Menstruation is an excellent mirror of a woman’s health, her ability to conceive and bear a child, the presence or absence of inflammatory or infectious processes, general condition. Cycle disturbances, even if the deviation is insignificant, can indicate both a threat and natural, safe changes to which the body reacts.
But, in any case, knowledge of the features menstrual cycle, understanding what is normal and what is not will help not only to learn more about yourself, but also to recognize approaching diseases in time.
When does menstruation start?
The first menstruation occurs in girls aged 12-15 years, when their puberty. Due to modern acceleration, the lower bar may move up to 10-11 years, but still similar cases extremely rare. By the age of 16-17, menstruation should already appear more than once, and normally, it should occur regularly. The absence of menstruation means the presence of serious problems in the body and requires careful medical research and treatment.
The time of onset of puberty (when secondary sexual characteristics develop and changes hormonal balance) is determined by heredity. Start physiological changes, which a teenager experiences, as well as their character, the characteristics of their course, are genetically determined. To understand at what age a girl should have her first period, it makes sense to analyze the age of onset of menstruation in her mother, grandmother and other direct female relatives.
After the onset of menstruation, the period of establishing the cycle begins, which can last up to two years. It is unknown how long this stage will take, because each case is individual. During this time, there may be disruptions in the duration of menstruation, an increase or, conversely, a shortening of the pause between discharges, they can appear six months after the first menstruation, they can be scanty or heavy. But after two years (and more often this process takes just a few months - six months), the cycle is adjusted, menstruation should begin to occur regularly, starting every 27-29 days, and in the future, its violations should be considered as symptoms of diseases.
How long does the menstrual cycle last?
To begin with, it should be understood that the menstrual cycle is not considered the time between menstruation, but the period from the first day of the appearance of discharge to the first day of its next appearance, which occurs in about a month. According to the World Health Organization, most women have a cycle length of 27 to 29 days; the most common is a 28-day cycle - similar to the lunar cycle. But this does not mean that if the cycle is smaller or larger, then it is disrupted or the body is not functioning correctly. The occurrence of menstruation every 21 to 35 days is also considered normal.
Only 30% of women throughout their lives, after the establishment of a cycle, observe regular ideal menstruation, the nature and duration of which does not change throughout their lives. But for most representatives of the fairer sex, menstruation does not always occur correctly, at regular intervals. The cycle is a moving phenomenon, and even in adulthood it can experience minor fluctuations - within 3-4 days. If they are not accompanied by others painful symptoms, then, most likely, nothing terrible happened.
IN in good condition menstruation appears every 27-28 days, the standard length of menstruation is 3-4 days, although normally they can last from 3 to 5 days. If your period lasts 6-7 days it could be like hereditary trait(if there are no other symptoms, menstruation is normal, there are no special complaints), and a sign of deviation (if there are other complaints).
Why does the cycle break?
By keeping a calendar of the menstrual cycle, any woman can determine how regular her periods are and how many days later the next discharge should appear. Sometimes deviations occur due to the following reasons:
- Dysfunction of the ovaries.
- An inflammatory process or the presence of an infectious disease, caused, respectively, by hypothermia or a sexually acquired infection.
- Hormonal imbalances that occur due to intake contraceptive drugs in tablets, as well as due to treatment with drugs that change the activity of hormones and, accordingly, their balance in the body.
- Pregnancy.
- Overwork, fatigue, stress, lack of vitamins and minerals in the body necessary to maintain its vital functions.
- Anorexia, as well as rapid weight changes - both losing weight and gaining kilograms.
- Radiation, exposure to poor environmental conditions, chemotherapy for cancer.
- Abrupt climate change.
The nature of discharge and the amount of blood loss
Many girls who have menstruated for the first or second time are frightened by the scale of blood loss that occurs during menstruation. First of all, it should be understood that the discharge that comes out of the vagina is not pure blood, and although there are a lot of blood cells there, they do not make up more of the discharge. Mucus, pieces of connective tissue exfoliating from the walls of the uterus, and many other components provide the appearance of heavy blood loss.
It is quite difficult to determine the norms of losses; it is different for each girl. In addition, the scarcity or abundance of discharge depends not only on heredity and individual characteristics of the body. Often the nature and volume of discharge changes due to a change in lifestyle: active sports or, conversely, the emergence of bad habits.
The norm is 3-4 pads per maximum amount“droplets” per day is up to 80 ml of blood. The figure may be significantly lower - especially if the girl has a fragile build or is actively involved in sports or dancing. If the volume of discharge per day is less than 30 ml, and this is not the last day of your period, you should consult a doctor. Spotting discharge, as well as its brown or other color other than red, also indicate a deviation.
Of course, the main satellite monthly malaise- this is pain and weakness. They are especially strong on the first or second day of menstruation, when the body is being rebuilt before the start of a new cycle. Mild dizziness and nagging, aching background pain in the lower abdomen are normal. But with accompanying symptoms in the form of hypersensitivity in the chest, acute pain in the stomach, it is better to consult a doctor.
Successful menstruation and a relatively clear cycle are a sign of health and the ability to conceive and bear a child.
Menstruation is a period of the menstrual cycle during which a girl experiences bleeding from the vagina. The blood released during menstruation is thick and dark in appearance and may contain clots or lumps. This is due to the fact that during menstruation, not only blood is released from the cavity, but also parts of the inner layer of the uterus, which is called the endometrium.
Where does blood come from during menstruation?
Bloody discharge during menstruation appears due to damage blood vessels inner layer of the uterus. The destruction of these vessels occurs during the death of the uterine mucosa (endometrium) if the woman is not pregnant.
At what age should menstruation begin?
Most girls experience their first menstruation between the ages of 12 and 15 years. Often (but not always) a girl’s first period comes at the same age as her mother. Therefore, if your mother’s first period came late (at 15-16 years old), then Great chance that they will come to you at this age. However, your first period may come several years earlier or later than your mother's. This is completely normal.
Some studies show that girls get their first period when they reach a certain weight, which is about 47 kg. Thus, on average, thin girls get their periods later than plump ones.
What are the first symptoms of menstruation?
A few months before your first period starts, you may feel aching pain lower abdomen, and also notice white or transparent discharge from the vagina.
If you notice even a small amount of brown discharge on your panties, this is your first menstruation. Often the first menstruation is very scanty - just a few drops of blood.
What is the monthly cycle and how long does it last?
The monthly or menstrual cycle is the period of time from the first day of one menstruation to the first day next menstruation.
U different girls Cycle duration may vary. Normally, the length of the menstrual cycle should be from 21 to 35 days. For most girls, the menstrual cycle lasts 28-30 days. This means that your period comes every 28-30 days.
What is a regular menstrual cycle?
The regularity of the menstrual cycle means that your period comes every time after a certain number of days. The regularity of the menstrual cycle is important indicator that your ovaries are working correctly.
How to determine the regularity of the menstrual cycle?
To do this, you can use a calendar in which you will mark the first day of your period each time. If, according to your calendar, your period comes on the same date every time, or at certain intervals, then you have regular menstruation.
How many days should your period last?
The duration of menstruation varies from girl to girl. Normally, menstruation lasts from 3 to 7 days. If your period lasts less than 3 days, or more than 7 days, then you need to see a gynecologist.
How much blood should be released during menstruation?
You may think that you release a lot of blood during your period, but this is not true. Usually, during 3-5 days of menstruation, a girl loses no more than 80 ml of blood (this is about 4 tablespoons).
To understand how much blood you are releasing, you can monitor your pads. Pads vary greatly in the amount of blood they can absorb. On average, a 4-5 drop pad can absorb up to 20-25 ml of blood (while it looks evenly filled with blood). If during one day of your period you have to change pads every 2-3 hours, this indicates that you have heavy menstruation and you should consult a gynecologist.
Pads or tampons?
Most girls prefer to use pads during menstruation. On our website there is a separate article about which gaskets are best to choose, how to use them correctly and how often they need to be changed:.
Do periods hurt?
A few days before the start of menstruation and in the first days of your period, you may feel aching or cramping pain in the lower abdomen. This is normal. If the abdominal pain is severe, you can take a painkiller (No-shpu, Ibuprofen, Analgin, etc.) or use other tips described in the article.
With frequent severe pain in the stomach during menstruation, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist. You may need to undergo treatment.
Is it possible to exercise during menstruation?
During your period, you can exercise if you do not feel pain in the abdomen and if your periods are not too heavy. When playing sports, avoid exercises in which your butt is higher than your head (for example, you cannot hang upside down on a horizontal bar, do somersaults, or do a “birch tree”).
Is it possible to take a bath and go to the pool during menstruation?
Can. A warm bath during your period can reduce abdominal pain and make you feel better.
When swimming in a pool, water cannot enter your vagina either during your period or on other days of your cycle. You can go to the pool if your period is not heavy and you have used a tampon. At the same time, you should not stay in the pool for a long time, and immediately after swimming you need to change your tampon or replace it with a pad.
Is it possible to go to a bathhouse or sauna during menstruation?
No, this is not advisable because heat ambient air may cause increased bleeding.
Is it possible to go to a solarium and sunbathe during your period?
No, this is not advisable, since during menstruation the female body is more susceptible to ultraviolet rays. Tanning (in the sun or in the sun) during menstruation can lead to increased bleeding or the appearance of other undesirable symptoms (headaches, weakness, dizziness, etc.)
How many days a woman’s menstruation lasts is influenced by many factors, including the physiological characteristics of the body and lifestyle. Significant deviations from the norm, instability of the menstrual cycle are symptoms of organ diseases reproductive system. Only a gynecological examination will help determine the cause of the disorders. You should not put off visiting a doctor in the hope that everything will get better on its own. Advanced disease it is more difficult to treat and its consequences can be serious.
Content:
Normal and pathological menstruation in women of reproductive age
Duration menstrual bleeding Normally it should be 3-7 days. The body is weakened these days due to blood loss. The woman quickly gets tired and feels weak. Arises headache. All these ailments are normal, they do not last long and disappear with the end of menstruation. Normal menstruation is characterized by the release of blood with a total volume of 50 to 80 ml.
U healthy woman The cycle length ranges from 21 days to 35 days. Moreover, menstruation occurs at approximately constant intervals with a maximum deviation of 2-4 days.
The presence of pathology in the body can be assumed in cases where menstruation lasts 2 days and less or more than 7 days, the volume of discharge is less than 40 ml or more than 80-100 ml. If spotting brown discharge appears before and after menstruation, increasing the number critical days, - this is also a violation.
A normal cycle should not be shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days. Its beginning is considered the first day of menstruation.
Factors influencing the duration of menstruation
How long your period lasts depends on the following factors:
- Heredity. For some, menstruation lasts 10 days or even more in the absence of any pathologies. This duration is typical for women of this family.
- The presence of inflammatory and infectious diseases reproductive organs, benign neoplasms(fibroids, polyps, cysts), malignant tumors uterus and ovaries. With these diseases, the structure of the mucous membranes of organs is disrupted, damage to blood vessels and tissues occurs, as a result of which menstruation becomes more abundant and lasts longer.
- Ovarian dysfunction. The cause of this condition can be both diseases of the genital organs and frequent abortions, use of intrauterine device, uncontrolled use hormonal drugs. With ovarian dysfunction due to insufficient production of sex hormones, menstruation lasts 2 days or less.
- Deviations in the functioning of the thyroid, pancreas, pituitary gland, adrenal glands - organs responsible for the state of hormonal levels in the body.
In addition, the number of critical days is sharply reduced with intensive physical activity (sports activities, lifting weights). Nervous stress, psychological trauma, and depression cause heavy menstrual bleeding that lasts for 10-14 days.
Fasting and vitamin deficiency lead to hormonal shifts, a reduction in the duration of menstruation or their complete cessation. Smoking, alcohol abuse, drug use, and exposure to an unfavorable environment lead to the same result.
Video: How long does a normal period last?
How long do teenage girls menstruate?
At the age of 12-15, girls experience their first menstruation. During this period, hormonal changes begin in the body associated with the maturation of the ovaries. The first menstruation comes irregularly, with delays of several months. This happens within 1-2 years. The volume of menstruation can fluctuate significantly.
It is difficult to say how many days teenage girls should menstruate until their character is finally established. Their duration can vary significantly, but gradually it returns to normal and is usually 3-5 days. After this, the girl needs to start a special calendar to mark the start and end day of her period.
If any deviations appear (menstruation does not come, ends too quickly, or, conversely, lasts longer than last time), there is no need to panic. There can be many reasons: overwork, dieting, sports overload, teenage mental imbalance, change of environment. Such violations will disappear after their cause is eliminated.
But if the disturbances are persistent, or menstruation is too painful, then you should definitely consult a doctor. Such symptoms indicate the presence of diseases of the reproductive organs and other body systems.
Video: Menstruation in girls and adult women
Menstruation during pregnancy
With the onset of pregnancy, most women's periods disappear, but sometimes they return usual time, due to which a woman may not realize that she is pregnant. If menstruation came only during the first 30 days of pregnancy, this is explained by the fact that fertilization occurred at the very end of the menstrual cycle, when the endometrium had already partially exfoliated. Bloody discharge is scanty.
In rare cases, simultaneous maturation of eggs in both ovaries occurs. One of them is fertilized, and the second is brought out. In this case, slight bleeding occurs, which may look like scanty periods that last for 1-2 days.
If during pregnancy during the first 3-4 months menstruation is scanty and short in duration, this may be the result of an incomplete cessation of hormone production in the ovaries, which is explained by the physiological characteristics of the body. But in any case, you shouldn’t calm down, since most often the appearance bloody discharge during pregnancy, foreshadows a miscarriage or speaks of endocrine disorders in organism.
Warning: If any bleeding occurs, a pregnant woman should immediately consult a doctor. You may need to be hospitalized for several days to maintain the pregnancy.
How long do you miss your period after childbirth?
The timing of the first menstruation after childbirth depends on the nature of its course and general health. If a woman is breastfeeding, she does not have periods during the entire period of lactation. If for some reason the child is transferred to artificial feeding, then a woman’s period begins after about 12 weeks.
In the absence of complications, most often the menstrual cycle becomes more stable. If earlier your periods were too heavy and long, then after childbirth the indicators are close to normal. Menstruation becomes painless and less intense. This is due to a change in the position of the uterus, improving the outflow of blood from it. How long your period lasts depends on the nature of the incident. hormonal changes. They usually last from 3 to 5 days.
How many days does menstruation last during menopause?
Menopause (complete cessation of menstruation) occurs in women at approximately 48-50 years of age. After 40 years, the production of sex hormones in the ovaries begins to gradually decline, and the supply of eggs is depleted. Ovulation does not occur in every cycle. All this is reflected in the nature of menstruation. They come irregularly, the duration changes with each cycle. After heavy bleeding, which do not stop for 8 days, there may be a long pause (2 months or more), after which scanty spotting brown menstruation occurs, which disappear after 2 days. Then they stop altogether.
Addition: If spotting was absent for 1 year and then reappeared, it is no longer menstruation. Bleeding of any duration and intensity during the postmenopausal period is a sign of hormonal imbalance, endocrine diseases or the development of tumors of the uterus or ovaries. It is necessary to urgently contact medical specialists (gynecologist, endocrinologist, oncologist) to identify the pathology.
Menstruation while using oral contraceptives
Birth control pills contain female sex hormones, estrogens and progesterone. Their action is aimed at suppressing ovulation by changing their natural ratio in the body. Within 1-3 months after starting to take the pills, the body adapts to the new hormonal levels. In this case, the nature of menstruation may change compared to usual. How many days menstruation lasts in this case and what its intensity depends on the chosen remedy. They can become abundant and long-lasting, or, on the contrary, they can be scanty and short-lived.
If after 3 months the nature of your periods does not return to normal, you should consult a gynecologist. You may need to choose a different drug.
Video: Gynecologist about the consequences of using hormonal drugs
Normal periods are a topic that is relevant for every woman of reproductive age. The frequency of menstruation, duration, and color of discharge are associated with the condition of the female body and indicate the absence or presence of pathologies. How many days does menstruation last and how to count the cycle correctly? What are the causes of cycle disturbances, and what symptoms indicate disruptions in the body? Knowing the answers to these questions, it is easier to understand whether there are problems with women's health.
Knowing about the normal course of the monthly cycle, it is easier to notice problems with it
Menstruation cycle
Menstrual cycle - monthly changes in female body, recurring with a certain frequency and manifested by bloody discharge.
Menstruation begins in adolescence, at the stage of puberty in girls, and ends with menopause. The norm in gynecology is the onset of menopause at 45-55 years of age.
Duration
The duration of the cycle is taken into account from the first day of menstruation to the first day of the next menstruation. The result of the calculations is individual for each woman, depending on physiological characteristics her body.
What is the ideal amount? monthly cycle? 28 days. But there are women for whom its duration varies between 21-35 days.
How long should your period last? Normally – from 3 to 7 days. The process is accompanied by weakness, heaviness in the mammary glands, pain in the lower abdomen. If the duration of the critical days is longer or shorter, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist. Deviations from the norm may be a symptom of inflammation or hormonal imbalance in organism.
The menstrual cycle is on average 28 days
First menstrual cycle
In medical language it is called “menarche”. Typically, girls' periods begin by the age of 12, but they can appear at other ages - a period of 10-15 years will be the norm.
The cycle does not stabilize immediately: for some it takes 2-4 months, for some girls it takes a year for it to improve. Until the cycle stabilizes, it is difficult to talk about the frequency of menstruation, because some girls may not have them at all.
Not all teenagers know how long the first menstruation lasts. It usually lasts 3-5 days and is characterized by scanty brown discharge or a few drops of blood. This is explained hormonal changes V teenage body and should not bother girls and parents.
The menstrual cycle stabilizes by the age of 14 - from this moment on, girls are recommended to control its frequency. If your period lasts 1-2 days or more than a week, consult your doctor.
Menstruation in the postpartum period
How long should it take after giving birth? caesarean section"so that women get their periods back? The average period is 6 months, subject to breastfeeding. If the child is artificial, then the body recovers faster - the first menstruation can begin in 2-3 months.
The first menstruation after childbirth is often accompanied by heavy bleeding - many women are worried about this condition because the symptoms are similar to bleeding. Heavy discharge in this situation is normal, but if it has an unnatural smell and color, it is better to consult a doctor.
The cycle recovery period after a “caesarean section” is the same as after natural birth– closer to six months. Sometimes the operation is accompanied by complications - then menstruation may begin later because the uterus and ovaries require more time to recover, especially when stitches are applied.
Periods after childbirth begin around the 6th month
How to calculate cycle duration?
You already know that the normal menstrual cycle is 28 days with permissible fluctuations up or down. It is determined from the first day of menstruation to next first day. The calculation formula for women looks like this: the date of the start of menstruation in the current month - the date of the start of menstruation in the last month + 1 day = cycle duration.
What causes cycle fluctuations?
The menstrual period in women is interconnected with any changes occurring in the body. The cycle duration may decrease or increase against the background of:
- Stress.
- Increased stress at work.
- Viral and colds.
- Changes in region, country of residence and climate.
- Unfavorable environmental conditions.
The autumn-spring off-season, when chronic diseases worsen, can also cause cycle fluctuations. 6-7 day deviations from the norm in the cases listed above are considered acceptable.
Poor ecology can disrupt the monthly cycle
What factors influence the number of critical days?
Menstrual flow can occur twice a month or once every two months, lasting longer than a week, which is due to:
- Genetics. If one of the women in your family had periods for 8 days, there is a high probability of the situation repeating for you. Genetic predisposition cannot be treated with medication, so health care not required.
- Individual characteristics. Critical days can be prolonged due to poor blood clotting. The structural features of the uterus also affect the duration of menstruation.
- Diets and other eating disorders, sudden weight loss are accompanied by hormonal changes. As a result, the menstrual cycle is disrupted - scanty or copious discharge bother women for more than a week, and sometimes stop altogether.
- Exhaustive exercise in the gym affects the length of your period.
- Oral contraception shortens the duration of menstruation and leads to its complete cessation.
- Malfunctions endocrine system – common reason violations.
Doctors must determine the cause of deviations from the norm; treatment is prescribed only after examination and an accurate diagnosis.
Sudden weight loss disrupts hormonal balance
Normal menstrual flow
Homogeneous spotting during menstruation is normal; there may be small blood clots in it, which is also normal. Indeed, during critical days, along with vaginal secretions, the rejected layer of the epidermis comes out.
At the beginning and towards the end of menstruation, the discharge may be brown - there is nothing wrong with a change in color. There is little blood at these stages; it has time to clot under the influence of oxygen and vaginal microflora.
During the same period, discharge may be Pink colour. This is explained by the fact that the process of cleansing the uterus from mucus and rejecting unnecessary epidermis has not yet begun or has already ended. Blood is released in small quantities - a few drops, therefore pink in color.
When should pink be a red flag?
Menstruation lasts for several days, but instead of the characteristic spotting on the pad pink slime unpleasant odor and heterogeneous consistency. What does this mean and how long can it last:
- Pink discharge may result from hormonal imbalances, progesterone deficiency. This condition is treated with hormonal therapy.
- IN postoperative period In women, pale pink mucus may appear instead of blood. As the body recovers, the cycle normalizes.
- This color of menstruation occurs with cervical erosion, cyst, lipoma, pregnancy failure. In such cases, you should immediately be examined by a gynecologist. The period of treatment and restoration of the normal menstrual cycle is individual.
- Pink discharge in women that lasts more than 10 days is a symptom of infectious diseases and work disorders thyroid gland, other pathologies.
Light discharge in the postoperative period is considered normal
What colors should you be wary of?
How many symptoms venereal diseases You know? One of them is purulent or orange discharge during menstruation, often occurs with gonorrhea. They are often accompanied by itching, sharp pain during urination, and have a specific fishy smell. Such menstrual flow abundant, thick consistency. Vaginosis also causes orange discharge.
Black menstruation in women occurs with inflammation of the appendages or cervix; it is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, and fever. No matter how much you put off visiting a gynecologist, it will have to be done - it will not resolve on its own.
Black blood sometimes occurs after termination of pregnancy, difficult childbirth, operations during the recovery period. The body is restored - the color of menstruation is normalized.
Green menstruation is an anomaly caused by an excess of leukocytes in the female body or serious inflammation of the genital organs.
You can solve the problem yourself if its cause is climate change, nervous strain, or changes in diet. In other cases, without qualified assistance a doctor is indispensable.
How many days should monthly discharge last normally? This question concerns not only girls experiencing menstruation for the first time, but also adult women. It is most often asked when people come to see a gynecologist.
The amount and nature of discharge are individual for each woman. But there are certain criteria by which one can clearly distinguish the normal course of the cycle from gynecological diseases.
Menstrual cycle in girls
Puberty occurs earlier in girls than in boys. The day on which the first menstruation occurs is called menarche - it indicates the functional maturity of the ovaries. Although hormonal background girls are ready for pregnancy; the reproductive tract and uterus mature within a few years. Only by the age of 18 is a girl normally ready for pregnancy and the birth of her first child.
The first year after menarche, the cycle is established, when the body adapts to changes in hormonal levels.
At this time there may be various changes the nature of menstruation, which should not be mistaken for serious illness. It is better to teach the girl the rules of personal hygiene and explain the need to correctly calculate the duration of the cycle by day.
When does your period start?
There are certain time frames when the first period (menarche) arrives normally. If they occur before the age of nine, then this indicates premature puberty. With the first discharge over the age of 15 years, we can talk about primary infertility due to hormonal disorders.
How long do girls' periods last? You should not judge your cycle by your first menstruation - it will be fully established within a year. The next discharge may appear only after a few months. But usually the duration is set immediately and ranges from 21 to 35 days. This period also includes the time of menstruation itself - normally from 3 to 7 days.
Preparing for your first period
The time of maturation of the reproductive system in girls depends on various factors. It all depends on individual level hormones - only under their influence does the development of the reproductive system begin:
- Heredity greatly influences the timing of menarche and the duration of the cycle. How many days do your mothers and grandmothers have their periods? If you ask them carefully, you can find many similarities between the course of your menstrual cycles. Moreover, we should not forget female relatives on the father’s side.
- The climate of the place of residence and nationality also determine the timing of the first menstruation. In warm southern regions, especially coastal ones, people get sufficient quantity solar heat and microelements. This allows you to speed up your metabolism by increasing the levels of certain hormones. Therefore, the work of the sex glands begins a little earlier, and their maturity normally occurs by the age of 13.
- Level physical activity affects metabolism. With adequate loads, the girl’s body begins to develop faster. Therefore, active and vigorous girls rarely have problems with the course of the menstrual cycle.
- Proper nutrition and lack chronic diseases do not distract the girl’s body from the processes of growth and development. He gets enough nutrients and vitamins for timely maturation of the ovaries. The most dangerous stress is in adolescence, when girls begin to limit themselves in food and activity.
A favorable combination of all these factors ensures the timely appearance of the first menstruation. There are no problems with them in the future - they become regular not only in duration, but also in character.
Changes in the girl's body
An increase in sex hormones occurs much earlier than menarche. The signal for the beginning of maturation is given by the brain - special substances begin to be released there that accelerate the growth of the ovaries. A sign preceding the first menstruation is a slight swelling of the mammary glands and labia majora:
- Under the influence of female sex hormones - estrogens - the growth of the egg and the inner lining of the uterus begins. But estrogens are present in the blood from birth. Their effect on these organs before puberty is minimal due to the blockade of special receptors.
- Due to a sudden surge in hormones, the inner layer of the uterus with the first egg is rejected. Since the system is still immature, the duration of menstruation is usually short - up to three days.
- Menarche occurs at night - at this time the level of all hormones changes. They cannot be called copious either - a small amount of blood is released, which has a spotting character.
- There are normally no clots in the discharge, but the blood is quite dark and thick. Girls usually get scared during their first period, when their underwear and bedding get dirty.
At this time, the mother will need to calm the child down and communicate with him in a confidential environment. It is necessary to explain the issues of a woman’s personal hygiene, as well as the rules for calculating the duration of the cycle.
Mother's actions during the first menstruation
The main activities concern psychological preparation. The mother is the only close person who can simply and clearly talk about her experience. A woman should take a look at what the discharge is like during menarche - it should be dark red in color and fairly uniform.
They start with personal hygiene issues - during menarche you can use regular sanitary pads.
They are used to estimate blood volume - when it goes from 2 to 3 per day, then this is the norm. Exceeding this indicator or scanty spotting is not always a sign of illness - it may be individual feature body. It is worth paying attention to the girl’s well-being - illness usually worsens it.
They end the conversation with an explanation of how to calculate the length of the menstrual cycle. The first day is the beginning of menarche, and the calculation of regularity begins from there. The next discharge may occur after two months - within a year the body adapts to the changes.
Menstruation in women
How long do girls' periods last? IN reproductive age fine reproductive system comes into a state full readiness to pregnancy and childbirth. This means that the duration and regularity of the cycle become constant. This flow can only be disrupted by severe shocks in a woman’s life - stress or illness.
For some gynecological diseases Both the normal duration of menstruation and their character may change.
Usually there is a shortening in time - menstruation lasts less than 3 days. Irregular discharge is also common - there can be an interval of up to 6 months between them. If he more than normal, then we can talk about the woman’s infertility.
With age, the hormonal activity of the ovaries gradually fades away. This occurs under the influence of general aging of the body. The possibility of childbearing decreases, so menstruation changes its character and then disappears.
Changes in a woman's body during menstruation
When sexual function fully formed under the influence of estrogens and other hormones, cyclic maturation of eggs occurs. This process is controlled by the brain and ovaries - there is an alternating increase in their activity. This achieves adequate preparation body to possible pregnancy:
- Under the influence of estrogens and progestins, the maturation of the egg and endometrium - the inner layer of the uterus - occurs.
- If pregnancy does not occur, then all these formations must be removed. This is done for their constant renewal - “old” cells accumulate defects.
- There is a surge in brain hormones, and the endometrium is removed by destroying the underlying vessels. Therefore, menstruation is accompanied by slight bleeding.
Changes in the blood and immune system ensure a rapid cessation of discharge and the beginning of mucosal restoration.
Menstruation is normal
Despite fast recovery mucous membrane of the uterus, discharge lasts from 3 to 7 days. This is due to the characteristics of menstrual blood - it almost does not clot.
If this property was not present, then clots would form inside the uterus and vagina, which would impede the outflow of secretions. Character of menstruation:
- During the entire menstruation, little blood is released - from 20 to 60 ml. Moreover, the maximum amount occurs on the first day.
- It should be homogeneous - not contain dense clots. But there may be streaks, since the discharge contains mucus and tissue particles.
- Its color varies from dark red to brown.
- Menstruation may be accompanied by changes in well-being - dizziness, weakness, heaviness in the lower abdomen.
The volume of discharge is individual for each woman and is determined by the amount of hygiene products spent per day.
If you feel that the discharge is too scanty or abundant, consult a gynecologist.
Hygiene during menstruation
Its rules must be learned from adolescence– the mother and then the local gynecologist will help with this. It is necessary to keep your genitals clean for as long as your period lasts. Many people forget about this, because last days The discharge of blood is not so abundant.
But precisely at this time there is high risk entry of microbes and development of inflammation.
They always come first water procedures– washing must be done before three times in a day. Special means not required - use warm boiled water and special soap (intimate). In respect of general procedures A shower is preferable, since saunas and baths can increase blood flow.
Use only after washing hygiene products– pads or tampons. Their number depends on the volume of discharge - normally two per day is enough. Nowadays, there is a wide variety of them - in size and absorbency.
It is also worth replacing these products in a timely manner - menstrual blood is a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria.