weakness, drowsiness, and fatigue.

By the way, this is why many schools allow you not to go to physical education class when girls are menstruating.

Drink alcoholic drinks

Alcohol is harmful in itself, so you should avoid it on other days as well. But during menstruation, alcohol is also prohibited because under its influence the walls of blood vessels dilate, which again can lead to more heavy bleeding.

Have a sex life

Lovers should wait a few days to protect the body from pathogenic organisms. During menstruation, the uterine and vaginal mucosa becomes very vulnerable, and the risk of contracting an infection increases several times.

In addition, sex is also physical activity, which is contraindicated during this period. And there may not be any pleasure, since it will be difficult for a woman to relax due to the discharge and special smell.

Take a hot bath, go to the sauna, swim in open water

During menstruation, girls need to take better care of themselves and regularly wash themselves with warm water to avoid the appearance of an unpleasant odor. You should not take a hot bath, much less visit a sauna. There are cases when, after such visits, women began bleeding so heavily that it was difficult to stop.

Also, during menstrual bleeding, you should not swim in pools and especially open water, as the risk of pathogenic bacteria entering the vagina and uterus increases. Unfortunately, even the use of tampons will not help provide the necessary protection.

Plan operations

Doctors warn that during menstruation it is impossible to plan operations, even such seemingly insignificant ones as tooth extraction, since during these days women’s blood clotting worsens.

Ignoring this prohibition can lead to complications: large-scale, difficult-to-stop bleeding and large blood losses.

Take anticoagulants

For the same reasons, during the period when menstruation occurs, you should not take aspirin, ascorbic acid and other anticoagulants. They thin the blood and prevent it from clotting, so they can cause heavy bleeding.

Follow a strict diet

On the days of menstruation, you should not adhere to strict dietary restrictions, much less starve or sit on liquid or mono diets. The girl must eat well so that the body is not depleted due to simultaneous blood loss and malnutrition.

The result of dieting during menstruation can be a serious deterioration in health and fainting.

If a girl takes care of herself, eats right and does not overwork, then her critical days will pass without any negative consequences.

Video: what is menstruation and why is it needed?

How menstruation goes is a question that is important both for young girls whose cycle has not yet established itself, and for women who have encountered any problems in the functioning of the reproductive system.

The regularity and stability of the cycle indicate, first of all, the normal functioning of the body and the woman’s ability to fertilize and give birth to a baby. However, due to a number of factors, a malfunction occurs in the body and menstruation does not go as it should.

Duration

Knowing how many days menstruation should last, and what volume, a woman is able to promptly understand the onset of a malfunction. The individuality of each organism should not be excluded, however, there are certain norms regarding the nature of menstruation.

The duration is believed to be between three and seven days. During this period, a general deterioration in health and pain in the lower abdomen are considered natural.

If the discharge lasts less or more than the specified time, it makes sense to contact a gynecologist.

Long periods or, on the contrary, very short periods may indicate:

  • disruption of the normal hormonal balance in the body;
  • inflammatory or infectious processes in the organs of the reproductive system.

Calculation methods

The regularity of menstruation in women should be discussed by knowing the exact number of days in the cycle. You should understand what it is. Some people mistake it for the period between discharges. In reality, a cycle includes the total number of days from the first day of your period to the first day of your next period.

(Date of menstruation - date of previous menstruation) + additional one day = cycle duration

The norm is 28 days. However, a duration of 21 to 35 days is allowed; these are all normal options.

The duration of the female cycle can be influenced by:

  • fatigue and overwork;
  • stressful situations;
  • diets, weight loss or weight gain;
  • colds and exacerbation of chronic diseases;
  • moving to a different climate zone, etc.

To keep track of their own cycle, the doctor often recommends that girls keep a calendar and mark the dates of their periods in it. This method will allow you not only to monitor the condition of the body, but also to accurately indicate information to the gynecologist when visiting him.

How are periods normal?

How menstruation proceeds normally, how discharge should proceed correctly, every lady needs to know.

Doctors point to various options that are not a deviation:

  1. On the first day, heavy menstruation contains dark blood clots. In subsequent days, the discharge becomes less abundant and disappears by days 5-7.
  2. The beginning of menstruation is dark spotting, which becomes more abundant by the 3rd day. Then the intensity of menstruation decreases.
  3. Change in discharge throughout 5-7 days. The discharge may be scanty at first and then abundant, and vice versa.

You can rely on these options if you are concerned about how your periods are going normally. But another course of menstruation can be completely natural.

How much should there be?

Menstrual flow is distinguished by volume, it can be:

  • normal;

It’s normal if up to 6-7 pieces of hygiene products are used per day. A larger number of pads used indicates excessive discharge, a smaller number of pads is an indicator of scanty periods.

Reasons for deviations

If a woman realizes that there is something wrong with her cycle, and the discharge is far from normal, she should go to the doctor and get examined.

A large amount of discharge that lasts more than a week may be a symptom of problems such as:

  • problems with blood clotting;
  • hormonal imbalance in the body;
  • the presence of other inflammatory or infectious diseases.

Poor menstruation may indicate the following problems:

  • disruption of the natural balance of hormones in the body;
  • improper functioning of the ovaries;
  • etc.

What to do if a failure occurs

If your periods take a long time, the reason is not always the presence of a disease. There are often situations when menstruation occurs, or does not occur at all, but there is also no pregnancy. The cause of all these conditions must be found by a doctor and prescribed appropriate treatment.

There are types that require medical intervention:

  • Algomenorrhea. Often occurs in young girls. The duration of the cycle and discharge are usually normal, but on the days of menstruation severe pain occurs, which can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and other disorders in the body.
  • Amenorrhea. This is a complete absence of menstruation. Is normal during pregnancy and after childbirth.
  • Metrorrhagia. Bloody discharge that appears in the middle of the cycle. The reason is often the presence of tumors in the uterus, such as fibroids. May appear after stress.
  • Dysmenorrhea. The onset of menstruation is much earlier or later than the due date. The reason is hormones or the influence of any external circumstances - stress, exams, flight.
  • Oligoamenorrhea. Rare and scanty menstruation, which can subsequently cause infertility in a woman.

Video about the menstrual cycle


Every woman and girl should know how menstruation goes. This is especially true for teenagers who are just expecting their first menstruation. Any deviation is a reason to consult a doctor. Only careful attention to your women's health will allow you to maintain excellent health and the opportunity to become a mother in the future.

All information is provided for informational purposes. Do not self-medicate. At the first sign of disease, consult a doctor.