Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Menstruation?When Do Periods Start?Menstrual CyclesSigns and SymptomsMenstrual ProductsCoping With SymptomsChanges in Your PeriodCommon ProblemsWhen Periods StopTracking Your Cycle
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Menstruation?
When Do Periods Start?
Menstrual Cycles
Signs and Symptoms
Menstrual Products
Coping With Symptoms
Changes in Your Period
Common Problems
When Periods Stop
Tracking Your Cycle
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Menstruationis a natural part of life. Throughout the month, youruterus builds up its liningto support a possible pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the uterine lining sheds and leaves the body as blood.
Periods typically start between the ages of 8 and 15.The average age in the United States is between 12 and 14. Most females experiencemenarche(the medical term for the onset of menstruation or a female’s first period) one to two years after their first signs of puberty.Signs of pubertyinclude breast development, growth spurts, and pubic hair growth.
The Menstrual Cycle
A menstrual cycle is a monthly process the female body goes through to prepare for pregnancy. Your brain and hormones (natural chemical messengers) tell your body how to react during each phase. Day one of your menstrual cycle begins with menstruation. Mostcycleslast between 21 and 35 days.
Menstrual Cycle
Follicular Phase
Thefollicularphase overlaps with menstruation. It begins with the first day of menstruation and lasts, on average, 17 days. During this time, hormones direct theovariesto develop an egg.
Ovulation Phase
Ovulationis when the ovaries release an egg.It occurs around the middle of the menstrual cycle. If sperm fertilizes the egg, pregnancy can result. You are most likely to get pregnant if you have unprotected sex in the three days leading up to ovulation and on the day of ovulation.
Luteal Phase
Cycle Syncing: How to Attune to Each Menstrual Phase
Menstruation Signs and Symptoms
Vaginal bleeding is the most apparentsign of menstruation. It typically lasts three to seven days. Blood varies in color from bright red to a darker red or brown. It is generally brighter in the beginning and darker toward the end as the old blood sheds.
Other signs and symptoms of menstruation include:
Other than menstrual bleeding, many of these symptoms can start the week or so before your period. This is known aspremenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Menstrual Cramps
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Products to Manage Menstruation
Menstrual products are items you use to manage menstrual flow. They include disposable products like pads or tampons and reusable products likemenstrual cups.
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Disposable Menstrual Products
Menstrual pads attach to the inside of your underwear. The layers absorb blood while wicking moisture away from the skin and preventing leaks. They come in many forms and absorbency levels, including pantiliners, heavy-flow maxi pads, winged pads, and overnight pads.
Tampons are soft, small cylinders of absorbent material like cotton that you insert into the vagina to absorb menstrual flow. Some people prefer tampons to pads as they allow more freedom of movement and are less visible. They also come in multiple absorbency levels.
It’s best to choose the lowest absorbency tampon possible and not wear it for more than eight hours.These practices reduce the risk oftoxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of certain bacterial infections.
How Often Should You Change Disposable Menstrual Products?Changing and discarding menstrual products every four to eight hours is essential to prevent leakage, bacterial buildup, odor, and infection.
How Often Should You Change Disposable Menstrual Products?
Changing and discarding menstrual products every four to eight hours is essential to prevent leakage, bacterial buildup, odor, and infection.
Reusable Menstrual Products
Reusable menstrual products are eco-friendly. You can use them multiple times, reducing waste and environmental impact. Most come in various sizes and absorbencies. Examples include:
How to Cope With Period Symptoms
The following self-care strategies can help you manage period symptoms:
Talk to a healthcare provider before starting vitamins or herbal supplements. While natural, they can still interact with other medications or may not be safe for those with specific allergies or medical conditions.
Period bleeding is typically heavier in your teens and lightens up as you age. But bleeding and cramping should not disrupt your daily life. Talk to a healthcare provider if you experience the following:
What’s Considered Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding?
Common Menstruation Issues
Menstrual cramps, heaving bleeding, migraines, and irregular periods are common menstruation issues. This can occur due to hormonal fluctuations from puberty or perimenopause, lifestyle factors, birth control, and medical conditions.
Irregular Periods
When you first start your period, it can be unpredictable. But, after a few years, it usually becomes more regular.Irregular periodsare variations in the usual timing, length, or flow of your menstrual cycle or period. While it’s normal to have some minor variations, ongoing irregularities could indicate underlying health concerns.
The following are guidelines for when a period is “irregular” for those who previously had a predictable menstrual cycle.
When You Stop Having Periods
Once you experience menarche, you will continue to have periods unless you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or postmenopausal. Periods can also stop with some medical conditions or certain medications.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is one of the most common reasons for a late or missed period. When pregnancy occurs, the body produces human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone prevents further ovulation and helps maintain the uterine lining so the fetus can grow.
What Is Amenorrhea?
Amenorrheais when you stop having a period (unrelated to pregnancy) for a significant amount of time. Healthcare providers classify it in two ways, as follows:
Menopause
Menopauseis the end of a female’s reproductive years. It’s when you stop having your period for 12 consecutive months and can no longer get pregnant. The average age of menopause is 51.
Perimenopauseis the time leading up to menopause. It begins for most females in their 40s and lasts between four and eight years. During this time, you will likely experience changes in your menstrual cycle, such as:
Perimenopause and menopause can also cause hot flashes, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, painful sex, mood swings, and decreased libido (sex drive).
How to Track Your Menstrual Cycle
Tracking your menstrual cyclecan help you predict ovulation and menstruation. It can also help you identify irregularities, recognize a late or missed period, and monitor your reproductive health.You can use a calendar or digital app to keep track of the following types of details:
Summary
Menstruation is period bleeding. Most females experience it monthly, except while pregnant. It typically lasts three to seven days. The menstrual cycle is the body’s process that leads to either menstruation or pregnancy. It typically begins between ages 8 and 15 and continues until menopause, which occurs at 51, on average.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Your menstrual cycle.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Your changing body: puberty in girls.MedlinePlus.Vaginal or uterine bleeding.Bull, J. R., Rowland, S. P., Scherwitzl, E. B., Scherwitzl, R., Danielsson, K. G., & Harper, J. (2019).Real-world menstrual cycle characteristics of more than 600,000 menstrual cycles.Npj Digital Medicine,2(1), 1-8. doi.org/10.1038/s41746-019-0152-7Garg D, Berga SL.Neuroendocrine mechanisms of reproduction.Handb Clin Neurol. 2020;171:3-23. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64239-4.00001-1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Premenstrual syndrome.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Heavy and abnormal periods.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Amenorrhea.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).The menopause years.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Your menstrual cycle.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Your changing body: puberty in girls.MedlinePlus.Vaginal or uterine bleeding.Bull, J. R., Rowland, S. P., Scherwitzl, E. B., Scherwitzl, R., Danielsson, K. G., & Harper, J. (2019).Real-world menstrual cycle characteristics of more than 600,000 menstrual cycles.Npj Digital Medicine,2(1), 1-8. doi.org/10.1038/s41746-019-0152-7Garg D, Berga SL.Neuroendocrine mechanisms of reproduction.Handb Clin Neurol. 2020;171:3-23. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64239-4.00001-1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Premenstrual syndrome.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Heavy and abnormal periods.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Amenorrhea.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).The menopause years.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Your menstrual cycle.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Your changing body: puberty in girls.MedlinePlus.Vaginal or uterine bleeding.Bull, J. R., Rowland, S. P., Scherwitzl, E. B., Scherwitzl, R., Danielsson, K. G., & Harper, J. (2019).Real-world menstrual cycle characteristics of more than 600,000 menstrual cycles.Npj Digital Medicine,2(1), 1-8. doi.org/10.1038/s41746-019-0152-7Garg D, Berga SL.Neuroendocrine mechanisms of reproduction.Handb Clin Neurol. 2020;171:3-23. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64239-4.00001-1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Premenstrual syndrome.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Heavy and abnormal periods.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Amenorrhea.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).The menopause years.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Your menstrual cycle.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Your changing body: puberty in girls.
MedlinePlus.Vaginal or uterine bleeding.
Bull, J. R., Rowland, S. P., Scherwitzl, E. B., Scherwitzl, R., Danielsson, K. G., & Harper, J. (2019).Real-world menstrual cycle characteristics of more than 600,000 menstrual cycles.Npj Digital Medicine,2(1), 1-8. doi.org/10.1038/s41746-019-0152-7
Garg D, Berga SL.Neuroendocrine mechanisms of reproduction.Handb Clin Neurol. 2020;171:3-23. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64239-4.00001-1
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Premenstrual syndrome.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Heavy and abnormal periods.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Amenorrhea.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).The menopause years.
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