Signs Your Period Is Normal
There really is no such thing as a “normal period” as bleeding duration, heaviness, and timing differs from person to person. It’s also totally normal for your period to vary a bit each month. However extreme fluctuations, like if it lasts more than eight days or you skip 2 or more months, may be cause for concern.
According to Rachel Bowman, MD, an assistant professor in the department of women’s health in the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin signs of a typical menstrual cycle are:
- It happens every 21 to 35 days
- Bleeding lasts for two to seven days
- Initial bleeding is light
- A period is heavier on the second or third day, but then lightens again
Although all of those factors contribute to a “normal cycle,” if your menstrual cycle doesn’t check all these boxes, don’t stress about it too much. There are many reasons the timing, duration, and bleeding patterns of your period might fluctuate. These includes:
What To Do When You Get Your Period
Before you start getting periods it is good to be prepared for when it eventually comes. Hopefully you will have an opportunity to talk with your mother or sister or someone else in your family who can help you to prepare. Meanwhile here are some tips for when you do start bleeding.
- Use sanitary products like a pad, tampon or panty liner to absorb the bleeding. Pads and liners are longs strips of cotton that you stick to your underwear. Tampons are thin cylinders of dense cotton attached to a string that you put inside your vagina. Pads, liners and tampons come in different shapes and sizes but all of them need to be changed every four to six hours to stop leakage. You can use a tampon whenever you want, you don’t have to wait until you start having sex before a tampon will go in. It may be a little hard to get it in to begin with, but you will get used to it very quickly.
- Keep a period kit somewhere handy. This is because you might get your period unexpectedly or forget its due. Keeping some painkillers, sanitary products and a spare pair of underpants in your bag, at school or at work can be a lifesaver.
- Enjoy life as much as possible. Its safe and often possible to do all the things you would normally do. Its also okay to have sex when you have your period, but if youre using a tampon youll need to take it out first.
Related information
What Counts As The Last Day Of Your Period
The last day of your period is when you have stopped bleeding.
For most women, this is around day five.
The bleeding will likely be heaviest at first, maybe for a couple of days, then become lighter as you approach the end of your period.
Sometimes you might think your period has finished, but then get a bit of spotting – thats okay and totally normal.
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How Long Does Period Last In Girls
Normal period last 2 to 7 days. However, most women usually stop menstruating on the 5th day. If your period last for 3 days or 7 days, then you dont have to worry about it.
When should i worry? Your period last more than 7 days or less than 2 days. Period lasting more than 7 days is prolonged and abnormal.
How Long Do Periods Usually Last
Menstrual cycles happen once a month to prepare for a possible pregnancy. If a pregnancy doesn’t occur then the lining of the uterus sheds and the period will start. A typical menstrual cycle is 28 days long and will occur around every 24-38 days. However, each woman is different, and cycles can vary each month . Periods usually last somewhere between 4-8 days.
Key terms:
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Menstruation – is also known as a period and is when blood and tissue leave the vagina. It usually happens once a month.
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Menstrual cycle – is the hormonal process a woman’s body goes through each month to prepare for a possible pregnancy.
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Ovaries – are the reproductive gland in a female which sit in the pelvis on each side of the uterus. The ovaries produce eggs and female hormones.
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Ovulation – is the release of an egg from one of a woman’s ovaries. Ovulation typically lasts one day and occurs in the middle of a woman’s menstrual cycle, about two weeks before she expects to get her period.
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Female Bleeding: When Should You See A Doctor
Thankfully, most of the time your period will come and go without causing much fuss. But what about those times when your cycle gets thrown out of whack and you have abnormal bleeding? Should you be concerned?
Every woman is different when it comes to her cycle. However, when period changes happen such as a heavier or lighter flow than usual or timing abnormalities it can be hard to decide if you need to call your doctor or if what youre experiencing is in the range of normal.
Its a good idea to always track your menstrual cycles, including how heavy your flows are, how long they last and how many tampons or pads you use during a single cycle. This information can be useful for your doctor.
We spoke to INTEGRIS Health OB-GYN Dr. Elise Schrop to get her insights on a scary topic. What causes abnormal bleeding, just what is abnormal anyway, and when should you consult your doctor?
“Abnormal bleeding is a very common problem for women,” Dr. Schrop says. “In fact, about a third of office visits to the gynecologist are for abnormal bleeding. It can happen to women of all ages but most commonly occurs in the first several years after a young woman starts having a period and as women start to make the transition to menopause.”
How Long Does A Period Typically Last
There’s a pretty big range of normal when it comes to period length. “Usually, it can last anywhere between five to seven days,” says Jessica Shepherd, MD, a minimally invasive gynecologist in Dallas. “But there are times at which it can be a few days longer or shorter.”
Here’s a little Menstrual Cycle 101: During each cycle, your body’s sending hormones to thicken the lining of the uterus to make it a nice little home for a potentially fertilized egg. About midway through your cycle, one of your ovaries releases an egg, which then travels down the fallopian tubes to this newly plush uterus where, if it’s not fertilized by a sperm, it flows out of the body, along with the uterine lining that built up.
While this process is the same for nearly every woman, the length of their periods might differ depending on their specific hormonal shifts over the course of their cycle, which affects the endometrium development, and in turn, the number of days it takes for it to shed, Dr. Shepherd explains.
So, if your period is a day or two longer or shorter than your usual period length and you don’t notice any other symptoms or issues that seem unusual for you , it’s probably not a reason to be concerned.
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How Long Is The Menstrual Cycle
Womens cycles can vary in length and from month to month, but the average is around 28 days. Its normal to have regular cycles that are longer or shorter than this .
It doesnt matter how long your cycle is, most women will ovulate around 10 to 16 days before the start of their next menstrual cycle.
My Menstrual Cycle Is Still Irregular Has The Pill Affected My Fertility
Its unlikely the pill has caused any fertility problems, but it can sometimes cover up problems you already have, such as missing periods or PCOS .This is because the pill prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg , so although its normal to experience period-type bleeding on the pill, you dont have a real period.
Contact your GP if youre still having irregular periods 3 months after stopping contraception.
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I Do Not Have Periods Is It Normal
Yes and No. If you are yet to get period for the first time, then its okay. However, if you are older and your period stops abruptly, then there is a problem.
Absent period is amenorrhea and it is due to problem in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries and your uterus. Sometimes, it may be caused by abnormally closed vagina . You should inform your doctor immediately.
Period Length And Perimenopause
In the years leading up to menopause, many women experience changes in their period flow and cycle length. This time of transition is called perimenopause. It can last a year or two or several years.
If youre in your 40s or 50s and your periods are suddenly unpredictable, perimenopause may be the reason. But play it safe and ask your doctor about any changes you notice.
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When To Seek Help
Dont ignore a long period. Its important to see your doctor to discuss why you might be experiencing this symptom. Delaying your diagnosis and treatment could lead to a worsening of the underlying condition responsible for the extended bleeding.
You may want to seek immediate care with a long period if you spike a fever or are losing an abnormally heavy amount of blood or large blood clots. A sign that youre losing a lot of blood is if you need to change a pad or tampon one to two times per hour for several hours. You may also begin to feel lightheaded if youre losing a lot of blood.
There are many causes for a long period, so your doctor will likely begin your appointment by asking you some questions. These may include:
- when your period started
- how many pads and tampons youve used in the last day
- your sexual activity
How Often Should I Change My Pad Tampon Menstrual Cup Sponge Or Period Panties
Follow the instructions that came with your period product. Try to change or rinse your feminine hygiene product before it becomes soaked through or full.
- Most women change their pads every few hours.
- A tampon should not be worn for more than 8 hours because of the risk of toxic shock syndrome
- Menstrual cups and sponges may only need to be rinsed once or twice a day.
- Period panties can usually last about a day, depending on the style and your flow.
Use a product appropriate in size and absorbency for your menstrual bleeding. The amount of menstrual blood usually changes during a period. Some women use different products on different days of their period, depending on how heavy or light the bleeding is.
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How Long Does A Period Last Normally
Maybe youre new to this whole period thing. Or perhaps you and your period have been partners in bloody crime for years, but it’s changing things up on you. Either way, you might be wondering: How long does a period last for most people?
There are actually a lot of different period lengths that doctors consider normal, Lauren Streicher, M.D., an associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, tells SELF. That doesnt mean you should just write off what seems like a weirdly short or long period. Its worth paying attention to how long your period sticks around, since an extremely short or long period can be a sign that somethings up with your health.
During your menstrual cycle, your uterine lining builds up to prepare for possible pregnancy. To do this, your ovaries start releasing more estrogen to grow your uterine lining so its a nice, plush home for a fertilized egg to latch onto. After one of your ovaries releases an egg around the middle of your cycle, your estrogen levels drop, but your levels of the hormone progesterone rise to thicken that uterine lining so its even more hospitable for a potential pregnancy.
If you dont get pregnant that month, your levels of estrogen and progesterone start to fall. Very low levels of estrogen and progesterone tell your body to shed that uterine lining and, as a result, you get your period.
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Your Menstrual Cycle In Your Late
The average age of menopause is 51 to 52. However, menopause can occur earlier for some women. During the 10 years before menopause, many women often experience changes to their cycles.
The average menstrual cycle for women in their late-30s and 40s tends to be shorter cycles with heavier bleeding. They may also have intermittent menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. During this time, you can also expect some variation in the number of days of bleeding or the amount of flow. Some cycles may be skipped and thenfollowed by a heavy cycle.
Watch for the same issues as above, but also pay attention to:
- heavy bleeding that is accompanied by dry skin, hair loss and a slow metabolism, as this could signify thyroid issues
- bleeding between cycles or after intercourse.
Remember, you know your body best. If something doesn’t feel right to you, contact your provider to determine the right course of action. Seeing your provider for an annual physical is a great opportunity for you to talk about any changes to your menstrual cycle and body. If something sudden changes, you can also schedule a virtual visit.
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What Is The Normal Period Length For People On Hormonal Birth Control
Hormonal birth control options like the pill, vaginal ring, or patch control the release and regulation of hormones like estrogen and progesterone within your body. When used correctly, the hormones in your HBC prevent your ovaries from preparing and releasing eggs .
Your number of bleeding days and cycle length will depend on the type of HBC you use. Bleeding typically happens during your âno hormoneâ days . The bleeding you experience while using hormonal birth control is called withdrawal bleeding, and is not considered a menstrual period. Withdrawal bleeding is caused by the decline in reproductive hormones in your body during days when you get low or no hormones from your pill, patch, or ring .
Many people experience lighter bleeding and some donât bleed at all while using hormonal birth control . When affected by hormonal birth control, the lining of your uterus doesn’t thicken as much as it does without hormonal birth control. This typically results in lighter, shorter, or occasionally absent âperiods,â especially for people who have been using hormonal birth control for many months or years.
Some people also decide to skip any bleeding while using HBC, by skipping over the âno-hormoneâ days. Some hormonal birth control options have a cycle that mimics a normal cycle length , while other types of hormonal birth control are continuous, which limits bleeding to once every three months, or even once a year .