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Women’s Health Strategy England

Women are being urged to share their experiences of the health and care system in England, to form the basis of a Women’s Health Strategy, to ensure health services are meeting their needs. Read more

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Endometriosis After Menopause

Endometriosis after menopause, usually goes away. However, “Some women continue to experience endometriosis symptoms after menopause”. Read more

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Jean Hailes June 2019 What’s Hot

Jean Hailes June 2019 What’s Hot is the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health free monthly health article published with the permission of the Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH). Read more

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Jean Hailes September 2018 Whats Hot

Jean Hailes September 2018 What’s Hot is the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health free monthly health article published with the permission of the Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH). Read more

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Jean Hailes July 2018 What’s Hot

Jean Hailes July 2018 What’s Hot is the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health free monthly health article published with the permission of the Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH). Read more

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Meno Martha and Endometriosis Awareness

March (and beyond) is international Endometriosis Awareness month. In Endometriosis Awareness 2018 the international Endometriosis.org elaborate on: Read more

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Jean Hailes March 2018 What’s Hot

Jean Hailes March 2018 What’s Hot is the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health free monthly health article published with the permission of the Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH). Read more

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Health Topics

Menopause Body Changes

“Physical changes associated with menopause and ageing include changes in body shape. Shifting weight from the hips to the central tummy area, drier skin…”. Read more

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Pelvic Pain

“Pelvic pain is felt below your bellybutton. It may come on suddenly and severely, or could be mild and last for months”. Read more

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Jean Hailes for Women’s Health

“Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving women’s knowledge and understanding of complex health issues”. Read more

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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

The (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“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”.4

Menstrual Cycle

What is a woman’s menstrual cycle?

DotS the definition of a woman’s 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”.5

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”.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: Can Folic Acid Help?
  20. Heavy Periods: How Much Is Heavy Bleeding? Heavy Periods Self-Assessment
  21. Help for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
  22. Home Remedies: Managing Menstrual Cramps
  23. Hormonal Health – Clues Made Clear
  24. Is Your Period Regular?
  25. Lets Talk… Period Hosted By Diana Falzone [EndoTV Health Network]
  26. MH Day 28 May [Menstrual Hygiene]
  27. “Making the Case for Investing In Menstrual Health and Hygiene” – Introducing A New Standard Periods
  28. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Headaches and Menstruation
  29. Menopause What Are the Symptoms? Early Symptoms – Change In Menstrual Periods
  30. Menopause: Symptoms – Changes To Your Periods
  31. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)
  32. Menstrual Calendar
  33. Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
  34. Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
  35. Menstrual Cup
  36. Menstrual Cycle
  37. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not
  38. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle?
  39. Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
  40. Period Pain
  41. Period Pain
  42. Period Pain & Symptom Diary
  43. Period Pants
  44. Period Problems
  45. Periods
  46. Periods
  47. Periods – Fact Sheet
  48. Periods – Menstrual Cycle Animation
  49. Periods: Period Problems
  50. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  51. Reusable Cloth Pads
  52. Stopped or Missed Periods
  53. Tips for Tracking Bleeding
  54. Trial Period [+ Video: Reusable Period Products | Trial Period | Zero Waste Scotland]
  55. Uterine/Endometrial Cancer Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
  56. Vaginal Bleeding
  57. Vaginal Bleeding
  58. Video Series-2017 – Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
  59. What Causes Bleeding Between Periods?
  60. What Happens During the Typical 28-Day Menstrual Cycle?
  61. When Your Periods Leave Too Early
  62. Women’s Wellness: Abnormal Menstruation Happens In A Variety of Ways
  63. Women’s Wellness: Are Asthma Symptoms Worse During Your Period?
  64. Women’s Wellness: Try These Remedies for Painful Periods [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  65. Yarning About Periods (Menstrual Cycle)
  66. 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: 24 May 2021
  2. Vaginal Bleeding: Summary. Page Last Updated: on 07 May 2021. Topic Last Reviewed: 01 July 2016. Medline Plus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vaginalbleeding.html Accessed: 24 May 2021
  3. Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 05 August 2019. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/ Accessed: 24 May 2021
  4. Vaginal Bleeding: Basics – Definition. 23 April 2019. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/vaginal-bleeding/basics/definition/sym-20050756 Accessed: 24 May 2021
  5. 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: 24 May 2021
  6. About the Menstrual Cycle: What Is A Menstrual Cycle? 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: 24 May 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: 24 May 2021
  8. Menstrual Calendar. 2015. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2015/menonote-menstrual-calendar-english.pdf Accessed: 24 May 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: 24 May 2021

Topic Last Updated: 18 June 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 24 May 2021
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