Knowing what's going on in your body is key to better understanding how your period is going. Menstruation or periods, are normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of the female menstrual cycle. Every month, the female body prepares for pregnancy. The lining of your uterus thickens, an egg develops and is released from one of your ovaries. In the absence of pregnancy, the hormone level (estrogen and progesterone) drops. The uterine lining (endometrium) that had previously formed crumbles to be then evacuated through the vagina. It is the arrival of the rules.
Understanding The Menstrual Cycle
The first period usually begins around the age of 11 and 14 but may occur a few years earlier or a few years later. The arrival of menstruation means that your body is ready for a possible pregnancy. For most women, periods occur once a month in a relatively regular and predictable cycle. Periods are an integral part of this menstrual cycle, which usually lasts 21 to 35 days. Periods or menstrual bleeding begin about 14 days after ovulation and last on average 3 to 5 days, the most severe bleeding being observed during the first two days. Then the whole cycle begins again and repeats itself approximately 400 to 450 fois until the arrival of menopause which marks the end of menstruation.
What Happens During The Menstrual Cycle?
In the first half of the menstrual cycle, your estrogen levels rise causing the uterine lining to grow and thicken. In response to follicle stimulating hormone, an egg begins to mature in one of the ovaries. Around day 14 of your menstrual cycle, in response to a surge of luteinizing hormone, the egg leaves the ovary. That's what we call ovulation. It is during this phase that we notice in particular a lot of white discharge.
In the second half of the menstrual cycle, the egg begins to travel through the fallopian tube to the uterus. The levels of progesterone increase and help prepare the uterine lining for pregnancy. If the egg is fertilized by a spermatozoon, it then attaches itself to the uterine wall to develop. When the egg is not fertilized, it is broken down or absorbed by the body. Levels estrogen and progesterone drops and the thickened uterine lining to accommodate the egg (endometrium) is eliminated and then evacuated from the body. It is the appearance of the rules and the beginning of a new cycle. In the days and weeks before your period starts, you may notice minor but very unpleasant emotional and physical changes in day-to-day life. This condition is officially called premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Which Hygienic Protections For Periods?
