Menstruation and the menstrual cycle | womenshealth.gov Menstruation and the menstrual cycle Menstruation and the menstrual cycle To receive Publications email updates Enter email Submit Menstruation and the menstrual cycle Menstruation is a woman's monthly bleeding. When you menstruate, your body sheds the lining of the uterus (womb). Learn how the menstrual cycle works and what to do if you have painful or irregular periods. Expand all Collapse all What is menstruation? Menstruation (men-STRAY-shuhn) is a woman's monthly bleeding. When you menstruate, your body sheds the lining of the uterus (womb). Menstrual blood flows from the uterus through the small opening in the cervix and passes out of the body through the vagina ( see how the menstrual cycle works below ). Most menstrual periods last from 3 to 5 days. What is the menstrual cycle? When periods (menstruations) come regularly, this is called the menstrual cycle. Having regular menstrual cycles is a sign that important parts of your body are working normally. The menstrual cycle provides important body chemicals, called hormones, to keep you healthy. It also prepares your body for pregnancy each month.

A cycle is counted from the first day of 1 period to the first day of the next period. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long. Cycles can range anywhere from 21 to 35 days in adults and from 21 to 45 days in young teens. The rise and fall of levels of hormones during the month control the menstrual cycle. What happens during the menstrual cycle? In the first half of the cycle, levels of estrogen (the "female hormone") start to rise. Estrogen plays an important role in keeping you healthy, especially by helping you to build strong bones and to help keep them strong as you get older. Estrogen also makes the lining of the uterus (womb) grow and thicken. This lining of the womb is a place that will nourish the embryo if a pregnancy occurs. At the same time the lining of the womb is growing, an egg, or ovum, in one of the ovaries starts to mature. At about day 14 of an average 28-day cycle, the egg leaves the ovary. This is called ovulation. After the egg has left the ovary, it travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus.

Hormone levels rise and help prepare the uterine lining for pregnancy. A woman is most likely to get pregnant during the 3 days before or on the day of ovulation. Keep in mind, women with cycles that are shorter or longer than average may ovulate before or after day 14. A woman becomes pregnant if the egg is fertilized by a man's sperm cell and attaches to the uterine wall. If the egg is not fertilized, it will break apart. Then, hormone levels drop, and the thickened lining of the uterus is shed during the menstrual period. See how the menstrual cycle works. What is a typical menstrual period like? During your period, you shed the thickened uterine lining and extra blood through the vagina. Your period may not be the same every month. It may also be different than other women's periods. Periods can be light, moderate, or heavy in terms of how much blood comes out of the vagina. This is called menstrual flow. The length of the period also varies. Most periods last from 3 to 5 days. But, anywhere from 2 to 7 days is normal. For the first few years after menstruation begins, longer cycles are common.

A woman's cycle tends to shorten and become more regular with age. Most of the time, periods will be in the range of 21 to 35 days apart. What kinds of problems do women have with their periods? Women can have a range of problems with their periods, including pain, heavy bleeding, and skipped periods. Amenorrhea (ay-men-uh-REE-uh) — the lack of a menstrual period. This term is used to describe the absence of a period in: Young women who haven't started menstruating by age 15 Women and girls who haven't had a period for 90 days, even if they haven't been menstruating for long Causes can include: Stress Serious medical conditions in need of treatment As above, when your menstrual cycles come regularly, this means that important parts of your body are working normally. In some cases, not having menstrual periods can mean that your ovaries have stopped producing normal amounts of estrogen. Missing these hormones can have important effects on your overall health. Hormonal problems, such as those caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or serious problems with the reproductive organs, may be involved. It's important to talk to a doctor if you have this problem.

Dysmenorrhea (dis-men-uh-REE-uh) — painful periods, including severe cramps. Menstrual cramps in teens are caused by too much of a chemical called prostaglandin. (pros-tuh-GLAN-duhn) Most teens with dysmenorrhea do not have a serious disease, even though the cramps can be severe. In older women, the pain is sometimes caused by a disease or condition such as uterine fibroids or endometriosis . For some women, using a heating pad or taking a warm bath helps ease their cramps. Some over-the-counter pain medicines can also help with these symptoms. They include: Ibuprofen (eye-byu-PROH-fuhn) (for instance, Advil, Motrin, Midol Cramp) Ketoprofen (key-toh-PROH-fuhn) (for instance, Orudis KT) Naproxen (nuh-PROK-suhn) (for instance, Aleve) If these medicines don't relieve your pain or the pain interferes with work or school, you should see a doctor. Treatment depends on what's causing the problem and how severe it is.

Abnormal uterine bleeding — vaginal bleeding that's different from normal menstrual periods. It includes: Bleeding between periods Spotting anytime in the menstrual cycle Bleeding heavier or for more days than normal Bleeding after menopause Abnormal bleeding can have many causes. Your doctor may start by checking for problems that are most common in your age group. Some of them are not serious and are easy to treat. Others can be more serious. Treatment for abnormal bleeding depends on the cause. In both teens and women nearing menopause, hormonal changes can cause long periods along with irregular cycles. Even if the cause is hormonal changes, you may be able to get treatment. You should keep in mind that these changes can occur with other serious health problems, such as uterine fibroids, polyps, or even cancer. See your doctor if you have any abnormal bleeding. When does a girl usually get her first period? In the United States, the average age for a girl to get her first period is 12. This does not mean that all girls start at the same age. A girl can start her period anytime between the ages of 8 and 15. Most of the time, the first period starts about 2 years after breasts first start to develop.

If a girl has not had her first period by age 15, or if it has been more than 2 to 3 years since breast growth started, she should see a doctor. How long does a woman have periods? Women usually have periods until menopause . Menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, usually around age 50. Menopause means that a woman is no longer ovulating (producing eggs) or having periods and can no longer get pregnant. Like menstruation, menopause can vary from woman to woman and these changes may occur over several years. The time when your body begins its move into menopause is called the menopausal transition. This can last anywhere from 2 to 8 years. Some women have early menopause because of surgery or other treatment, illness, or other reasons. If you don't have a period for 90 days, you should see your doctor. He or she will check for pregnancy, early menopause, or other health problems that can cause periods to stop or become irregular. When should I see a doctor about my period? See your doctor about your period if: You have not started menstruating by the age of 15.

You have not started menstruating within 3 years after breast growth began, or if breasts haven't started to grow by age 13. Your period suddenly stops for more than 90 days. Your periods become very irregular after having had regular, monthly cycles. Your period occurs more often than every 21 days or less often than every 35 days. You are bleeding for more than 7 days. You are bleeding more heavily than usual or using more than 1 pad or tampon every 1 to 2 hours. You bleed between periods. You have severe pain during your period. You suddenly get a fever and feel sick after using tampons. How often should I change my pad and/or tampon? You should change a pad before it becomes soaked with blood. Each woman decides for herself what works best. You should change a tampon at least every 4 to 8 hours. Make sure to use the lowest absorbency tampon needed for your flow. For example, use junior or regular tampons on the lightest day of your period. Using a super absorbency tampon on your lightest days increases your risk for toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS is a rare but sometimes deadly disease.

TSS is caused by bacteria that can produce toxins. If your body can't fight the toxins, your immune (body defense) system reacts and causes the symptoms of TSS (see below). Young women may be more likely to get TSS. Using any kind of tampon puts you at greater risk for TSS than using pads. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends the following tips to help avoid tampon problems: Follow package directions for insertion. Choose the lowest absorbency for your flow. Change your tampon at least every 4 to 8 hours. Consider switching between pads and tampons. Know the warning signs of TSS (see below). Don't use tampons between periods. If you have any of these symptoms of TSS while using tampons, take the tampon out, and contact your doctor right away: Sudden high fever (over 102 degrees) Muscle aches Normal Menstrual Cycle-Topic Overview Normal Menstrual Cycle Normal Menstrual Cycle - Topic Overview Normal Menstrual Cycle Credits What is a menstrual cycle? The menstrual cycle is the series of changes a woman's body goes through to prepare for a pregnancy .

About once a month, the uterus grows a new lining (endometrium) to get ready for a fertilized egg . When there is no fertilized egg to start a pregnancy, the uterus sheds its lining. This is the monthly menstrual bleeding (also called menstrual period) that women have from their early teen years until menopause , around age 50. The menstrual cycle is from Day 1 of bleeding to Day 1 of the next time of bleeding. Although the average cycle is 28 days, it is normal to have a cycle that is shorter or longer. Girls usually start having menstrual periods between the ages of 11 and 14. Women usually start to have fewer periods between ages 39 and 51. Women in their 40s and teens may have cycles that are longer or change a lot. If you are a teen, your cycles should even out with time. If you are nearing menopause , your cycles will probably get longer and then will stop. Talk to your doctor if you notice any big change in your cycle. It's especially important to check with your doctor if you have three or more menstrual periods that last longer than 7 days or are very heavy.

Also call if you have bleeding between your periods or pelvic pain that is not from your period. What controls the menstrual cycle? Your hormones control your menstrual cycle. During each cycle, your brain's hypothalamus and pituitary gland send hormone signals back and forth with your ovaries . These signals get the ovaries and uterus ready for a pregnancy. The hormones estrogen and progesterone play the biggest roles in how the uterus changes during each cycle. Estrogen builds up the lining of the uterus. Progesterone increases after an ovary releases an egg ( ovulation ) at the middle of the cycle. This helps the estrogen keep the lining thick and ready for a fertilized egg. A drop in progesterone (along with estrogen) causes the lining to break down. This is when your period starts. Continued A change in hormone levels can affect your cycle or fertility . For example, teens tend to have low or changing progesterone levels. This is also true for women close to menopause . That is why teens and women in their 40s may have heavy menstrual bleeding and cycles that change in length. Other things can change your cycle. They include birth control pills , low body fat, losing a lot of weight , or being overweight .

Stress or very hard exercise also can change your cycle. Pregnancy is the most common cause of a missed period . What common symptoms are linked to the menstrual cycle? Some women have no pain or other problems. But other women have symptoms before and during their periods. For about a week before a period, many women have some premenstrual symptoms . You may feel more tense or angry. You may gain water weight and feel bloated. Your breasts may feel tender. You may get acne . You also may have less energy than usual. A day or two before your period, you may start having pain ( cramps ) in your belly, back, or legs. These symptoms go away during the first days of a period. When your ovary releases an egg in the middle of your cycle, you may have pain in your lower belly. You also might have red spotting for less than a day. Both are normal. How can women take care of bleeding and symptoms? You can use pads, tampons, or menstrual cups to manage bleeding. Whatever you use, be sure to change it at least every 4 to 8 hours. Pads may be best at night. Many women can improve their symptoms by getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet.

It also may help to limit alcohol and caffeine . Try to reduce stress . A heating pad, hot water bottle, or warm bath also can help with cramps. You can take an over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen or naproxen before and during your period to reduce pain and bleeding. Continued Period of the Human Menstrual Cycle Period of the Human Menstrual Cycle Standardized Result Campbell, Neil A., Jane B. Reese, & Lawrence G. Mitchell. Biology. 1987. Ed. Erin Mulligan, 5th ed. New York: Addison Wesley Longman. 1999. "The human menstrual cycle averages 28 days; the estrous cycle of the rat is only 5 days.Bears and dogs have one cycle per year, but elephants cycle several times per year." 28 days "Menstrual Cycle." Mosby's Medical Encyclopedia. Ed. Jean Williams Brusher & Janet Joers. CD-ROM. Vers. 2.0. New York: TLC Properties, 1997.

"The average length of the cycle from the first day of bleeding of one cycle to the first of another is 28 days." 28 days Wilcox, Allen J., David Dunson, & Donna Day Baird. "The Timing of the Fertile Window in the Menstrual Cycle: Day Specific Estimates From A Prospective Study." British Medical Journal. 321.7271 (2000). "It follows that in the usual menstrual cycle lasting 28 days, the fertile days would fall between days 10 and 17." 28 days Bruun, Ruth Dowling, & Bertel Bruun. The Human Body: Your Body and How It Works. New York: Random House, 1982. "The entire menstrual cycle, from the ripening of an egg to its discharge, takes 28 days on the average, but wide variations in this schedule are quite common and quite normal." 28 days "The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long and, for many women, is very predictable." 28 days Although the period of the human menstrual cycle can vary from 20 to 35 days, the average cycle lasts for 28 days.

During this time, the female reproductive system carries out the processes of the menstrual cycle, which occurs in phases. The menstrual cycle begins in females at puberty, which takes place between the ages of 10 and 16. It will continue until a woman reaches menopause, at which time the ovaries stop releasing mature eggs. This occurs between the ages of 40 and 60. A baby girl is born with 40,000 to 300,000 immature eggs in her ovaries, and beginning at puberty, one mature egg will be released about every 28 days. This is known as ovulation, and it does not occur until the second phase of the menstrual cycle. The development of an egg is stimulated by the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This hormone causes the follicles in the ovary to develop, which in turn causes the secretion of the female hormone known as estrogen. The thickening of a lining with mucus and blood vessels on the walls of the uterus is stimulated by estrogen. This is the proliferative phase of the cycle and it lasts about 10 to 14 days.

The uterine lining is called the endometrium and it prepares the uterus for a fertilized egg. The development of the follicles and ovulation are part of the ovarian cycle, which is not part of the menstrual cycle but instead occurs parallel to it. As the uterine lining continues to thicken, the level of estrogen in the blood increases, and this causes the secretion of FSH to decrease while inducing the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH). This hormone stimulates ovulation. When the egg is released, the follicles are broken, and the corpus luteum is formed, which secretes progesterone. It causes the continued growth of the endometrium. This is all included in the secretory phase, which also lasts about two weeks. If as the mature egg travels through the Fallopian tubes to the uterus, it is not fertilized by sperm, the secretion of LH decreases, and the corpus luteum no longer secretes progesterone. The uterine lining breaks down, and it is released with the egg and a little blood during the phase known as menstrual flow, or menstruation. This lasts for 3 to 7 days, and the menstrual cycle begins again.

The cycle of the moon's phases, or synodic cycle, lasts 29.5 days from new moon to new moon.The period of the sidereal cycle of the moon, which is the time it takes for the moon to complete an orbit of the earth, is 27.3 days. The average of the period of the synodic and sidereal cycle is 28 days, which is the average period of the human menstrual cycle. This correlation has prompted some to believe that the moon "controls" the female reproductive system. In the culture of the ancient Romans, the goddess of the moon, Diana, cared for women, especially those who were pregnant. In most cases, the period of the menstrual cycle is predictable after it stabilizes during the first few years of puberty. This consistency is important to women because an irregularity in the cycle can signify important changes in a women's body. For instance, if menstruation does not take place according to the usual cycle, it could mean that the woman is pregnant. Also, women become familiar with the period of their menstrual cycles in order to increase the chances of fertilization.

Usually, a woman is most fertile between days 10 and 17 of her cycle, because during that time, the egg is in the Fallopian tubes. Tiffany Eng -- 2001 Normal Menstruation Share Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Print What is menstruation? Menstruation is the monthly shedding of the lining of a woman’s uterus (more commonly known as the womb). Menstruation is also known by the terms menses, menstrual period, cycle, or period. The menstrual blood—which is partly blood and partly tissue from the inside of the uterus—flows from the uterus through the cervix and out of the body through the vagina. What is a normal menstrual cycle? The menstrual cycle is a term used to describe the sequence of events that occur within a woman’s body as it prepares for the possibility of pregnancy each month. A menstrual cycle is considered to begin on the first day of a period. The average cycle is 28 days long; however, a cycle can range in length from 21 days to about 35 days. The steps in the menstrual cycle are triggered by the rise and fall of chemicals in the body called hormones.

The pituitary gland in the brain and the ovaries in the female reproductive tract manufacture and release certain hormones at certain times during the menstrual cycle that cause the organs of the reproductive tract to respond in certain ways. The specific events that occur during the menstrual cycle can be described as follows: The menses phase—this phase, which typically lasts from day 1 to day 5, is the time when the lining of the uterus is actually shed out through the vagina if pregnancy has not occurred. Most women bleed for 3 to 5 days, but a period lasting only 2 days to as many as 7 days is still considered normal. The follicular phase—this phase typically takes place from days 6 to 14. During this time, the level of the hormone estrogen rises, which causes the lining of the uterus (called the endometrium) to grow and thicken. In addition, another hormone—follicle-stimulating hormone—causes follicles in the ovaries to grow. During days 10 to 14, one of the developing follicles will form a fully mature egg (ovum). Ovulation—this phase occurs roughly at about day 14 in a 28-day menstrual cycle.

A sudden increase in another hormone—luteinizing hormone—causes the ovary to release its egg. This event is called ovulation. The luteal phase—this phase lasts from about day 15 to day 28. After the egg is released from the ovary it begins to travel through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. The level of the hormone progesterone rises to help prepare the uterine lining for pregnancy. If the egg becomes fertilized by a sperm and attaches itself to the uterine wall, the woman becomes pregnant. If pregnancy does not occur, estrogen and progesterone levels drop and the thickened lining of the uterus is shed during the menstrual period. At what age does menstruation typically begin? Girls start menstruating at the average age of 12. However, girls can begin menstruating as early as 8 years of age or as late as 16 years of age. Women stop menstruating at menopause, which occurs at about the age of 51. At menopause, a woman stops producing eggs (stops ovulating). Menopause is defined as one year without periods, and after this time a woman can no longer become pregnant.

What are some of the symptoms of a normal menstruation? Moodiness Cramps in the lower abdomen and back Bloating What symptoms may indicate a need to contact my doctor about my period? Contact your doctor or health care provider if: You have not started menstruating by the age of 16 Your period stops suddenly You are bleeding for more days than usual You are bleeding more heavily than usual You have severe pain during your period You have bleeding between periods You suddenly feel sick after using tampons You think you might be pregnant—for example, you have had sex and your period is at least five days late Your period has not returned within two months after stopping birth control pills and you know you are not pregnant You have any questions or concerns about your period or possible pregnancy Reference: Menstrual Cycles: What Really Happens in those 28 Days?! Menstrual Cycles: What Really Happens in those 28 Days?! Have you ever wondered about the connection between your body's 28 day cycle and the cycle of the moon? Here's the theory. In the days before electricity, women's bodies were influenced by the amount of moonlight we saw.

Just as sunlight and moonlight affect plants and animals, our hormones were triggered by levels of moonlight. And, all women cycled together. Today, with artificial light everywhere, day and night, our cycles no longer correspond to the moon. This article is dedicated to exploring menses: fact and fiction, then and now. The philosophic foundation of the Feminist Women's Health Center is "Knowledge is Power." We believe when women have complete, unbiased information, they are empowered to make their own decisions leading to healthy whole lives. An important role of the FWHC is to provide information, resources for additional information, and give an analysis of the information we present. Here we describe a typical 28 day menstrual cycle and we begin to challenge the dominant American cultural assumptions about menses. Consider for a moment all you've heard about menstruation. Who first told you? What did they call it? How is menstruation viewed by your culture? What taboos have influenced you? How does your partner feel about your period? What impact has advertising had on your knowledge and attitude? What is the motivation of the advertiser? Is your experience different now compared to earlier in your life?

First we'll discuss the basic biology of menstruation, then we'll look at ancient traditions . Basic Biology: the cycle begins Did you know that when a baby girl is born, she has all the eggs her body will ever use, and many more, perhaps as many as 450,000? They are stored in her ovaries, each inside its own sac called a follicle. As she matures into puberty, her body begins producing various hormones that cause the eggs to mature. This is the beginning of her first cycle; it's a cycle that will repeat throughout her life until the end of menopause. Let's start with the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a gland in the brain responsible for regulating the body's thirst, hunger, sleep patterns, libido and endocrine functions. It releases the chemical messenger Follicle Stimulating Hormone Releasing Factor (FSH-RF) to tell the pituitary, another gland in the brain, to do its job. The pituitary then secretes Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and a little Leutenizing Hormone (LH) into the bloodstream which cause the follicles to begin to mature.

The maturing follicles then release another hormone, estrogen. As the follicles ripen over a period of about seven days, they secrete more and more estrogen into the bloodstream. Estrogen causes the lining of the uterus to thicken. It causes the cervical mucous to change. When the estrogen level reaches a certain point it causes the hypothalamus to release Leutenizing Hormone Releasing Factor (LH-RF) causing the pituitary to release a large amount of Leutenizing Hormone (LH). This surge of LH triggers the one most mature follicle to burst open and release an egg. This is called ovulation. [Many birth control pills work by blocking this LH surge, thus inhibiting the release of an egg.] Ovulation As ovulation approaches, the blood supply to the ovary increases and the ligaments contract, pulling the ovary closer to the Fallopian tube, allowing the egg, once released, to find its way into the tube. Just before ovulation, a woman's cervix secretes an abundance of clear "fertile mucous" which is characteristically stretchy. Fertile mucous helps facilitate the sperm's movement toward the egg.

Some women use daily mucous monitoring to determine when they are most likely to become pregnant. Mid cycle, some women also experience cramping or other sensations. Basal body temperature rises right after ovulation and stays higher by about .4 degrees F until a few days before the next period. Inside the Fallopian tube, the egg is carried along by tiny, hairlike projections, called "cilia" toward the uterus. Fertilization occurs if sperm are present. A tubal pregnancy, called ectopic pregnancy , is the rare situation when e a fertilized egg implants or gets lodged outside the uterus. It is a dangerous life-threatening situation if the fertilized egg starts developing and growing into an embryo inside the fallopian tube or elsewhere. The tube will rupture causing internal bleeding and surgery is required. A woman can use a speculum to monitor her own ovulation and use this information to avoid or encourage a pregnancy. This is the all-natural fertility awareness method (FAM) of family planning. Uterine Changes Between midcycle and menstruation, the follicle from which the egg burst becomes the corpus luteum (yellow body).

As it heals, it produces the hormones estrogen and, in larger amounts, progesterone which is necessary for the maintenance of a pregnancy. [RU-486 works by blocking progesterone production.] In the later stages of healing, if the uterus is not pregnant, the follicle turns white and is called the corpus albicans. Estrogen and progesterone are sometimes called "female" hormones, but both men and women have them, just in different concentrations. Progesterone causes the surface of the uterine lining, the endometrium, to become covered with mucous, secreted from glands within the lining itself. If fertilization and implantation do not occur, the spiral arteries of the lining close off, stopping blood flow to the surface of the lining. The blood pools into "venous lakes" which, once full, burst and, with the endometrial lining, form the menstrual flow. Most periods last 4 to 8 days but this length varies over the course of a lifetime. Bleeding - A New Theory Some researchers view menses as the natural monthly cleansing of the uterus and vagina of sperm and bacteria they carried.

Cramps and Other Sensations Women can experience a variety of sensations before, during or after their menses. Common complaints include backache, pain in the inner thighs, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, headaches, breast tenderness, irritability, and other mood changes. Women also experience positive sensations such as relief, release, euphoria, new beginning, invigoration, connection with nature, creative energy, exhilaration, increased sex drive and more intense orgasms. Uterine cramping is one of the most common uncomfortable sensations women may have during menstruation. There are two kinds of cramping. Spasmodic cramping is probably caused by prostaglandins, chemicals that affect muscle tension. Some prostaglandins cause relaxation, and some cause constriction. A diet high in linoleic and liblenic acids, found in vegetables and fish, increases the prostaglandins for aiding muscle relaxation. Congestive cramping causes the body to retain fluids and salt. To counter congestive cramping, avoid wheat and dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, and refined sugar. Natural options to alleviate cramping: Increase exercise. This will improve blood and oxygen circulation throughout the body, including the pelvis.

Try not using tampons. Many women find tampons increase cramping. Don't select an IUD (intrauterine device) as your birth control method. Avoid red meat, refined sugars, milk, and fatty foods. Eat lots of fresh vegetables, whole grains (especially if you experience constipation or indigestion), nuts, seeds and fruit. Avoid caffeine. It constricts blood vessels and increases tension. Meditate, get a massage. Have an orgasm (alone or with a partner). Drink ginger root tea (especially if you experience fatigue). Put cayenne pepper on food. It is a vasodilator and improves circulation. Breathe deeply, relax, notice where you hold tension in your body and let it go. Ovarian Kung Fu alleviates or even eliminates menstrual cramps and PMS, it also ensures smooth transition through menopause Take time for yourself! Anecdotal information suggests eliminating Nutra-Sweet from the diet will significantly relieve menstrual cramps. If you drink sugar-free sodas or other forms of Nutra-Sweet, try eliminating them completely for two months and see what happens. Lifestyle The hormones in our bodies are especially sensitive to diet and nutrition.

PMS and menstrual cramping are not diseases, but rather, symptoms of poor nutrition. Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS PMS has been known by women for many many years. However, within the past 30 or so years, pharmaceutical companies have targeted and created a market to treat this normal part of a woman's cycle as a disease. These companies then benefit from the sale of drugs and treatments. Premenstrual syndrome refers to the collection of symptoms or sensations women experience as a result of high hormone levels before, and sometimes during, their periods. One type of PMS is characterized by anxiety, irritability and mood swings. These feelings are usually relieved with the onset of bleeding. Most likely, this type relates to the balance between estrogen and progesterone. If estrogen predominates, anxiety occurs. If there's more progesterone, depression may be a complaint. Sugar craving, fatigue and headaches signify a different type of PMS. In addition to sugar, women may crave chocolate, white bread, white rice, pastries, and noodles. These food cravings may be caused by the increased responsiveness to insulin related to increased hormone levels before menstruation.

In this circumstance, women may experience symptoms of low blood sugar; their brains are signaling a need for fuel. A consistent diet that includes complex carbohydrates will provide a steady flow of energy to the brain and counter the ups and downs of blood sugar variations. Menstrual Myths Every woman's cycle is or should be 28 days long. Every woman will or should bleed every month. Every woman will or should ovulate every cycle. If a woman bleeds, she is not pregnant. A woman cannot ovulate or get pregnant while she is menstruating. The above statements are myths. Every woman is different. It's true that most women will have cycles that are around 28 days. But, a woman can be healthy and normal and have just 3 or 4 cycles a year. [However, while variations might be healthy and normal, they could also be a sign of a serious underlying problem. For example, a recent news article suggested that irregular menstrual cycles may predict Type 2 Diabetes .] Ovulation occurs about 14-16 days before women have their period (not 14 days after the start of their period).

The second half of the cycle, ovulation to menstruation, is fairly consistently the same length, but the first part changes from person to person and from cycle to cycle. In rare cases, a women may ovulate twice in a month, once from each ovary. Conception/Fertilization of an egg, can only occur after ovulation. The egg stays alive for about 24 hours once released from the ovary. Sperm can stay alive inside a woman's body for 3-4 days, but possibly as long as 6-7 days. If a couple has intercourse before or after ovulation occurs, they can get pregnant, since the live sperm are already inside the woman's body when ovulation occurs. Thus a woman can become pregnant from intercourse for about 7-10 days in the middle of her cycle. (See Fertility Awareness for a complete description of visible signs of ovulation.) Fertility Awareness is a birth control method where women monitor their cycles daily to identify ovulation. They are learning to predict ovulation to prevent or encourage pregnancy. It requires training and diligent record keeping. From our work providing abortion services, we know that some women can be pregnant and continue to have periods at the same time.

We also know of cases where women have gotten pregnant during their menstrual period. Menopause Technically menopause is the last menstrual flow of a woman's life and the climacteric is period of time preceding and following this event. In general usage, menopause refers to the whole process. For most women, menopause occurs between the ages of forty and sixty and takes place over a period from 6 months to three years. The menstrual cycle usually goes through many changes, some slow and some sudden, before stopping altogether. A woman's periods may become erratic, closer together, or further apart. She may skip a period or two, or have spotting at other times in her cycle. A common experience is loss of large amounts of blood with a period and passage of large clots. When a woman nears the cessation of her periods, she may not ovulate for one cycle or several cycles. In this case, the endometrium doesn't receive the chemical message to stop thickening. It grows and grows until its heavy bulk causes a heavy flow. Signals of menopause include hot flashes or flushes, changes in sleep patterns, headaches or migraines, high energy, high creativity, and/or mood changes.

As with PMS, some of these symptoms are hormone imbalances caused by poor nutrition. Did You Know? Women lose between 20 and 80 cc's (1-2 ounces) of blood during a normal period. One in six fertilized eggs naturally results in miscarriage, some of which are reabsorbed by the body and the woman is not aware she's been pregnant. The length of a woman's menstrual cycle (the number of days from the first day of one period to the first day of the next) is determined by the number of days it takes her ovary to release an egg. Once an egg is released, it is about 14 days until menstruation, for nearly all women. Alternatives for Handling Menstrual Flow Chlorine-free biodegradable 100% cotton tampons recently hit the market in response to environmentally conscious feminists. Studies have shown that organochlorines can be linked to cancer. Women using chlorine-free tampons are not putting chlorine into their bodies, nor are they supporting an industry which produces enormous volumes of industrial waste containing chlorine. If your regular pad or tampon isn't chlorine-free, write and urge them to make 100% cotton pads and tampons without chlorine.

Natural sponges from the ocean (not cellulose) are used by some women. They are dampened then inserted directly into the vagina. When full, they are removed, washed with water, and reused. Washable reusable cloth pads are also available. The menstrual cap is another reusable alternative. It is similar to the cervical cap, but worn near the vaginal opening in the same place as a tampon. When full, it is simply removed, washed and reinserted. A cervical cap has also been used successfully in this manner. The Keeper - a specially made reusable device for catching monthly flow. Cloth (washable) pads - this is what most women around the word have always used. Women are reclaiming the products we use to deal with menstruation. Check out these wonderful new small woman-owned companies and their products. Moon Time Throughout all cultures, the magic of creation resides in the blood women gave forth in apparent harmony with the moon, and which sometimes stayed inside to create a baby. This blood was regarded with reverence: it had mysterious magical powers, was inexplicably shed without pain, and was wholly foreign to male experience. Early menstrual rites were perhaps the first expression of human culture.

Native American (Lakota): "Follow your Grandmother Moon. Her illuminating cycles will transform your spirit." Begin with the Grandmother Moon at her brightest and most open. This is a time of outward activity and high energy. Sleep where the moonlight touches you. Walk outside where there are no artificial lights. Feel joy and creativity. As the Grandmother begins to cover her face, begin to withdraw into a quieter, less social place. Move to that inward place that is more about "being" than "doing." In the dark of the moon, when bleeding, the veil between you and the Great Mystery is the thinnest. Be receptive to visions, insights, intuitions. Go to a quiet separate place such as a Moon Lodge. Later, come out of the dark, a woman with a cleansed body. As the moon returns, come back out into the world, carrying your vision. Customs and Traditions Indians of South American said all humans were made of "moon blood" in the beginning. In Mesopotamia, the Great Goddess created people out of clay and infused them with her blood of life. She taught women to form clay dolls and smear them with menstrual blood. Adam translates as bloody clay.

In Hindu theory, as the Great Mother created the earth, solid matter coalesced into a clot with a crust. Women use this same method to produce new life. The Greeks believed the wisdom of man or god was centered in his blood which came from his mother. Egyptian pharaohs became divine by ingesting the blood of Isis called sa. Its hieroglyphic sign was the same as the sign of the vulva, a yonic loop like the one on the ankh. From the 8th to the 11th centuries, Christian churches refused communion to menstruating women. In ancient societies, menstrual blood carried authority, transmitting lineage of the clan or tribe. Among the Ashanti, girl children are more prized than boys because a girl is the carrier of the blood. Chinese sages called menstrual blood the essence of Mother Earth, the yin principle giving life to all things. Some African tribes believed that menstrual blood kept in a covered pot for nine months had the power to turn itself into a baby. Easter eggs, classic womb-symbols, were dyed red and laid on graves to strengthen the dead. A born-again ceremony from Australia showed the Aborigines linked rebirth with blood of the womb.

Post-menopausal women were often the wisest because they retained their "wise blood." In the 17th century these old women were constantly persecuted for witch craft because their menstrual blood remained in their veins. Calendars: The Roman Goddess of measurement, numbers, calendars, and record-keeping; derived from the Moon-goddess as the inventor of numerical systems; measurer of time. It has been shown that calendar consciousness developed first in women because their natural body rhythms corresponded to observations of the moon. Chinese women established a lunar calendar 3000 years ago. Mayan women understood the great Maya calendar was based on menstrual cycles. Romans called the calculation of time menstruation, meaning knowledge of the menses. In Gaelic, menstruation and calendar are the same word. The lunar calendar's thirteen 28-day months had four 7-day weeks, marking the new, waxing, full, and waning moons. Thirteen months is 364 days. Pagan traditions describe an annual cycle as a 13 months and a day. Even today, Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.

The 13 month calendar also led to pagan reverence for the number 13 and the Christian attempts to demolish it. Generally, the ancient symbols of matriarchy were the night, moon and 13. Patriarchy (under Christianity) honored the day, the sun and 12. Resources Menopausal Years: The Wise Woman Way by Susan S. Weed PMS Self-Help Book and Menstrual Cramps by Susan M. Lark, MD Our Bodies Ourselves by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective Buffalo Woman Comes Singing by Brooke Medicine Eagle The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets by Roberta G. Walker Blood, Bread and Roses by Judy Grahn The Garden of Fertility : A Guide to Charting your Fertility Signals to Prevent or Achieve Pregnancy -- Naturally -- and to Gauge your Reproductive Health by Katie Singer.

This book, published in 2004, describes the changes a woman experiences throughout the menstrual cycle; how to chart your fertility signals (the waking temperature and cervical fluid); how to determine, by fertility charts, when you are fertile and not fertile; how to practice natural birth control that is virtually as effective as the Pill; and when to time intercourse if you want to conceive. It explains how to identify, by your fertility charts, whether you're ovulating, indicating a propensity for thyroid problems, poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, or miscarriage. It tells how to establish and identify unambiguous infertility while breastfeeding, and how to identify that ovulatory cycles are resuming. See and Links Fertility Awareness Method of Birth Control (FAM). Understanding your body's symptoms and signs makes it possible to know when you are fertile which helps you get pregnant when you want to and when to use protection or a barrier method of birth control when you don't want to get pregnant. GardenofFertility.com includes several articles about Fertility Awareness, fabulous photos that show the changes the cervix goes through during a menstrual cycle unless a woman's on the Pill, fertility charts that can be downloaded at no charge, and more.

Society for Menstrual Cycle Research - a nonprofit organization and multidisciplinary group of women pioneers in understanding the centrality of menstrual cycle research to women's health. Menstruation - connecting heart, mind, body and spirit - Menstruation is an Art because if we are living our cycles and tapping into the gifts, power and responsibilities of being authentically Feminine, then we are tapping into an ever-changing, never-ending source of creativity. Museum of Menstruation - Herstory of menstruation, menstrual pad alternatives, and selected women's health topics, and lots of goofy stuff to make menstruation fun. How to Chart Your Cycle to Know When You Can Get Pregnant Listen to Your Body Getting pregnant is all about timing. You want to make sure the conditions are right for egg and sperm to meet. Your menstrual cycle can give you clues about when your body is ready to start the process. The first step is to learn the days when you’re most fertile. Most women have a 28-day menstrual cycle. That means you have about 6 days each month when you can get pregnant. That includes the day one of your ovaries releases an egg, called ovulation, and the 5 days before.

Having sex within that window is key. To figure it out, you’ll need to chart your menstrual cycle and record how long it lasts. Day 1 is the first day of your period. Since the length of your cycle can vary slightly from month to month, it’s best to keep track for a few months. Once you have an average, subtract 18 days from the length of your shortest cycle. This is the first day you’re likely to be fertile. Next, subtract 11 days from the length of your longest cycle. This is the last day you’re likely to be fertile. Having sex between those two dates will give you the best shot at getting pregnant. Listen to Your Body It’s also a good idea to pay attention to the signs that your body is ready to ovulate. Basal body temperature (BBT): This is your temperature first thing in the morning. Just after you ovulate, it rises slightly -- sometimes by less than a degree -- and stays higher until your period starts. If you record your temperature every day, you can spot the subtle changes that mean one of your ovaries has released an egg. How to take your BBT: Use a basal body thermometer.

They’re more sensitive than standard ones and will show temperature changes down to a fraction of a degree. You can get them at many pharmacies for less than $20. Take your temperature at the same time each morning, always before you get out of bed. (To make it easier, keep the thermometer on your nightstand.) Even getting up to go to the bathroom can affect your body temperature. So can smoking, drinking, or getting a bad night’s sleep. Continued Remember, your BBT won’t tell you exactly when you’ve ovulated, and it may take a couple of months before you start to see a pattern. You’re most likely to get pregnant 2 or 3 days before your ovary releases an egg, and then another 12 to 24 hours after that. When your temperature has spiked for 3 days, your chances of conceiving drop. Cervical mucus: The same hormones that control your menstrual cycle also affect the mucus that your cervix makes. Just before and during ovulation, the amount, color, and texture of it changes to make it easier for you to get pregnant. As your ovaries prepare to release an egg, your cervix makes more mucus.

A few days before ovulation, it may be sticky and cloudy or whitish. Then, right before you ovulate, the mucus gets slippery, like egg whites. It may stretch across your fingers if you spread them apart. This stage usually lasts 3 or 4 days, which is when you’re most likely to get pregnant. How to check your cervical mucus: Use your fingers or a tissue to check the opening of your vagina for mucus a few times a day. (Make sure your hands are clean before you start.) Write down whether it’s cloudy and sticky or clear and slippery. Chart your cervical mucus changes and your basal body temperature to get a clear picture of where you are in your cycle. Keep in mind that other things, like breastfeeding or using douches or other hygiene products, can change your mucus. Gynecologists usually don’t recommend these products. WebMD Medical Reference Reviewed by Traci C. Johnson, MD on February 23, 2016 Sources

Question: Days of the average human menstrual cycle?
Answer: 28