Menstruation 101

To determine if your menses (aka period) is healthy and normal, it is important to first understand what having a normal menses encompasses. Below are some key details that I discuss with patients when we are focusing on menstrual health. While this information does not apply to women who are on any type of birth control, it can still be used as a guide to determine if your cycles were normal before starting birth control- as many women initially start birth control to manage the symptoms of abnormal periods.

Cycle length: The menstrual cycle encompasses the entire cyle from day 1 of bleeding to the next day 1 of bleeding. A normal menstrual cycle ranges from 24-38 days in length. While it can be considered normal to have a one-off cycle that is shorter or longer than usual, in general your period should stay within the 24-38 day time frame.

Days of bleeding: Women typically bleed for 2-8 days on average, with 4-6 days being the most common length of bleeding. 

Amount of blood lost: Women lose on average up to 2-3 tablespoons of blood every month. Heavy menstrual bleeding is considered when a woman loses more than 5 tablespoons each month. On the other end of the spectrum, having super light periods on a regular basis might mean that ovulation is not occurring, which is a sign of a hormone imbalance. It can be hard to quantify how much blood you are losing. Paying attention to how frequently you are having to change your period products (whether that be tampons, pads, menstrual cups, period underwear, etc.) including what size products you use can be helpful information to gather if you think you might lose an abnormal amount of blood. Additionally, blood clots larger than the size of a quarter during menses is considered abnormal.

Symptoms with menses: Women can experience many different symptoms with their periods, such as pelvic cramping, back pain, breast tenderness, fatigue, changes in bowel movements, changes in mood, and changes in appetite. While these symptoms are common, it does not mean they are always normal. Any symptom that prevents you from living your daily life as usual (like painful cramps that are so bad you have to take medicine around the clock) is considered abnormal and should be evaluated further.  

In summary, if your periods are too heavy, too painful, too long, too short, too clotty, too frequent, or too infrequent you should be seen by a medical provider for further evaluation. You do not have to live with these symptoms just because you have a uterus <3.

If you would like support with your menses, schedule a free discovery call to connect.