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”

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:

“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 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 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”.5

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”.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 (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:

“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”.8

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.

New or Updated

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  6. Better You Know [Awareness Campaign About Bleeding Disorders Among Women]
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  11. Blood Clots During Menstruation: A Concern?
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  49. Menstrualhygieneday.org [Menstrual Hygiene Day, 28 May]
  50. Menstruation: Science and Society
  51. PMDD/PMS
  52. PMS, PMDD and You
  53. Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
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  69. Reusable Cloth Pads
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  71. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  72. Tips for Tracking Bleeding
  73. Trial Period [+ Video: Reusable Period Products | Trial Period | Zero Waste Scotland]
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  77. Video Series-2022: Irregular Menstrual Cycles What’s Normal and What’s Abnormal?
  78. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
  79. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: When Your Periods Leave Too Early
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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 05 January 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/ Accessed: 27 January 2023
  2. Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 05 January 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/ Accessed: 27 January 2023
  3. 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: 27 January 2023
  4. About the Menstrual Cycle: What Is A Menstrual Cycle? Last Updated: 10 February 2022 | Last Reviewed: 10 July 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/about-the-menstrual-cycle Accessed: 27 January 2023
  5. Vaginal Bleeding: Basics – Definition. 15 June 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-bleeding/basics/definition/sym-20050756 Accessed: 27 January 2023
  6. 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: 27 January 2023
  7. Menstrual Calendar. 2015. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2015/menonote-menstrual-calendar-english.pdf Accessed: 27 January 2023
  8. About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 10 February 2022 | Last Reviewed: 10 July 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/about-the-menstrual-cycle Accessed: 27 January 2023
Topic Last Updated: 09 March 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 27 January 2023

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