Index
How long does a menstrual cycle last in a woman?
A menstrual cycle usually lasts about 28 days, but it can vary from 21 to 36 days. The first day of the period is called day 1 of the process.
The cycle is counted from the first day of bleeding or menstruation in a month until the first day of bleeding in the next month or the same month.
For example, if the period begins on day 1 of the month, you have five days of bleeding, and then you will not have another period until the 30th day of the month; you could say that you have a cycle of 29 days.
When a young woman begins to menstruate, it usually takes a couple of years for her body to have a regular pattern of menstruation.
It is usual for the cycle to get a little mismatched during the first years. In the years leading up to menopause (when a woman stops ovulating and menstruation stops), a woman’s cycle can also be unpredictable.
Menstruation may last a shorter period during this time, and the time between periods maybe longer.
What is the menstrual cycle?
The menstrual cycle is just that: a cycle. It is how the body prepares for a possible pregnancy and the time for the uterus to muffle a fertilized egg and then release the thickened cover and the unfertilized egg (from bleeding from the vagina).
The “period” itself is part of this cycle. The hormone system controls the menstrual cycle. Body changes (including cramps, mood swings, and periods) are triggered by the levels of hormones that are running through the system.
The medical term for the “period” is menstruation.
What happens during the menstrual cycle?
Upon entering puberty, the body begins to change. The breasts develop; begin to get pubic hair and hair on the arms; A few months before the first period, you can even notice that it has clear vaginal discharge. Do not panic. All this is normal.
An egg leaves the ovaries approximately once a month and moves towards the fallopian tubes towards the uterus.
The period – or bleeding time – occurs when the body gets rid of blood and the extra tissue is no longer needed. Then, the cycle begins again.
Remember, you can still get pregnant if you have unprotected sex while menstruating. And if you do not have your one month or more, you could be pregnant.
