Periods

“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”

Period

What is a period?

DotS the definition of a period may vary. In Periods: Overview 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 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 the 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 (JH) definition is:

“The menstrual cycle is a series of changes your body goes through each month to prepare for a possible pregnancy. Each cycle is measured from the first day of your period (day one of your cycle) to the day before your next period.

Your menstrual cycle begins when you have your first period and finishes when you have your final period (menopause)”.4

Menstrual Cycle Pattern

What is a usual 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 PatternPeriods Pattern

How may I Look for A Pattern with my periods?

In Periods (Menstruation): Irregular Periods the (Scottish) NHS Inform elaborate on:

“If you keep a note of your period dates and symptoms using a calendar, a diary or an app you can then discuss these with your doctor who can decide if any tests or treatments might be necessary”.6

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 (now the Menopause Society) 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

In Your Period: When To See Your Doctor the JH note:

Periods

“There are many reasons you might need to see your doctor about your period. For example if:

  • Your period patterns change
  • You have increasingly heavier periods
  • You have long periods (more than eight days)
  • Your periods come less than three weeks apart
  • Your periods come more than two to three months apart.

Also see your doctor if:

  • You bleed between periods
  • You bleed after menopause
  • You bleed after having sex
  • You have painful periods that affect your quality of life”.8

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z 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.

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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Periods: Overview. Page Last Reviewed: 05 January 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/ Accessed: 09 May 2025
  2. Periods: Overview. Page Last Reviewed: 05 January 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/ Accessed: 09 May 2025
  3. What Happens During the Typical 28-Day Menstrual Cycle? What Is the Menstrual Cycle? Page Last Updated: 13 January 2025. 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: 09 May 2025
  4. About the Menstrual Cycle. Last Updated: 21 November 2024 | Last Reviewed: 25 March 2024. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/about-the-menstrual-cycle Accessed: 09 May 2025
  5. Vaginal Bleeding: Basics – Definition. 02 May 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-bleeding/basics/definition/sym-20050756 Accessed: 09 May 2025
  6. Periods (Menstruation). Last Updated: 04 May 2023. NHS Inform https://nhsinform-n1.azurewebsites.net/healthy-living/womens-health/girls-and-young-women-puberty-to-around-25/periods-and-menstrual-health/periods-menstruation/ Accessed: 09 May 2025
  7. Menstrual Calendar. 2015. North American Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/menonote-menstrual-calendar-english.pdf Accessed: 09 May 2025
  8. Your Period: When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 12 July 2024 | Last Reviewed: 25 March 2024. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/your-period Accessed: 09 May 2025
Topic Last Updated: 12 June 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 09 May 2025

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