Use our period calculator. Recommended Times Recommend. Any personal info you provide on the other site will be managed by their privacy policy. Share on. Your Name.
Your Email. Your Friend's Name. Your Friend's Email. Your friend should get it any second. What is a period and why do we have them? What does a period feel like? Does having your period smell? Does having your period hurt? A period is the part of the menstrual cycle when a woman bleeds from her vagina for a few days.
For most women this happens every 28 days or so, but it's common for periods to be more or less frequent than this, ranging from day 21 to day 40 of their menstrual cycle. Your period can last between 3 and 8 days, but it will usually last for about 5 days. The bleeding tends to be heaviest in the first 2 days.
When your period is at its heaviest, the blood will be red. On lighter days, it may be pink, brown or black. You'll lose about 30 to 72ml 5 to 12 teaspoons of blood during your period, although some women bleed more heavily than this. Read more about heavy periods , period pain , irregular periods and stopped or missed periods.
Periods usually begin at around the age of 12, although some girls will start them earlier or later. A delay in starting periods isn't usually a cause for concern. Most girls will be having regular periods by age 16 to Read more about girls and puberty. Sanitary products soak up or collect the blood released during your period. The main types of sanitary products are:. Sanitary pads are strips of padding that have a sticky side you attach to your underwear to hold them in place.
One side of the pad is made of an absorbent material that soaks up the blood. Pads come in many sizes, so you can choose one to suit how heavy or light your period is.
Below, we describe when to see a doctor about irregular periods. The typical length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days. Bleeding often lasts for 2—7 days. During the first few years of puberty, the cycle is often irregular, but it tends to stabilize over time. Various health issues, including those that affect the thyroid gland, can influence the menstrual cycle. Hormones in the body fluctuate throughout the cycle, and this can cause a range of physical and emotional changes.
Premenstrual syndrome PMS refers to a group of symptoms that often occur before a period. A person may find that PMS symptoms worsen in their late 30s and 40s , especially as they approach menopause. These changes do not necessarily result from health issues. However, it is still a good idea to seek medical advice about any changes in periods.
Some factors that can influence the length of the menstrual cycle include:. People keep track of their periods for a variety of reasons. According to a study , the main reasons for doing so include:. To help reduce PMS symptoms — and possibly regulate their cycle — a person can:. Why should I keep track of my menstrual cycle?
How can I keep track of my menstrual cycle? You may want to track: Premenstrual syndrome PMS symptoms: Did you have cramping, headaches, moodiness, forgetfulness, bloating, or breast tenderness? When your bleeding begins: Was it earlier or later than expected? How heavy the bleeding was on your heaviest days: Was the bleeding heavier or lighter than usual?
How many pads or tampons did you use? Period symptoms: Did you have pain or bleeding on any days that caused you to miss work or school?
How many days your period lasted: Was your period shorter or longer than the month before? When does a girl usually get her first period?
A girl should see her doctor if: She starts her period before age 8. She has not had her first period by age She has not had her first period within three years of breast growth. How long does a woman usually have periods? Periods also stop during pregnancy and may not come back right away if you breastfeed.
What is a normal amount of bleeding during my period? Symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding may include: Bleeding through one or more pads or tampons every one to two hours Passing blood clots larger than the size of quarters Bleeding that often lasts longer than eight days. How often should I change my pad, tampon, menstrual cup, sponge, or period panties? Most women change their pads every few hours. A tampon should not be worn for more than 8 hours because of the risk of toxic shock syndrome TSS Menstrual cups and sponges may only need to be rinsed once or twice a day.
Period panties underwear with washable menstrual pads sewn in can usually last about a day, depending on the style and your flow. What is toxic shock syndrome? How does the menstrual cycle affect other health problems? The changing hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle can also affect other health problems: Depression and anxiety disorders. These conditions often overlap with premenstrual syndrome PMS. Depression and anxiety symptoms are similar to PMS and may get worse before or during your period.
Your asthma symptoms may be worse during some parts of your cycle. IBS causes cramping, bloating, and gas. Your IBS symptoms may get worse right before your period. Bladder pain syndrome. Women with bladder pain syndrome are more likely to have painful cramps during PMS. Did we answer your question about the menstrual cycle?
For more information about the menstrual cycle, call the OWH Helpline at or check out the following resources from other organizations: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding — Information from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Sources Reed, B. Endotext [Internet]. Chiazze, L. JAMA; 6 : —
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