What Exactly Is Menstruation?

Menstruation is a normal physiological process in every woman and is a mixture of blood and the uterine lining. 

Every month, the female body prepares for pregnancy by thickening the walls of the uterus. If conception does not occur, there is no need for this tissue and the body sheds it in the form of menstruation.

Menstrual cycle

The menstrual cycle lasts from the first day of your period to the start of your next period and usually lasts from 21 to 35 days. But the number of days does not necessarily have to be the same every month.

Stress and diet can affect it, so sometimes it lasts more or fewer days than you expect.

At the beginning, when you first get your period, you won’t necessarily have a regular menstrual cycle right away. Sometimes the difference can even be several weeks. After about 2–3 years, a regular and predictable cycle generally becomes established. 

At what age will I get my first period?

With the onset of puberty, menstruation also comes. Usually it goes like this: when you notice hair growing on your intimate parts and under your arms, and when your breasts start developing, it means puberty has truly begun.

About 1 year after these signs appear, you can expect your first period.

How old will you be? It depends. Puberty starts on average at age 11, but it can also happen earlier or later. It can even be as early as age 8 or as late as 14, and it is very hereditary.

Ask your mom when she got hers. There is a good chance that you will get yours around the same time too.

What if I get my period when I’m not at home?

It is best to always carry spare underwear and a pad with you when you go somewhere. That way this kind of situation can never take you by surprise.

How long does menstruation last?

The average length of menstruation is 5 days.  Some lucky women have it for fewer days, while others have it for longer. The first period can last anywhere between 2 and 8 days.

How much blood do I lose during menstruation?

Around 60–80 ml of blood.

But you should know that not everything that comes out during your period is blood. Only about 36% of all the fluid you lose is blood. The rest is thickened cells from the uterine lining, which can look like a clot.

What can I choose for period protection?

I will talk about this topic in the future in much more detail. For now, here is the following information:

You can use pads, tampons, a menstrual cup or a disc.

The disc has become very popular in recent years, and I advise you to try everything and then decide more easily what suits you best.

Menstrual cups are also a very popular option, but you need a little more time to learn how to insert one correctly. 

Does menstruation hurt?

It differs from woman to woman. Some feel nothing, while others always have problems. 

Pain can develop because the muscles of the uterus contract. It can hurt at the beginning, during, or at the end of menstruation.

If the pain is unbearable and nausea occurs, visit a gynecologist so they can prescribe you one of the painkillers.

What is PMS and does it even exist?

PMS can appear as a physical or psychological symptom.

For example: bloating, cramps, tender breasts, hunger, headache, sore muscles, pimples, constipation, diarrhea, mood swings, feelings of sadness, not being able to sleep, not wanting to be around people, forgetting things, feeling tired, ...

You probably won’t experience all of these things, but only some of them.

If they occur regularly before your period, then it is PMS. In some women, these symptoms do not appear at all, or they appear only later. It can be many years after you got your first period.

Will I have periods for the rest of my life?

No. Around the age of 45–55, menopause occurs, and then menstruation ends forever. You generally also do not have periods during pregnancy.