How Do I Know When My Next Period Is

What Causes Menstrual Period To Come Out

How to calculate next period date and ovulation time? – Dr. Teena S Thomas

Period occurs due to cyclical change of your hormones during your menstrual cycle.

What is the menstrual cycle?

The menstrual cycle is the number of days between 2 periods. For example, if your last menstrual period started on the 27th of April and your next period starts on the 26th of May, then you have a 30-day menstrual cycle.

Some women may have an erratic menstrual cycle, short menstrual cycle or long menstrual cycle.

What causes period to come out?

At birth and during puberty, the ovaries contain a fixed number of follicles that are released in each cycle. Weeks before you are born, your body stops producing follicle that develops to release an egg.

It is estimated that throughout the lifetime of women, about 500 eggs are released from the ovaries. These release of the egg is called ovulation.

Before ovulation occurs, your body increases the secretion of estrogen. This hormone works to help grow the endometrium covering the inner part of the uterus.

If you get pregnant, you will have no period because the endometrium helps provide nutrition for your baby.

However, if youre not pregnant, the endometrium breaks down coming out from your vagina as period.

Now its your turn. Do you have a headache or pains before your period starts? Are your menstrual period symptoms affecting your daily activities?

Medicine For Menstrual Pain And Bleeding

Try a non-prescription medicine to help relieve your pain and bleeding. Start taking the recommended dose of pain reliever when symptoms begin or 1 day before your menstrual period starts. If you are trying to become pregnant, talk to your doctor before using any medicine. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen , reduce menstrual cramps, pain, and bleeding by lowering the level of the hormone prostaglandin.
  • If NSAIDs do not relieve the pain, try acetaminophen, such as Tylenol.
  • Take the medicine for as long as the symptoms would normally last if you did not take the medicine.

Be sure to follow all labels and directions. Do not take aspirin if you are younger than 18 because of the risk of Reye syndrome.

Comprehensive Explanation Of The Menstrual Cycle:

The menstrual cycle has three phases:

1. Follicular Phase

This phase of the menstrual cycle occurs from approximately day 1-14. Day 1 is the first day of bright red bleeding, and the end of this phase is marked by ovulation. While menstrual bleeding does happen in the early part of this phase, the ovaries are simultaneously preparing to ovulate again. The pituitary gland releases a hormone called FSH follicle stimulating hormone. This hormone causes several follicles to rise on the surface of the ovary. These fluid filled bumps each contain an egg. Eventually, one of these follicle becomes dominant and within it develops a single mature egg the other follicles shrink back. If more than one follicle reaches maturity, this can lead to twins or more. The maturing follicle produces the hormone estrogen, which increases over the follicular phase and peaks in the day or two prior to ovulation. The lining of the uterus becomes thicker and more enriched with blood in the second part of this phase , in response to increasing levels of estrogen. High levels of estrogen stimulate the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone , which in turn stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete luteinizing hormone . On about day 12, surges in LH and FSH cause the egg to be released from the follicle. The surge in LH also causes a brief surge in testosterone, which increases sex drive, right at the most fertile time of the cycle.

2. Ovulatory Phase

3. Luteal Phase

Recommended Reading: Period Cup You Can Have Sex With

What Are Signs Of Period Coming Discharge

Vaginal discharge before period is thick white discharge.

During your menstrual cycle, your vaginal discharge may change from time to time. At the beginning of your cycle, after menstruation ends, vaginal discharge is thick white. Some women may experience vaginal dryness just after period ends.

At the middle of your cycle or just before ovulation occurs, vaginal discharge becomes stretchy and egg white. After ovulation occurs and before your period, vaginal discharge is thick white again.

Changes in vaginal discharge are due to hormone changes during menstrual cycles. Thick white discharge is a sign your period is coming. It occurs due to low levels of progesterone and estrogen.

When Should I Expect My First Period

Am I Pregnant or Is My Period Just Late?

Most girls get their first period somewhere between the ages of 10 and 14, with an average of just over 12 years old. Its hard to tell when your first period will arrive. It usually happens about two years after the first signs of puberty , and about a year after you begin growing pubic hair. You will also notice white or yellowish vaginal discharge in the few months leading up to your period.

There are numerous factors that are thought to influence the age of the first period, including:

  • Nutrition
  • Parental education
  • Illness and stress

The average age of the first period has been decreasing over time. In 1900 in the United States, the average age of the first period was between 14 and 15 years of age. The decreasing age of the onset of menstruation seems to have levelled off now at 12.

There is no way to predict exactly when you will get your first period, and there is nothing you can do to make it start, except wait. If you are worried about your first period, talk to your family doctor.

If you are sexually active, you will need to consider the possibility that you could get pregnant once you have your period. In fact, you can even get pregnant if youve never menstruated, since its possible to ovulate before your first period. There are many forms of birth control available read about them here. You are also at risk of sexually transmitted infections if you are sexually active learn how to protect yourself.

Recommended Reading: Using Birth Control To Regulate Period To Get Pregnant

Wondering When Your Next Period Is Due

And knowing when youâll have your period can help you get prepared. So, check out the tips below.

Figuring out your period can seem like a mystery â especially when youâre waiting for it to come. But it doesnât need to be this way!

Itâs actually super easy to know when your period is due, when you learn how!

Calculate your average menstrual cycle length

  • Start by recording in your diary, or phone, the day your period started each month. Do this for a few months.
  • Once you have a few months recorded, add up the number of days in each cycle .
  • Divide this number by the number of cycles.
  • This gives you the average number of days in your menstrual cycle.
  • How To Know For Sure If Youre Pregnant

    Even though almost a third of women claim that they noticed a difference between implantation bleeding and period blood, you cant know for sure.

    Spotting and implantation bleeding can be symptoms, but they are far from foolproof. Thus, it would be best to be patient and wait until you can take a home pregnancy test to confirm.

    You can try to calculate the odds of being pregnant as well using other metrics.

    Think back to the last intercourse you had. If it was more than two weeks before the spotting, then its unlikely that youre experiencing implantation bleeding.

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    Watch This Video And Get The Answers To All The Questions You Have About Your First Period

    How do I know when my next period is due?

    Now that you know how to calculate your average cycle length, you can figure out when your next period is due.

    To do this, start on the first day of your last period and count out the number of days in your average cycle. Thatâs the projected start date of your next period.

    Is there a way to do this without all the maths?

    Wish there were a way of figuring out when your next period is without all the counting and maths? Good news – The ALWAYS period calculator will do this for you.All you have to do is mark down when your period started and ended each month, and the calculator does the rest.

    How often should I get my period?

    A typical menstrual cycle is 28 days. This means that most people will get their period about every 28 days. In reality, that 28 number actually varies from girl to girl. A normal cycle can be anywhere between 21 and 35 days.

    Will my periods come regularly at the beginning?

    When you start having your period, it might be hard to define when your next period is due, even if you know how to calculate your cycle.

    This is because your first periods might be unpredictable. The good news is that, after a year or so, your menstrual cycle tends to become fairly regular.

    And then, once you know how many days are in your average cycle, itâs really easy to calculate when your next period will come.

    Why should I care when my next period will be?

    What Causes Irregular Periods

    How do I know when my next period is due?

    Most of the time, irregular periods are part of the normal changes that can happen when you’re a teen. As you get older, your cycle will probably settle into a recognizable pattern.

    Sometimes, irregular periods can be caused by some medicines, exercising too much, having a very low or high body weight, or not eating enough calories.

    Hormone imbalances can also cause irregular periods. For example, thyroid hormone levels that are too low or too high can cause problems with periods. Some girls have extra androgen, a hormone that can cause hair growth on the face, chin, chest, and abdomen. Extra androgen can also makes girls gain weight and have irregular periods.

    Girls who are pregnant also will not get their periods.

    Also Check: Positions To Lay In To Relieve Period Cramps

    Signs Of Period Coming But No Period

    If you experience signs of period coming but no period, then it may be due to pregnancy.

    Pregnancy may cause you to have signs of period Headache and cramps, but no period coming.

    If pregnant, you may experience brown spotting before period or sometimes an unusual early light period.

    Are you getting tired easily? Do you feel like vomiting? Are you craving for a specific kind of diet? Then its possible you may be pregnant.

    Other causes of signs ofperiod coming but no period are stress, weight loss, contraceptive pills, obesity, weight loss, ovarian cyst and polycystic ovarian disease.

    How To Check The Date For Your Next And Last Period

  • On your iPhone, open the Health app and tap the Browse tab.
  • Tap Cycle Tracking.
  • Scroll to Predictions to see when your next period is likely to start. If you don’t see the estimate, tap Show All next to Predictions.
  • Scroll to Summary to see the date of your last menstrual period and your typical cycle length.
  • To check the dates from your Apple Watch, open the Cycle Tracking app, then scroll down to Period Prediction or Last Menstrual Period.

    Read Also: How Do I Slow Down My Period Bleeding

    Ovulation: Days 12 15

    The pituitary gland releases a surge of luteinising hormone , triggering the release of the mature egg from the ovary and into the fallopian tube. Sperm can survive for up to 2 3 days in the fallopian tubes waiting for the arrival of the egg for fertilisation, however the egg has a window of approximately 12-24 hours in which it can be fertilised after release. The dominant follicle that has released the egg then forms the corpus luteum. This important structure releases progesterone which assist in maintaining the uterine lining.

    Breast Pain And Swelling

    This Quiz Will Tell You When You Will Get Your First ...

    Do you experience increased pain in your breast before your period starts? Do you notice your breasts are slightly larger before your period?

    Before period, some women may experience breast pain and swelling. This is a sign of period coming soon. Some women may have a lump in their breast that disappears after period starts.

    Changes in the breast before your period is due to the effect of hormones. Hormones Estrogen and progesterone, will cause your ducts to enlarge and your glands to swell.

    In women with a 28-day menstrual cycle, breast tenderness usually occurs 4 days before period .

    What to do?

    • Drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen can ease your breast pain
    • If your breast pain is persistent, you should talk to your doctor

    Read Also: What Helps With Bloating During Period

    How To Know When Your Period Is Coming

    This article was co-authored by Rebecca Levy-Gantt, MPT, DO. Dr. Rebecca Levy-Gantt is a board certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist running a private practice based in Napa, California. Dr. Levy-Gantt specializes in menopause, peri-menopause and hormonal management, including bio-Identical and compounded hormone treatments and alternative treatments. She is also a Nationally Certified Menopause Practitioner and is on the national listing of physicians who specialize in menopausal management. She received a Masters of Physical Therapy from Boston University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 24 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 2,426,645 times.

    Having your period is nuisance enough without the added stress of a surprise visit. While there’s no scientific method of determining exactly when your period will come, these methods below will help you estimate your menstrual cycle length and help you be prepared for the next one. Carrying pads or tampons around in your purse at all times is a simple but effective strategy to never be caught off-guard.

    What Do I Need To Do To Prepare For My First Period

    There is nothing in particular you need to do to prepare for your first period, besides having feminine hygiene products and over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen on hand. If you happen to get your period with no access to menstrual products, toilet paper will work in an emergency. If you get your first period at school, your teacher or school nurse will have a pantiliner or pad on hand.

    There are a variety of menstrual products available to you:

    Disposable pads

    These absorbent pads have an adhesive backing that sticks to the inside of your underwear. They are available in different lengths and absorbencies, and some have adhesive wings that wrap around the sides of your underwear. Disposable pads should be changed every 4-6 hours and are thrown out after a single use.

    Pantiliners

    These are small, thin, disposable absorbent pads that can be used on their own on days of light flow. They can also be used in combination with a tampon, in case of leaks or discharge.

    Reusable pads

    These are usually made of cotton, bamboo, or other natural absorbent fibres, and are often available at health food stores. They can be washed with detergent and reused. Some have velcro tabs to secure them around your underwear.

    Tampons

    Menstrual cup

    Read Also: Why Am I 3 Days Late On My Period

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