How long does your period last? ?
You can take a survey and ask around to see how long your period lasts how long does the period last, for each woman you ask, you will get a different answer ! But, then, why is the menstrual cycle so poorly regulated? ? How do we know how long our period will last? ? Explanations !
What exactly is a period? ?
Before you find out how long it lasts how long does the period last, It is important to understand how the menstrual cycle works.
The menstrual cycle lasts an average of 28 days. Once again, the length of your period varies greatly from one woman to the next. It starts on the first day of the period and ends the day before the next period begins.
Each month, the woman’s body prepares to welcome an embryo by making a small cosy nest for it. Estrogens are then activated under the orders of the ovaries and the uterine mucous membrane (endometrium) which lines the walls of the uterus thickens.
At the same time, the ovary releases an egg during the ovulation phase (halfway through the cycle) which will travel down the fallopian tube to the uterus. If it is not fertilized by a spermatozoon within 24 hours, the egg dies and the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone. This triggers the detachment of the excess endometrium and therefore a loss of blood. The whole thing is eliminated by the vagina: this is called menstruation !
What is the average length of a period ?
There are three main phases that impact the menstrual cycle: puberty, the fertile period and pre-menopause. At each of these phases, the duration of the period is different.
How long does the period last at puberty ?
Ovulation starts at puberty and is a major cause of menstruation a rather chaotic period. During adolescence, hormones turn the body upside down and cause cycles that are more or less long, more or less abundant. Very often, menstruation can even begin only to resume after a few months.
Young girls can also have spotting, which is small amounts of bleeding outside the menstrual period.
It is therefore very important to know how your period works difficult to give a precise duration, it takes time for the reproductive system to set up and produce a regular cycle.
How long does your period last during your fertile period? ?
The period is often more stable and the menstruation lasts between 2 and 7 days, especially if you are using a contraceptive method such as the pill.
The disturbances are often linked to the cessation or change of hormone intake, while the body adapts. The same is true after a pregnancy where it can take months for the menstrual flow to return to normal.
But the cycle can become irregular for other reasons:
- Stress;
- Overweight or skinny ;
- Fatigue;
- Sleep disorder..
If you are in this situation, it is better to consult a doctor or a gynecologist. Especially since some illnesses such asendometriosis cause irregular periods.
What is the duration of menstruation in pre-menopause ?
The body returns to a chaotic phase, the reproductive system begins to slow down and the secretion of hormones decreases. The period is also accompanied by hot flashes, fatigue or weight gain. The rules are becoming more and more irregular and less and less less abundant, until it disappears completely after menopause.
In conclusion: it is difficult to calculate exactly how long your period lasts, but if you have irregular cycles or heavy bleeding for no reason, do not hesitate to consult a specialist. As for thelack of menstruation, it can be normal at puberty, during breastfeeding or at pre-menopause. But, it is advised to do a pregnancy test to know if you are pregnant or not !
