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The menstrual cycle is influenced by hormones and divided into phases, with an average cycle lasting 28 days. Menstruation begins during puberty and can last from two to seven days. Menopause occurs around age 45.
The usual interval between menstrual cycles generally ranges between 21 and 45 days, with most women having an average cycle of 28 days. Menstrual periods can occur from two days to sometimes more than seven days, with an average of 3 to 4 days in most women. It can usually be considered a short period when menstrual bleeding lasts less than two days or when the time interval between periods is less than 21 days. The term eumenorrhea is technically used to mean a regular menstrual cycle.
Menstruation usually begins during puberty, around age 12, although it can begin as early as age eight and as late as age 16. It’s usually nature’s way of preparing a girl’s body for pregnancy. The first menstrual bleeding that technically occurs is called menarche. During the first year after menarche, menstrual periods are mostly irregular. Some girls have short menstrual periods and other times they may have longer menstrual periods.
The menstrual cycle is mainly influenced by the functions of hormones in the female body. A short menstrual period or a long menstrual period often depends on the amount of hormones present during each cycle. Menstrual cycles are divided into numerous phases: the menstrual phase, the follicular phase, ovulation and the secretory phase or luteal phase. The menstrual phase begins on the first day of menstrual bleeding which often lasts for four days. The amount of blood loss is between 0.8 oz (about 25 mL) and 2.5 oz (about 75 mL) with an average of 1.35 oz (40 mL) during each period.
After the last day of menstrual bleeding, the follicular phase usually follows. During the follicular phase, the ovary, which contains about 450,000 follicles at birth, is influenced by follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) for the maturation of some eggs. At the same time, the female hormone estrogen also increases and technically affects the lining of the uterus, or endometrium, to start the thickening process in preparation for pregnancy.
Ovulation occurs around the fourteenth day, counting from the first day of menstruation. This mainly signals the release of a mature egg from the ovary under the influence of a hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH). Another hormone, called progesterone, also goes up to make the endometrium technically ready for implantation of a fertilized egg. When the egg is fertilized by the sperm, pregnancy occurs and usually no period occurs during the next nine months.
The secretory phase often follows the period of ovulation when fertilization does not occur, which lasts about 10-16 days. This is largely influenced by the decline in the hormone progesterone. At the end of the secretory phase, the endometrium sheds to begin the first day of menstruation and another menstrual cycle.
A woman’s reproductive years mostly last until about age 45. The complete cessation of menstruation is commonly called menopause. Many changes often occur before menopause. Some women experience irregular cycles, sometimes with long or short periods and sometimes with light and heavy flow.
