What is a Normal Menstruation?

It is a popular belief that a normal menstruation cycle will happen over 28 days, but in reality everyone is different and it can be anywhere from a 20 day menstruation cycle to a 35 day menstruation cycle. It will all depend on your body, your genes, your lifestyle, your diet and age – as you can see there are a lot of determining factors when it comes to your period so it is not surprising there are so many different cycles.

It is not just how often you get your period though; it is how long it lasts. On average, a period will last for five days, but it can be as little as three days or as long as seven. Some women even have a period that lasts up to ten days. In order to find out if you are having menstruation problems, or you have just got a longer or shorter cycle than your friends, it is a good idea to keep a chart.

If you are getting your period at regular intervals between twenty and thirty-five days and it is lasting between three and ten days at a time, you have got a normal menstruation for you. If you are still not comfortable or you are experiencing heavy pains or mood swings, it is an easy matter of going to your GP and discussing your options. They might suggest a strong painkiller, or a hormone-based drug such as The Pill to keep you on track.

Who is at Risk of Irregular Menstruation?

There are a whole range of different factors that can increase your likelihood of irregular menstruation and it is not unusual to have menstruation problems at one time or another. Irregular menstruation affects about thirty per cent of women. Menstruation problems are usually caused by hormonal signals being thrown out of order. Ovulation and menstruation are triggered by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries and if the signals between these organs are interrupted or lost, you can have an irregular period and there are a few different ways this can happen.

The most obvious is that you are pregnant, and your body begins producing different hormones altogether than those that cause menstruation. If you have been having unprotected sex it is a good idea to do a pregnancy test. Another possible cause is stress, as high level of this can make your hormone levels unbalanced. Extreme dieting or exercise regimes can quite often cause irregular or no periods. Women with anorexia or bulimia, and elite sportswomen, often find they have irregular menstruation.

If none of these apply to you, there may be a more serious underlying medical condition that is causing menstruation problems as a side effect. It is important that you talk to your GP and discover what the cause is so that you can find a way to manage it.

How do I Manage my Menstruation?

The best way to have a healthy, regular menstruation is simply to look after yourself. Make sure you have a healthy diet that you are not too stressed at work or at home and, most importantly of all, you know your cycle so that if something does change, you notice it.

Keep in mind that while an irregular menstruation is not completely unheard of, it is important that you find the reason it is happening as it could be a symptom of a more serious condition.

If your doctor does recommend a hormonal treatment for your menstruation problem, it’s important that you take the medication regularly so that your body still gets its consistent supply of hormones.