Monthly cycle. What is the menstrual cycle and how to count it?

Menstrual cycle, period or monthlies – these words are familiar, perhaps, to every woman. But not everyone what this cycle is, how to count it and why should we do it. Let’s look at this issue.

“Period” is not quite a correct definition; it would be more correct to say – monthly or menstrual cycle. The definition is simple – this is the time from the first day of the last menstrual period to the first day of the next. Warning – the start of the cycle is considered to be not the end of the menstruation, but on its first day! The average length of the menstrual cycle is 28-35 days. If the menstruation starts more often than every 21 days, or less frequently – once every 35 days – this is not a norm. If with the help of tests and examinations the disease is not identified, in the violations of the cycle we can blame some minor, temporary circumstances. To normalize the monthly cycle doctor may prescribe you 3-4 months of oral contraceptives, of course, if a woman has no contraindications to them.

The vast majority of women planning pregnancy know how to count the monthly cycle. After owning this knowledge, it is possible to calculate the most favorable day for conception – the day of ovulation. In addition, knowledge of how to calculate the monthly cycle is required for women being treated for infertility. All the information about their cycle they provide to their doctor. This is required to determine the most appropriate treatment, and to monitor its results.

About what can the failure of the monthly cycle speak? Sometimes this is a norm, and sometimes it is a pathology. For clarity, we give examples. Menstrual irregularities are normal for:

• adolescent girls (within 2 years after menarche);
• womenafter childbirth (especially if the woman is breastfeeding);
• womenat menopause (hormonal changes).

Abnormal, but often happening are failures of the cycle after an abortion (there is a hormonal imbalance). Menstruation may dissapear with a sharp and significant weight loss (menstruation stops due to a lack of estrogen, arose because of excessive weight loss). Monthly cycle of 40 days and a lot more happens in women with hyperprolactinemia (increased production of the hormone prolactin). Uncontrolled intake of drugs rarely goes unnoticed. And these are not all the reasons that lead to failures in the female body.

But whatever people say, no matter how they frighten – a regular monthly cycle of 25-35 days, without “errors” is not as common. Too fragile is female nervous system. If no physical disease, then stress is required to shoot down the “biological clock”. Therefore, do not worry about the rare, minor delays.