Menstruation, or "period" as it is more commonly known, is the monthly process where a girl or woman sheds the lining of her uterus. As the lining is shed, menstrual blood passes out of the vagina. Menstrual periods typically last between three and five days.

Girls usually have their first period when they are around 12 years old although they can start as early as eight or as late as 15. They then have a period every month until they reach menopause. This is usually between the ages of 45 and 55.

The menstrual cycle

Menstruation is a monthly cycle that prepares a woman's body to have babies. An average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. During the menstrual cycle, hormone levels rise and fall in order for the process to occur. During the first half of the cycle, oestrogen levels start to rise, causing the lining of the uterus to thicken. During this time an egg (or "ovum") within one of the ovaries starts to mature.  After about two weeks, the egg is then released from the ovary. This is known as "ovulation".

After its release, the egg starts to travel to the uterus via the fallopian tube as oestrogen levels rise to thicken the lining of the uterus. Pregnancy is more likely to occur on the day of ovulation or three days before it. If the ovum were fertilised by a sperm cell, it would attach itself to the wall of the uterus. However, if fertilisation does not occur, the wall of the uterus is shed during the woman's period.

A period may not always be exactly the same every month. While most periods last between three and five days, it is also possible for it to last up to seven days. They may also either moderate, light or heavy.

Potential problems
A number of problems can present themselves during periods. Some of these are:

• Dysmenorrhoea: This refers to painful periods that include severe cramps. Dysmenorrhoea occurs when you have too much of a hormone known as prostaglandin. It can be treated with a variety of different pain medications, and some women find that taking a warm bath or using a heating pad helps to relieve pain from cramps.
• Amenorrhea: This refers to when a woman does not experience a period. If you used to have regular periods but have not had one in 90 days, you have amenorrhea.  Girls who have not started menstruating by the time they reach the age of 15 are also said to have amenorrhea.
• Abnormal uterine bleeding: This refers to when a woman's vaginal bleeding is different to that of her usual periods. It can involve either heavy bleeding or periods that last for a longer period of time. Abnormal uterine bleeding can be treated but since it can be caused by a number of different factors, a doctor needs to be consulted first.

Pads and tampons
Women can use either a pad or a tampon to absorb menstrual blood; it comes down to personal choice as to which one they believe suits them best.  Pads should be changed as regularly as they are needed while tampons need to be changed every four to eight hours.

Women who use tampons, particularly ones with strong absorbency during a light period, risk developing toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS is rare but can be lethal.  It is more common amongst young women. If you are a tampon-user and experience the following symptoms during your period, remove your tampon and contact your doctor:

• Aching muscles
• A sore throat
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea

Links:

• Health 24
• Women's Health
• Female Life
• Fertilitree
• Nearly Illicit Magazine Online (Medical Corner)

Last Update: 24 August 2010