“Your period can last between 2 and 7 days,
but it will usually last for about 5 days.
The bleeding tends to be heaviest in the first 2 days”.1
Umbrella
What may the Periods Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- George
- Girl’s Week
- Menses
- Menstrual Cycle
- Menstrual Period
- Menstruation
- Monthly Bleeding
- Normal Vaginal Bleeding
- Period/s
- “Monthly”
Definition
What is a woman’s menstrual period?
DotS the definition of a woman’s menstrual period may vary. The (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:
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 every 23 days to every 35 days.
Your period can last between 2 and 7 days, but it will usually last for about 5 days. The bleeding tends to be heaviest in the first 2 days”.2
Menstrual Cycle
What is a woman’s menstrual cycle?
DotS the definition of the menstrual cycle may vary. In What Happens During the Typical 28-Day Menstrual Cycle? What Is the Menstrual Cycle? the Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov’s definition is:
“The menstrual cycle is the monthly hormonal cycle a female’s body goes through to prepare for pregnancy. Your menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of your period up to the first day of your next period. Your hormone levels (estrogen and progesterone) usually change throughout the menstrual cycle and can cause menstrual symptoms”.3
In About the Menstrual Cycle: What Is A Menstrual Cycle? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health’s definition is:
“The menstrual cycle is a cycle of bodily changes controlled by female hormones that cause a regular bleed. This bleed, which usually occurs monthly, comes from the uterus (womb) and flows out from the vagina. ‘Period’, ‘menstruation’ or ‘menses’ are all words used to describe the blood loss women experience at this time”.4
Menstrual Cycle Pattern
What is a woman’s normal menstrual cycle pattern?
In Vaginal Bleeding: Basics – Definition the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:
“Vaginal bleeding from a period usually happens every 21 to 35 days. This is called the menstrual cycle. The blood comes from the lining of the uterus, which is shed through the vagina. When this happens, a new reproductive cycle has started”.5
Look for A Pattern
How may I Look for A Pattern with my periods?
In Periods (Menstruation): Irregular Periods the (Scottish) NHS Inform elaborate on:
Health Care Provider
What if there are changes in my periods?
If there are changes in your periods, it may be in you best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. In Menstrual Calendar the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) explain:
“During the transition to menopause (called perimenopause), it is normal to skip periods, but very frequent or heavy bleeding episodes often requires an evaluation by your healthcare provider. Any bleeding after menopause requires an evaluation by your healthcare provider”.7
The JH note:

There are many reasons you might need to see your doctor about your periods including:
- Changes in the pattern of your period
- Increasingly heavy periods
- Long periods of more than eight days
- Periods that come fewer than three weeks apart
- Periods coming more than two to three months apart
- Painful periods that cause you to stay home
- Bleeding between periods
- Bleeding after intercourse
Your menstrual cycle is a normal process for your body. Each woman experiences her menstrual cycle differently, most without any difficulties. If there is any change in your cycle that worries you, see your doctor”.8
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Periods?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Periods?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.New or Updated
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
- About Menopause
- About the Menstrual Cycle [+ Video]
- About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor
- All of Your Tampon Questions Answered
- Are Menstrual Cups Right for You?
- Better You Know [Awareness Campaign About Bleeding Disorders Among Women]
- Bleeding Disorders In Women
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Bleeding Disorders In Women
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Signs: Chart
- Blood Clots During Menstruation: A Concern?
- Bloodygoodperiod.com [Bloody Good Period]
- Brown Discharge: 4 Causes and What It Means
- Can A Tampon Get Stuck? Here’s How To Remove It
- Different Types of Period Pain and What They Might Mean
- Does Your Period Really Sync With Close Friends’?
- Endometriosis
- Endometriosis
- FAQs: Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
- Heavy Bleeding
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: What Women Need To Know – Podcast
- Heavy Periods
- Heavy Periods Video In 6 Languages
- Heavy Periods: Can Folic Acid Help?
- Heavy Periods: Check If You Have Heavy Periods
- Help for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- Home Remedies: Managing Menstrual Cramps
- Hormonal Health – Clues Made Clear
- How Can I Cope With My Periods on A Long Shift?
- Irregular Periods [Video]
- Is Your Period Regular?
- Lets Talk… Period Hosted By Diana Falzone [EndoTV Health Network]
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Headaches and Menstruation
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Menstrual Cups — Why the Recent Increase In Popularity?
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Understanding Menstrual Health and Menopause
- Menopause What Are the Symptoms? Early Symptoms – Change In Menstrual Periods
- Menopause: Symptoms
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)
- Menstrual Calendar
- Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
- Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
- Menstrual Changes After Covid-19 Vaccination
- Menstrual Cup
- Menstrual Cycle
- Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not
- Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle?
- Menstrual Hygiene Day [28 May]
- Menstruation: Science and Society
- PMS, PMDD and You
- Period Blood Clots: Are They Normal?
- Period Pain
- Period Pain
- Period Pain & Symptom Diary
- Period Pants
- Period Problems
- Periods
- Periods
- Periods (Menstruation)
- Periods (Menstruation) Videos
- Periods: Period Problems
- Periods: [+ Video: Menstrual Cycle]
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Reusable Cloth Pads
- Stopped or Missed Periods
- Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- Tips for Tracking Your Bleeding
- Trial Period [+ Video: Reusable Period Products | Trial Period | Zero Waste Scotland]
- Tricky Periods: What’s ‘Normal’ and What’s Not
- Uterine/Endometrial Cancer/GTD
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Video Series-2022: Irregular Menstrual Cycles What’s Normal and What’s Abnormal?
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: When Your Periods Leave Too Early
- Webinars: Previous – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding In Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women
- What Causes Bleeding Between Periods?
- What Happens During the Typical 28-Day Menstrual Cycle?
- What Is Chasteberry, and What Can It Do?
- Your Contraception Guide: How Do I Know I’ve Reached Menopause If I’m on the Pill?
- Your Menstrual Cycle and Your Health
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 05 January 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/ Accessed: 11 September 2023
- Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 05 January 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/ Accessed: 11 September 2023
- What Happens During the Typical 28-Day Menstrual Cycle? What Is the Menstrual Cycle? Page Last Updated: 22 February 2021. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/your-menstrual-cycle Accessed: 11 September 2023
- About the Menstrual Cycle: What Is A Menstrual Cycle? Last Updated: 26 August 2023 | Last Reviewed: 10 July 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/about-the-menstrual-cycle Accessed: 11 September 2023
- Vaginal Bleeding: Basics – Definition. 02 May 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-bleeding/basics/definition/sym-20050756 Accessed: 11 September 2023
- Periods. Last Updated: 04 May 2023. NHS Inform https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/girls-and-young-women-puberty-to-around-25/periods-and-menstrual-health/periods-menstruation/ Accessed: 11 September 2023
- Menstrual Calendar. 2015. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2015/menonote-menstrual-calendar-english.pdf Accessed: 11 September 2023
- About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 26 August 2023 | Last Reviewed: 10 July 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/about-the-menstrual-cycle Accessed: 11 September 2023