Periods

“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”.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 States) MedlinePlus’ definition is:

“Menstruation, or period, is a woman’s monthly bleeding”.2

The (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:

“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”.3

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”.4

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”.5

Menstrual Cycle Pattern

What is a woman’s normal menstrual cycle pattern?

In Vaginal Bleeding the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

“Normal vaginal bleeding, or menstruation, occurs every 21 to 35 days when the uterus sheds its lining, marking the start of a new reproductive cycle. A menstrual period may last for just a few days or up to a week. Your flow may be heavy or light and still considered normal. Menstrual cycles tend to be longer for teens and for women nearing menopause, and menstrual flow may also be heavier at those ages”.6

Menopause

How can women tell if they are approaching menopause?

In Menopause What Are the Symptoms? Early Symptoms – Changes In Menstrual Periods the Australasian Menopause Society note:

Periods
“Many women have a change in their menstrual cycle (period) before their periods stop. You should see your doctor if your periods become heavy or more frequent”.7

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”.8

The JH note:

“When To See Your Doctor

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”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Periods?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

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.

  1. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
  2. About Menopause
  3. About the Menstrual Cycle [+ Video]
  4. About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor
  5. Better You Know [Awareness Campaign About Bleeding Disorders In Women]
  6. Bleeding Disorders In Women
  7. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
  8. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Signs: Chart
  9. Blood Clots During Menstruation: A Concern?
  10. Bloodygoodperiod.com [Bloody Good Period]
  11. Different Types of Period Pain and What They Might Mean
  12. Endometriosis
  13. Endometriosis
  14. Heavy Bleeding
  15. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
  16. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Fact Sheet
  17. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: What Women Need To Know – Podcast
  18. Heavy Periods
  19. Heavy Periods Video In 6 Languages
  20. Heavy Periods: Can Folic Acid Help?
  21. Heavy Periods: How Much Is Heavy Bleeding? Heavy Periods Self-Assessment
  22. Help for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
  23. Home Remedies: Managing Menstrual Cramps
  24. Hormonal Health – Clues Made Clear
  25. How Can I Cope With My Periods on A Long Shift?
  26. Is Your Period Regular?
  27. Know Your Normal Get Abnormal Bleeding Checked Periods
  28. Lets Talk… Period Hosted By Diana Falzone [EndoTV Health Network]
  29. MH Day 28 May [Menstrual Hygiene]
  30. “Making the Case for Investing In Menstrual Health and Hygiene” – Introducing A New Standard
  31. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Headaches and Menstruation
  32. Menopause What Are the Symptoms? Early Symptoms – Change In Menstrual Periods
  33. Menopause: Symptoms – Changes To Your Periods
  34. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)
  35. Menstrual Calendar
  36. Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
  37. Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
  38. Menstrual Changes After Covid-19 Vaccination
  39. Menstrual Cup
  40. Menstrual Cycle
  41. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not
  42. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle?
  43. Menstruation: Science and Society
  44. PMDD/PMS
  45. PMS, PMDD and You
  46. Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
  47. Perimenopause – Fact Sheet
  48. Period Pain
  49. Period Pain
  50. Period Pain & Symptom Diary
  51. Period Pants
  52. Period Problems
  53. Periods
  54. Periods
  55. Periods
  56. Periods and the Pill: How Do I Know I’ve Reached Menopause If I’m on the Pill?
  57. Periods – Fact Sheet
  58. Periods – Menstrual Cycle Animation
  59. Periods: Period Problems
  60. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  61. Reusable Cloth Pads
  62. Stopped or Missed Periods
  63. Tips for Tracking Bleeding
  64. Trial Period [+ Video: Reusable Period Products | Trial Period | Zero Waste Scotland]
  65. Tricky Periods: What’s ‘Normal’ and What’s Not
  66. Uterine/Endometrial Cancer Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
  67. Vaginal Bleeding
  68. Vaginal Bleeding
  69. Video Series-2017: Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
  70. Videos and Podcasts: Interviews and Podcasts – Interviews: When Your Periods Leave Too Early
  71. What Causes Bleeding Between Periods?
  72. What Happens During the Typical 28-Day Menstrual Cycle?
  73. Women’s Wellness: Abnormal Menstruation Happens In A Variety of Ways
  74. Women’s Wellness: Are Asthma Symptoms Worse During Your Period?
  75. Women’s Wellness: Try These Remedies for Painful Periods [+ Video]
  76. Yarning About Periods (Menstrual Cycle)
  77. Your Contraception Guide: How Do I Know I’ve Reached Menopause If I’m on the Pill?
  78. Your Menstrual Cycle and Your Health

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 05 August 2019. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/ Accessed: 15 November 2021
  2. Vaginal Bleeding: Summary. Page Last Updated: 22 July 2021. Topic Last Reviewed: 01 July 2016. Medline Plus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vaginalbleeding.html Accessed: 15 November 2021
  3. Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 05 August 2019. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/ Accessed: 15 November 2021
  4. What Happens During the Typical 28-Day Menstrual Cycle? What Is the Menstrual Cycle? Page Last Updated: 16 March 2018. 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: 15 November 2021
  5. About the Menstrual Cycle: What Is A Menstrual Cycle? Last Updated: 25 June 2021 | Last Reviewed: 10 July 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/about-the-menstrual-cycle Accessed: 15 November 2021
  6. Vaginal Bleeding: Basics – Definition. 15 June 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-bleeding/basics/definition/sym-20050756 Accessed: 15 November 2021
  7. Menopause What Are the Symptoms? Early Symptoms – Change In Menstrual Periods. Content Updated: April 2017. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets/menopause-what-are-the-symptoms Accessed: 15 November 2021
  8. Menstrual Calendar. 2015. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2015/menonote-menstrual-calendar-english.pdf Accessed: 15 November 2021
  9. About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 03 March 2020 | Last Reviewed: 10 July 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/about-the-menstrual-cycle Accessed: 15 November 2021

Topic Last Updated: 26 November 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 15 November 2021
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