What is menstruation?
Menstruation, commonly called a period, is a cyclical loss of "blood" vaginally, usually lasting 2 to 7 days, once a month. This blood loss results from the shedding of the endometrium (the outermost layer of the uterus) in each menstrual cycle.
At what age do you have your first period?
Menarche, the term that designates the first menstruation, usually appears between the ages of 12 and 15.
What is the menstrual cycle?
The menstrual cycle is the time interval that elapses between the first day of menstruation and the first day of the next menstruation.
How many days are in a menstrual cycle?
The cycle of healthy adult women is approximately 28 days, but can vary between 21 and 35 days.
Can there be irregularities in a menstrual cycle?
yes. Irregularities of a menstrual cycle can exist mainly in the first 2/3 years after menarche.
Not all women have regular 28/30-day cycles. However, if there is a change in the usual pattern of the menstrual cycle, you should consult your doctor.
What causes these menstrual irregularities?
Menstrual irregularities can be caused by several factors, such as:
- pregnancy
- Intensive physical exercise
- Long-distance travel
- stress
- taking some medicines
- alcohol and/or drug abuse
- Drastic weight changes
- Eating or sleep disorders
- Approaching age of menopause
- thyroid diseases
- Diseases of the reproductive system
If menstrual irregularities occur, you should consult your doctor.
What are the most common symptoms associated with menstruation?
The most frequent symptoms are:
- cramps – pelvic pain (dysmenorrhea)
- constipation
- diarrhea
- nausea
- Appearance of acne on the days and during the duration of menstruation
- Breast pain
- mood swing
- Feeling of bloating
Other less frequent symptoms are:
- headaches
- Dizziness
- fatigue
These symptoms can appear alone or in combination and are relatively easy to treat. However, if you think you need help, you can consult your doctor.
What can I do in case of severe menstrual pain?
To control menstrual pain, there are over-the-counter medicines in the pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist. If the pain happens every month you should consult your doctor, as there are very effective treatments for this symptom.
Is it normal to have blood clots during menstruation?
Yes. The amount of menstrual flow varies from woman to woman and from cycle to cycle. Because of this, it can be very scarce and have a dark color or be more abundant and have clots.
If the menstrual flow is very heavy, you should consult your doctor to avoid getting anemia (a disease caused by blood loss, which can cause symptoms such as tiredness, drowsiness and difficulty concentrating).
Can blood loss occur between periods?
Yes. It is not common for them to happen in women with a natural cycle, that is, in women who do not use hormonal contraceptives such as the pill, ring, implant or intrauterine system.
In women who use hormonal contraceptive methods, blood loss can occur between periods and is known as spotting.
Other situations in which they can occur are:
- Early pregnancy
- when practicing intense physical exercise
- in the presence of vaginal or sexually transmitted infections
- during the ovulation period
In either situation, you should consult your doctor.
How do I know if I have a normal period?
There is great variability from woman to woman in the duration, intensity, and even existence of symptoms associated with menstruation. If in doubt, you should consult your doctor.
You should pay special attention if you have:
- Absence of menstruation:
- at age 13 without development of secondary sex characteristics (e.g., breast growth)
- at the age of 15, regardless of the rest of the development
- very severe pain during menstruation (dysmenorrhea)
- very heavy or very long periods (more than a week and more than six large sanitary napkins per day)
- systematic or copious blood loss outside the time of menstruation
Is it a week past the allotted time and I still haven't got my period?
A late period is a cause of great anxiety in women, whether or not they want a pregnancy. A significant menstrual delay, i.e. more than a week in a regular cycle, can mean that you are pregnant.
It will be advisable to carry out a pregnancy test and depending on the result you should seek your treating doctor.
How do I know when my fertile window is?
With regular menstrual cycles it is possible to calculate the fertile period (ovulation).
The fertile period is the time in the menstrual cycle when a woman is most likely to become pregnant.
Ovulation occurs (in a regular 28-day cycle) about 14 days before your next period. The fertile period is estimated to be 5 days before ovulation and up to 5 days after. Observation of vaginal discharge can be useful in detecting this period as it becomes transparent and sticky at this point.
Source: Sociedade Portuguesa de Contracepção (SPDC)