How menstruation should normally proceed. Which is better: tampons or pads? What periods are considered normal?

The onset of menstruation is an important event in a girl’s life. By the beginning of the first critical days, the child must be mentally prepared. Many modern girls who know how to use the Internet, long before the onset of menstruation, know what this physiological process is. However, this does not free mothers from the need to tell their daughters about what menstruation is, when girls' periods begin, how they proceed and what to watch out for.

Let's discuss all the important questions: what signs can you use to guess that menstruation is about to begin, how to maintain hygiene these days, and whether you need to visit a gynecologist.

When do the first critical days occur?

A few decades ago, girls began menstruating at almost 18 years of age. Nowadays puberty comes earlier. The occurrence of the first menstruation at 11–16 years of age is considered normal. For some girls, their periods come earlier, and for some, later.

This depends on several factors:

• diseases that were suffered in childhood;
• heredity;
• nutrition;
• living conditions;
• physical development.

In addition, if the grandmother and mother started their periods early, then the child will most likely do the same. If a girl is ahead of her peers in physical development, then her period will come earlier. Conversely, if the baby grows up weak and often gets sick, then she will probably lag behind in puberty. Menstruation will occur later due to poor nutrition, deficiency of vitamins and nutrients necessary for the growth and development of a young body.

There are cases where girls' first periods begin at 8–9 years old. Early sexual development can be caused by hormonal imbalance and heavy physical exertion. If menstruation has not begun by the age of 17, then this is a reason to visit a gynecologist. The reason for delayed sexual development may be insufficient functioning of the ovaries, emotional stress, nervous overload, problems with hormonal metabolism, disorders arising from the pituitary gland, grueling sports training, unfavorable environmental conditions, and dieting.

Signs preceding the first menstruation

Any mother who monitors the condition and health of her daughter can notice the signs that precede the onset of the first menstruation. It is from this moment that we need to begin preparing the child for a new period of life. About a couple of years before the onset of menstruation, a girl’s figure changes (breasts enlarge, hips become wider). Hair begins to grow under the arms and on the pubic area. In addition, girls' periods are preceded by acne on the face and back.

A few months before the first critical days girls notice traces of unusual discharge on their underwear. They may be transparent, yellowish or whitish without an unpleasant odor. All this is normal and does not indicate any disease. If you experience symptoms such as itching in an intimate place, a strange smell inherent in the discharge, then you should visit a specialist.

A few days before the start of menstruation A girl may exhibit signs of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which occur in adult women:

• frequent mood swings, tearfulness;
• apathetic or aggressive state;
• headaches that occur for no reason;
• nagging pain localized in the lower abdomen.

How is the first menstruation, and how to prepare the child?

The first signs of menstruation in girls - bloody issues . They can be moderate or very scanty. During the first menstruation, about 50–150 ml of blood leaves the body (depending on the individual characteristics of the girl and hereditary factors). On the very first day, a small amount of menstrual blood is lost. The most abundant discharge is observed on the second day. Then their volume gradually decreases. The duration of menstruation can range from 3 to 7 days.

The first time a girl's period may be accompanied by weakness, discomfort in the lower abdomen . They can also be observed during the next menstruation. These symptoms occur in most adult women, so there is no need to worry about them.

Menstruation has a characteristic smell. It is explained by the fact that during menstruation the mucous glands of the vulva actively function, producing secretions.

The first spotting and mild nagging pain can frighten the child. The mother’s task is to explain to her girl that menstruation is a normal physiological process that occurs in the body of every girl and adult woman. The conversation should be friendly, not didactic.

The mother should tell her daughter:

1. About the menstrual cycle. Critical days occur every month. It is imperative to say how long girls' periods last. It should also be noted that the average duration of the menstrual cycle is 28 days, but during the first two years it may fluctuate.
2. The need to follow hygiene rules. Blood is a very favorable environment for the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. They can lead to the development of serious inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system.
3. About the risks of sexual relations. With the onset of menstruation, every girl enters childbearing age, and intimate relationships with the opposite sex can lead to pregnancy, which is extremely undesirable at this age. Childbirth can be harmful to both the new mother and her baby. That is why a girl should know about what promiscuity and unprotected sex can lead to.

Features of the menstrual cycle

In teenage girls, the menstrual cycle (the period from the first day of the previous menstruation to the first day of the next menstruation) is 21–35 days. However During the first two years, not everyone experiences it regularly.. For some it fluctuates constantly. For example, one menstrual cycle may be 25 days and the next 32 days. This is normal. It does not indicate that the girl has any pathology. If you have any suspicions, you can visit a doctor. The specialist will tell you exactly whether this is normal or an illness.

It is worth noting that The intervals between menstruation can range from one and a half months to six months. Don't worry if your period doesn't come on time. At a young age, menstrual function is not yet fully formed. This is why some girls experience long breaks. If your period does not come after several months, then you need to seek help from a doctor. A long pause between the first and second periods in girls may indicate a serious malfunction in the young body.

With the onset of her first menstruation, your daughter should be taught to keep a calendar in which she can mark when her periods began and ended. This information may not be useful in the first 1–2 years from the start of your period, because at this time the menstrual cycle has not yet fully established itself. But then the calendar will come in handy when consulting with a specialist if the cycle remains irregular. Too short or long periods, a small or large gap between menstruation may be a sign of some disease.

Hygiene and diet during menstruation

Hygiene is an important issue that mothers should cover when teaching their daughters about menstruation. During menstruation, all girls and adult women use pads and tampons. For girls, pads are the most preferred. Tampons interfere with the natural flow of blood. Gaskets are much more convenient to use. It is best for girls to buy these intimate hygiene products with a cotton layer. Pads with a mesh coating (“plastic” layer) are less hygienic and cause sweating and irritation of delicate skin.

During menstruation, pads should be changed every 2-3 hours. The longer the pad is attached to your underwear, the less useful it will be (the number of bacteria will rapidly grow exponentially). If you do not replace the gasket for 6 or more hours, serious harm will be caused to your body. Infectious-toxic shock may develop - a condition that occurs as a result of the action of microorganisms and their toxins (body temperature rises, blood pressure decreases, confusion is observed, coma is possible).

What you need to know about using pads during menstruation in girls:

• be sure to wash your hands before changing the gasket (dirty hands can transfer pathogenic microorganisms to a clean gasket);
• do not use pads that have expired (the less time has passed since the manufacture of the intimate hygiene product, the higher the degree of protection it has);
• do not use pads with aromatic fragrances (chemical components often provoke allergies and skin irritation);
• do not save on buying sanitary pads (intimate hygiene products, sold at low prices, are often made from low-quality raw materials, which poses a danger to the girl’s health);
• It is not recommended to store pads in the bathroom ( a large number of moisture is an ideal environment for the active proliferation of microbes that can penetrate intimate hygiene products).

Special attention should be paid to underwear. Girls should wear regular panties made from natural fabrics. Thongs are beautiful and sexy underwear that many teenage girls dream of, but wearing them is completely unhygienic. A narrow strip of thong can be called a kind of bridge for moving microorganisms between the anus and vagina. Intestinal microflora should not enter the genitourinary system, as it can provoke the development of inflammatory diseases.

The onset of menstruation in girls is not a reason to take a bath often. The most suitable option is daily shower . You also need to wash yourself at least 2-3 times during the day. It is not advisable to use soap. Gynecologists recommend using special intimate hygiene products (gels, mousses, etc.), which contain lactic acid. This component does not negatively affect microflora, unlike regular soap.

Preferably during the first and subsequent menstruation avoid physical activity . Sports activities will have to be postponed. It is allowed to perform light physical exercises and do recreational gymnastics. In addition, girls need psychological peace.

Another important point to pay attention to during menstruation is dieting . The word “diet” does not mean reducing the amount of food consumed, but rather revising the diet and removing spicy foods from it. Because of such food, there is a rush of blood to the internal organs of the abdominal cavity. This may lead to increased uterine bleeding. Alcoholic drinks are also contraindicated.

Do I need to visit a gynecologist?

With the onset of your first period, it is not necessary to regularly visit a gynecologist, unless there is an obvious reason for this: strange discharge with an unpleasant odor, itching, menstrual irregularities. As a rule, the first examination by a gynecologist occurs at 15–16 years of age.

The doctor must make sure that the girl is developing correctly and that she has no health problems. If a girl has begun sexual activity, then visits to the doctor should be regular - once a year.

It is worth contacting a gynecologist in cases where girls’ periods are disrupted:

• critical days last 1–2 days or more than 7 days (menstruation that is too short indicates insufficient production of sex hormones, impaired ovarian function, and too long indicates poor contractility of the uterus, significantly expressed estrogenic function of the ovaries);
• excessive bleeding is observed, requiring frequent replacement of pads or tampons;
• after the first menstruation, menstruation was interrupted for a long period (pause more than 6 months);
• after normalization of the menstrual cycle, irregularities began (cycle less than 21 days or more than 35 days);
• Very large blood clots (the size of a grape) are visible in the bloody discharge.

You should immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance when spotting is accompanied by very severe pain in the abdomen, dizziness, severe weakness, pallor, fever, nausea, vomiting and intestinal disorders.

To summarize, it is worth noting that the first menstruation can cause fear and panic in a girl. To prevent this from happening, mothers should devote a little time to their daughters and talk about the physiological process that will soon begin to occur regularly in a young body, and explain why girls begin menstruation at this age.

You also need to be sure to ask whether your periods come regularly, whether there are any delays, or whether severe pain occurs. Sometimes girls are embarrassed to tell their parents. If any abnormalities are detected, you should definitely visit a doctor.

Educational video about first menstruation

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Every woman has asked herself the question of how menstruation occurs at least once in her life. To understand the mechanism of such a phenomenon, it is better to track its development from the very beginning.

So, everyone, without exception, knows that nature took care of the continuation of the human race and placed this responsibility on the fragile shoulders of a woman. For this reason, nature has endowed the female body with a set of reproductive organs, the work of which occurs cyclically. In this case we are talking about the menstrual cycle. How menstruation occurs and why menstruation occurs will be discussed further.

The concept of the menstrual cycle and its phases

The menstrual cycle is the period between the first day of the previous menstruation and the first day of the next. Typically, a woman's menstrual cycle lasts about 28 days. However, experts believe that the length of a healthy woman’s cycle can vary from 21 to 35 days.

All processes occurring throughout the menstrual cycle are determined by the woman’s hormonal system, the state of which is controlled by the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a small area located in the human diencephalon and consisting of many groups of cells that regulate the homeostasis of the body and the neuroendocrine function of the brain. The hypothalamus sends signals through a gland such as the pituitary gland and helps trigger the ovaries. The latter, in turn, produce estrogen and progesterone, which regulate the functioning of the uterus and the production of eggs.

Returning to the issue of the menstrual cycle, it can be noted that before the completion of the menstrual cycle, the inner mucous membrane of the uterine body, called the endometrium, awaits the attachment of a fertilized egg. If fertilization does not take place, the level of hormones in the blood drops sharply, which contributes to the narrowing of blood vessels in the internal mucous membrane of the uterine body, as a result of which its blood supply decreases. In turn, this leads to gradual delamination of this mucosa with its subsequent rejection. The rejected elements of the mucous membrane are brought out along with blood, which accumulates as a result of the rupture of small vessels.

Such a process does not happen instantly. That is why the duration of critical days can vary from 3 to 5 days. At the same time, along with the removal of exfoliated elements of the endometrium, the process of growth of a new layer of endometrium occurs in the woman’s body. Therefore, menstruation is considered a kind of transition period from one cycle to another.

There are several rather interesting facts about the processes occurring during:

1. The duration of bleeding also depends on the use of oral hormonal contraceptives, which can shorten the duration of menstruation. In turn, inserting the IUD helps to lengthen the duration of menstrual bleeding.
2. During one period of menstrual bleeding, a woman in a satisfactory state of health can lose from 50 to 150 g of blood.
3. The blood released during menstrual bleeding does not consist solely of blood. It consists of secretions secreted by the glands of the uterus, as well as endometrial particles and vaginal epithelial cells.

So, experts distinguish the following phases of the menstrual cycle:

1. The menstrual phase in which blood is released from the vagina. The processes occurring in this phase were discussed a little higher.
2. , which originates along with the previous phase and lasts on average about 14 days. During this period, a dominant follicle is formed in the woman’s ovaries, in which the same egg matures, ready for fertilization. In addition, during this phase, the process of renewal of the internal mucous membrane of the uterine body occurs.
3. The ovulatory phase, which lasts no more than 3 days. During this period, the egg, ripe for fertilization, emerges from the burst follicle. This process is called ovulation.
4. And finally, which lasts from 11 to 16 days. During this period, there is active production of estrogen and progesterone, which are responsible for preparing the woman’s body for a possible pregnancy. If this does not happen, then the menstrual phase begins again.

First menarche

Experts understand the term “menarche” as the occurrence of the first menstrual bleeding in teenage girls. The norm for appearance is considered to be between 12 and 14 years of age. For this reason, girls from the age of 10 should begin to show the first symptoms of puberty. If menstruation has not appeared by the age of 14-16, then most likely some pathological process is occurring in the development of the adolescent’s reproductive system.

Factors influencing the age at which menstruation begins are:

• state of general development;
• genetic predisposition;
• balanced diet;
• climatic conditions and nationality of the teenager;
• pathological processes in the reproductive system up to 10-13 years.

If menstruation does not appear at the indicated age, then there is a need to contact a gynecologist in order to establish the reasons contributing to the development of such a situation. They may be as follows:

• impaired ovarian function;
• malfunction of the girl’s pituitary gland, which is responsible for the hormonal balance of a teenager;
• emotional instability.

In conclusion, it must be added that it is natural that every representative of the fair sex knows from her own experience what menstruation is. Despite the fact that its first appearance can somewhat frighten a teenager, it is considered a completely natural phenomenon that provides a woman with the opportunity to become pregnant and give birth to a child.

A healthy woman has a normal and stable menstrual cycle. Therefore, any changes that occur during the menstrual cycle and menstruation should alert and suggest the need to visit a gynecologist, since such a situation may indicate the development of pathological processes in a woman’s body. In order to avoid serious health problems and in order to preserve reproductive function, a woman should be more attentive and careful about herself. This will allow every girl or young woman to experience the happiness of motherhood in the future.

Obstetrics and gynecology Menstruation (menstruation)

Menstruation (menstruation)

What are periods

Period or menstruation , this is the appearance of bloody discharge in women at a certain period of time once a month. During menstruation, the inner layer of the uterus is shed. Menstrual blood leaves the uterine cavity through the cervical canal and then enters the vagina. Typically, menstruation lasts from 3 to 5 days.

What is the monthly (menstrual) cycle?

When menstruation occurs regularly at regular intervals, it is called a menstrual cycle. A normal monthly cycle is a sign that a woman's body is working normally. The monthly cycle is ensured by the production of special chemicals called hormones. Hormones prepare a woman's body regularly every month for fertilization and pregnancy. The menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of the last menstrual period to the first day of subsequent months. The average length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days. It can range from 21 to 35 days in adult women and from 21 to 45 days in adolescents. Cycle length is regulated by the rise and fall of hormone levels during the cycle.

What processes occur during the menstrual cycle

In the first half of the cycle, estrogen levels increase. Estorgens are female sex hormones that play an important role in women's health. First of all, under the influence of estrogens, bones become stronger. Estrogens ensure strong bones into old age. Estrogens also cause growth and thickening of the uterine lining, the endometrium. The endometrium is that part of the uterus that initially serves as a medium for the implantation of the embryo and provides nutrition to the embryo during pregnancy. At the same time, along with the growth of the endometrium, a follicle grows in the ovary - a vesicle, which contains an egg inside. Approximately in the middle of the cycle, on day 14, the egg leaves the follicle. This process is called ovulation. After the egg leaves the ovary, it travels through the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity. High levels of hormones at this time provide optimal conditions for embryo implantation. The highest chance of getting pregnant begins 3 days before ovulation and ends on the day of ovulation. If the egg meets the sperm during this period, pregnancy occurs. If there is no meeting with the sperm, the egg dies, the level of hormones drops, and the inner layer of the uterus begins to be rejected. This is how new periods start.

What happens during menstruation

During menstruation, the inner layer of the uterus is shed through the cervical and vaginal canal. This is accompanied by bleeding. With the help of blood flow, the remnants of the inner layer of the uterus are washed away and removed from the body. The amount of vaginal bleeding may vary from month to month. The length of vaginal bleeding may vary from cycle to cycle. On average, it ranges from 3 to 5 days, but the norm is considered to be from 2 to 7 days. During the first few years after menstruation begins, periods are usually longer than in middle age. The usual cycle length is from 21 to 35 days.

What problems can arise during menstruation?

Many disorders that develop during menstruation have been described. The most common are:

At what age should you get your first period?

Average age of first menstruation- 12 years old. This does not mean that your period should begin during this period. The first period can begin between the ages of 8 and 15. Before menstruation begins, breasts grow. As a rule, the onset of the first menstruation occurs within 2 years after the start of breast development. If menstruation does not appear after 15 years or does not occur 2-3 years after breast growth begins, you should see a doctor.

Early periods

If menstruation begins earlier than 21 from the start of the last menstruation, it is called early. The reason for early menstruation may be the insufficiency of the second phase. Insufficiency of the second phase occurs when the formation of the corpus luteum is disrupted or its premature extinction. During the second phase of the cycle, the corpus luteum produces progesterone. Progesterone is a female sex hormone, under the influence of which the endometrium, which grew in the first phase, enters the stage of secretion - the most favorable for embryo implantation. If progesterone is low, its falling level triggers early menstruation.

Girls' periods

If girls get their periods earlier than 8 years old, this is a sign of precocious puberty. The reasons lie in the disruption of hormonal regulation of puberty processes. If such a situation arises, it is necessary to contact a pediatric endocrinologist, who will prescribe a set of necessary tests and select treatment aimed at normal sexual development. Girls' periods are characterized by an unstable cycle. As a rule, this cycle can reach 45 days, which is considered completely normal for girls to get their periods. Also, menstruation in girls often causes pain.

Scanty periods

Lean periods last less than two days. Bloody discharge has a brown tint. Such brown periods appear due to the fact that the process of separating the remnants of the endometrium is very slow and the blood has time to clot, which causes this color. Scanty periods are also characterized by slight discharge. Such periods may indicate a violation of the second phase of the cycle and insufficient thickness of the endometrium. In women with scanty periods, pregnancy is problematic, since most often the existing disorder is associated with a deficiency of progesterone, which promotes embryo implantation.

Heavy periods

Heavy periods last more than 7 days and at the same time there is a need to change pads frequently. Frequent changing of pads means the need to change them every 2 hours or more often. Heavy periods occur due to the fact that in the uterine cavity there is a thickened inner layer - the endometrium. When menstruation begins, the endometrium cannot be shed quickly. Partial peeling delays the process of menstruation and causes more heavy bleeding. Often the cause of heavy periods can be uterine fibroids or uterine polyps. Blood clotting disorders also increase the intensity of your periods.

Periods after childbirth

A woman who is breastfeeding usually does not have periods after childbirth. This is due to the fact that the hormone prolactin, which is produced in large quantities in the body of a nursing woman, inhibits the production of hormones that trigger menstruation. However, if there is a lack of prolactin, for example with irregular breastfeeding, menstruation may occur.

How long does a woman have regular periods?

Women have periods until menopause. Menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 years. The average age of menopause is 50 years. Menopause characterizes the period when a woman loses the ability to become pregnant, her periods disappear and her eggs do not mature. Menopause does not occur immediately. For some women, it takes several years for it to develop. This is the so-called transient menopause. It can last from 2 to 8 years. Some women may experience menopause earlier in life due to illness, chemotherapy, or surgery. If a woman has not had her period for more than 90 days, she should consult a doctor to rule out pregnancy, early menopause and other conditions.

In what cases should you consult a doctor if your periods are irregular?

• If your period does not start after age 15
• If there are no periods 3 years after breast growth begins, or if breasts have not begun to grow by age 13.
• If there is no menstruation for more than 90 days
• If, after a period of a stable cycle, periods begin to occur irregularly
• If menstruation occurs more often than once every 21 days or less than once every 35 days
• If bleeding continues for more than 7 days
• If the bleeding intensity is higher than usual or you have to use 1 pad every 1-2 hours.
• If vaginal bleeding occurs between menstrual periods
• If you experience severe pain during menstruation
• If a high temperature suddenly appears after using the pads

How often should you change your tampon or pad during your period?

It is necessary to change a tampon or pad at least once every 4-8 hours. Always use a tampon or pad with the least absorbency rating. Absorption is the ability to retain blood. The higher the absorption rate, the more blood can accumulate in the pad or tampon. The use of tampons and pads with a high degree of absorption can cause the development of toxic shock syndrome. Toxic shock develops due to the absorption into the blood of bacterial waste products that colonize a pad or tampon soaked in menstrual fluid. Although this syndrome is rare, it can have fatal consequences. It is safer to use a pad rather than a tapmon.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, remove your tampon or pad and visit your doctor:

• Sudden increase in body temperature
• Muscle pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomit
• Nausea
• A rash on the body that looks like a sunburn
• Redness of the eyes
• Discomfort in the throat

What to do if you miss your period

If you miss your period, this could be a sign of pregnancy. To confirm, you need to do a pregnancy test. If the test is positive, you need to see a doctor for a uterine ultrasound to make sure that the embryo is in the uterine cavity. If your period has disappeared and the pregnancy test is negative, you should consult an obstetrician-gynecologist. There can be a lot of reasons, and the doctor will help you choose exactly those tests and examination methods that will determine the cause.

Is it possible to get pregnant during menstruation?

Many people believe that it is impossible to get pregnant during menstruation. However, it is not. The fact is that in order to get pregnant, ovulation is necessary. Ovulation (the release of an egg from the follicle) usually occurs in the middle of the cycle, but can also occur on the tenth day of the monthly cycle. Considering that the normal duration of menstruation can be up to 7 days, fertilization can occur if there was sexual intercourse on the seventh (last) day of menstruation. The lifespan of sperm can reach 72 hours, that is, 3 days. That is, on day 10 the egg has a chance to be fertilized. Usually, sperm carrying X chromosomes live this long, that is, as a result of such fertilization, the child will have a female gender.

Is it possible to get pregnant immediately after menstruation?

You can get pregnant immediately after your period if your periods last a long time and ovulation occurs within 72 hours by the end of your period. Early ovulation and prolonged periods can periodically occur in completely healthy women. Of course, the likelihood of getting pregnant immediately after menstruation is small, but it should be taken into account by those couples who do not plan to have children and do not follow a certain lifestyle (drink alcohol, smoke, take medications).

Is it possible to have sex during menstruation?

During menstruation, the cervical canal opens and rejected endometrial fragments accumulate in the vaginal cavity, which serve as a breeding ground for conditionally pathogenic bacteria. The mucous plug of the cervical canal, which serves as a barrier to the penetration of infections into the uterine cavity, is absent during menstruation. If a woman has an STD that is in a latent, hidden form, they can become active during menstruation. Thus, on the one hand, sex during menstruation can jeopardize the health of a man, who is at risk of getting a nonspecific infection or STD. On the other hand, for a woman, sex during menstruation is dangerous because at this time the natural defenses are reduced and the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases is higher.

Discharge after menstruation

Vaginal discharge after menstruation may be bloody. If vaginal bleeding occurs, it means that there could be a piece of tissue in the uterine cavity that has not completely separated. Such incomplete separation can occur in small portions over a fairly long period. As a rule, discharge after menstruation occurs with endometrial polyps and other processes accompanied by nervous thickening of the endometrium. Sometimes discharge after menstruation can be due to hormonal imbalances.

Discharge before menstruation

As a rule, discharge before menstruation can occur if a woman has an inflammatory disease that worsens before the onset of menstruation. Many chronic diseases of the genitourinary system, especially chlamydia, trichomoniasis, mycoplasmosis and ureaplasmosis, can worsen before menstruation. One of the signs of exacerbation is precisely the presence of vaginal discharge.

How to induce menstruation if you haven’t had one for a long time or your cycle is irregular?

The absence of periods or their irregularity can occur for many reasons. Often the reason for the absence of menstruation can be polycystic ovary syndrome. In order to induce menstruation, you must first determine the reason for their absence. In some cases, it is enough to adjust the diet and apply rational physical activity for menstruation to resume. In other cases, it is necessary to correct hormonal levels or even resort to surgical treatment. This question is so complex and takes into account so many individual characteristics that it is necessary to consult a good specialist.

In obstetrics and gynecology we work in the following areas:

• Vaginal discharge in women, discharge during pregnancy

Menstruation is the main indicator of women's health. Every girl should mark the beginning and end of her period on a monthly calendar in order to notice any deviations in time.

In order not to miss possible symptoms of various diseases, all women should definitely know how their periods normally go. We will tell you about this in this article.

How should a normal period go?

Each girl experiences her critical days differently. However, there are norms, deviation from which may be caused by the presence of pathologies of the woman’s reproductive organs or serious diseases.

So, normally, menstrual flow lasts from 3 to 7 days. In the first two days, bleeding may be profuse, but on the remaining days it may be scanty. In addition, special attention should be paid to the duration. A lunar cycle of 28 days is considered ideal, but any deviations between 3 and 5 weeks are considered acceptable.

A woman’s daily blood loss can range from 20 to 50 grams, and during the entire period of her critical days, a girl should not lose more than 250 grams of blood.

How do girls experience their first periods?

Typically, at the age of 11-16 years, a girl experiences her first menstruation. Modern teenagers are already quite well prepared for changes in the functioning of their body, and they are not afraid of the appearance of spotting. However, a mother must tell her daughter about the physiological characteristics of the female sex.

Most often, the first menstruation is quite scanty. The total blood loss on these days ranges from 50 to 150 grams, with the most abundant discharge observed on the second day. Many girls report feeling unwell, weak and uncomfortable in the lower abdomen.

A girl's menstrual cycle can be irregular for 2 years, and the breaks between critical days can be up to 6 months.

How are the first periods after childbirth?

After childbirth, menstruation usually occurs no later than 2 months from the date of termination of breastfeeding; in some women, menstruation begins during the period of feeding the child. In most cases, postpartum periods are the same as before pregnancy. However, sometimes young mothers note that menstrual flow has become more scanty.

How do menstruation go during menopause?

At the age of 47-49, most women experience menopause. During this period, reproductive function gradually decreases, which subsequently leads to a complete cessation of menstrual flow. The total duration of menopause can be about 5-7 years. Menstruation during this period becomes less abundant, and each time their duration decreases. The duration of the menstrual cycle is usually also reduced, but sometimes, on the contrary, it can increase.

Critical days are a natural process that occurs in the body of every representative of the fairer sex. To understand where menstruation comes from, you need to become familiar with a woman’s physiology.

Many girls are interested in where the blood comes from during menstruation. This requires knowing why she is going.

Critical days are part of the reproductive function of women. Without them, full conception and gestation are impossible, since they perform cleansing and preparing functions.

Considering the information provided, it becomes clear where menstruation comes from. When menstruation occurs, blood comes out of the vagina (namely from the uterine cavity), if conception has not occurred.

What does menstruation look like?

Blood, which creates bleeding during menstruation, is considered the beginning of the onset of critical days. a little darker than usual.

At the beginning of menstruation, blood flows abundantly from the vagina - this happens in the first 2 days. After this, menstrual flow slows down, since most of the endometrium leaves the uterus in the first 2 days.

The onset of menstruation in girls can easily be confused with pathological bleeding, since the blood during menstruation is dark and appears from the vagina “in portions”.

Menstruation symptoms

We figured out where the blood comes from. Many girls are interested in how to find out about the upcoming onset of menstrual periods, because the symptoms of this condition in the fairer sex are individual and varied. Few people can boast of a complete absence of signs of premenstrual syndrome.

Typically, menstruation appears with symptoms such as:

• sharp and causeless irritability;
• pain in the lower abdomen, which sometimes radiates to the back;
• mood swings;
• frequent tearfulness for any reason;
• discomfort in the mammary glands;
• breast swelling;
• drowsiness;
• swelling that appears on the legs and face.

When spotting appears, signs of the onset of menstruation usually disappear.

What a girl should know about menstruation

Every girl needs to know why menstruation occurs every month and where the bleeding comes from. This means that her body is ready to conceive a child, so she must be extremely careful when engaging in sexual intercourse.

On average, during menstruation, 2-4 large spoons of discharge (35 ml) are released, which are taken from the walls of the uterus. Also, 1–6 spoons is considered the norm - it depends on the characteristics of the body.

The arrival of the first menstruation usually occurs at 12–13 years of age, although the limits may be shifted depending on individual characteristics.

Typically, such discharge is slightly darker than regular blood, so if your periods are light, this most likely indicates bleeding that is not associated with menstrual periods.

In the last days of menstruation, the blood becomes even darker - brown. This means there is no oxygen in it and is considered normal.

As soon as your monthly discharge begins, you should use pads or tampons that will absorb it, thereby ensuring proper hygiene.

At first, an irregular cycle may be observed, but after 3–5 months after the start of the critical days, it should normalize. Otherwise, you will need to visit a gynecologist to find out about possible health problems.