The period is also known as menstruation or the menstrual cycle, which refers to the monthly shedding of blood from the lining of the uterus if pregnancy does not occur. During the menstrual period, a woman will lose about 80 ml of blood and will experience drops in hormones. The lining will re-thicken with blood and tissue to prepare for the next pregnancy.
Most women get their period every month with an interval of 28 days. Some women have their period in a shorter interval of 26 days, while others have it in a longer interval of 34 days. What is most important for a woman is that she has a regular period and it lasts about 5 days. A woman should have about 13 menstrual cycles each year and up to 450 periods throughout her life. Only women who have menstrual periods can get pregnant naturally.
If a woman sheds little blood before her period, it could be a symptom of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Further checking can be done by looking at the discharge from the vagina to check for any foul odours, yellowish-green color, or if she experienced acute itching. If she suspects that she has it, she can see the doctor for treatment.
During pregnancy, a woman will stop menstruating. She will resume her period after giving birth to her baby. Other factors such as underweight, overweight, illness, stress or drug addiction will affect the regularity of a woman’s period and stop ovulation. Menopause is when a woman has not had a period for 1 year. Clinical tests may show that the ovaries no longer produce female hormones and cannot produce an egg for reproduction.
Consult a doctor if the following occur:
A sudden change in the regularity of the period.
heavy menstrual bleeding
Unable to start menstruating at age 16
missed period
Bleeding between periods or after intercourse