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In simple terms, it’s when the vagina discharges blood and other tissue approximately once a month. The scientific term is menstruation: the final phase in a woman or girl’s menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle is the natural process that occurs in the reproductive system that allows a woman to become pregnant. When she does not become pregnant, she has her period.

The word “menstrual” comes from the Latin word “menses” which translates to month. So, to put it simply, it is a monthly cycle.

The menstrual cycle and period symptoms that go along with it are totally normal. This is because a healthy girl or woman has two ovaries, both of which contain eggs.
Throughout the course of the menstrual cycle, these eggs mature and travel from the ovaries through the fallopian tubes and to the uterus. All the while, the lining of the uterus is thickening to prepare for the possibility of pregnancy.
If sperm does fertilize the egg, the egg will land on the uterus’ spongey tissue to grow. If not, the body releases the tissue, blood and mature eggs. This is what looks like your period.

Period symptoms don’t occur throughout the entire menstrual cycle, or else you would be bloated and grumpy every day. In fact, they can occur at various points to varying degrees, depending on the woman. Here are the four major stages in the menstrual cycle, which can last between 21 and 35 days according to the National Institute of Health:
Follicular Phase: The ovaries produce follicles to safeguard the eggs while the uterine lining thickens.
Ovulation Phase: The mature egg travels from the ovaries through the fallopian tube, ending up in the uterus.
Luteal Phase: The body releases extra estrogen and progesterone to prepare for possible fertilization
Menstruation Phase: Your period begins, releasing tissue, blood, and eggs. Typically, a woman menstruates between 4 and 8 days.
Most women are not consciously aware of the ovulation phase, which typically happens between Day 11 and Day 21 of a woman’s menstrual cycle. What may seem like menstruation--spotting before period, cramping, bloating--may just be symptoms of ovulation.
The majority of period symptoms occur between Days 14 and throughout the menstrual cycle.

When do most girls get their period? Most girls get their first period when they're between 10 and 15 years old. The average age is 12, but every girl's body has its own schedule. Although there's no one right age for a girl to get her period, there are some clues that it will start soon.

For most women, it goes on for 3 to 5 days. If that’s not you, don’t worry. One can last as few as 2 days or as many as 7. If you're bleeding more than 7 days in a row, talk to your doctor.

Typically, a woman will lose 2-3 tablespoons of blood during this time, according to the centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Keep in mind that tampons or pads are designed to soak up blood, so it may appear to be more than that.
The amount of blood a woman loses during her period is unique to her and may change throughout her life. For example, when she enters perimenopause, she may bleed more or less. If you are concerned that you are bleeding excessively, passing large blood clots or have any other questions, please contact your physician.

Considering Menstrual blood as impure and menstruating women as impure has been a result of a lot of misconceptions, taboos and practices which has been followed by people all around the world without being aware of the actual cause. While a woman is menstruating, to make sure that the girl/woman gets proper rest, she was not allowed to work in the kitchen or do any household work, some time a girl/woman would also be sent to separate huts to spend their time in privacy and peacefully.
All these precautions got exaggeration and one started assuming that since a girl is impure during her periods so she should be secluded. Menstrual Discharge looks dirty and when it stays in contact with air it begins to give out a foul smell. Menstrual discharge is accompanied by abdominal pain in some women. All of this too makes the menstrual fluid appear as dirt, something that the body rejects and thus a menstruating woman is impure and anything she touches becomes impure.
Scientifically, menstrual blood is a uterine lining made of tissue and blood vessels. This lining is called endometrium, if the egg(ovum) gets fertilized this lining nourishes the embryo. So, logically this fluid that comes during one period is a source of life for the embryo, so instead of it being impure, it has the capability of giving life.
In the Palaeolithic era, the menstrual blood was considered fertile and it was sprinkled on their farm to ensure a good harvest. Biologically menstrual fluid is a mixture of tissues and blood vessels and there is nothing impure about it, it does not contain a smell of its own, it gives a foul smell only after it comes in contact with the air outside the body.
Generally, the restrictions are imposed by the older generations of female members of the family and this is how the myths are passed from one generation to the other, however, busting these myths is one's personal choice and responsibility. It’s an irony that the mothers and grandmothers suffer because of the existing myths and they make their daughters follow the same restrictions and pass on the same discomfort.

Yep! During your period, it’s important to keep yourself fresh and clean. They’re a simple way to stay feel feminine and fresh. Always Incredibly Thin Liners and Always Xtra Protection Liners are great choices for daily liners that help you feel dry, fresh and confident every day.

Your period doesn’t have to stop you from doing things you usually do. You can still go to school, help at home, see your friends, play sports and do all the things you’d normally do. Tip: See the whole line of Always products so you can pick the best fit for your lifestyle and flow.

Sanitary napkins come in different absorbencies. Using a higher absorbency napkin would prevent any leakage and keep the region between the legs dry. Other than sanitary napkins there are tampons and menstrual cups that are used to absorb the menstrual flow. Here is a comparison of these products.
Usage
A Sanitary napkin is worn between the vulva and the underpants whereas a tampon and menstrual cup are worn inside the vagina. Sanitary napkins and tampons absorb the menstrual fluid but the menstrual cup collects the menstrual fluid.
Convenience
New users find sanitary napkins easy to use as it is the least intrusive among the three options. Tampons and especially menstrual cups however take some practice to get used to. If worn properly one does not feel the tampon or the menstrual cup inside. It is obvious that all three products need to be changed regularly; however, menstrual cups can be worn for a longer time (12 hours) while tampons should not be worn for longer than 8 hours at a stretch. Sanitary napkins need to be changed once it is fully soaked. Disposable sanitary napkins and tampons need to be disposed of after one use while menstrual cups are reused and can last as much as 10 years if proper care is taken.
Affordability While purchasing, menstrual cups seem to be the most expensive followed by tampons and then the napkins; however, the reusability of menstrual cups over a period of 10 years makes them the least expensive of the three. There are reusable sanitary napkins made of cloth also available.
Side effects
Tampons worn for a long time can cause a potentially fatal illness called toxic shock syndrome.
How often should I change pads/tampons/cups during the period?
The frequency of changing your sanitary pad depends on the amount of your discharge. You can change it more frequently if the bleeding is heavy. Change it when you feel damp, your pad is saturated or if you are not feeling comfortable. You can use a different type of sanitary pad for days with heavy flow and another one for the day when you experience less discharge. In general, you should change it once every six hours.
If you are using tampons, change them every two hours. It is very important to change tampons frequently as you insert the tampon into your vagina. If it is left for a long period of time in the vagina it can lead to a medical condition known as Toxic Shock Syndrome or TSS, where bacteria infect your body and send your body into shock. TSS can cause serious damage to your body and even death.

Avoid these foods:
Food containing Caffeine: chocolate, caffeinated soda, tea and coffee
Fatty and fried foods
Salty and sour foods containing high amounts of sodium: pickles, canned food, chips, snacks, salted popcorn, and Asian food made with sauces.
Sugary foods like candy
Dairy products like milk, cheese, buttermilk, yoghurt
Red meat
Include these in your diet:
Food rich in omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, tuna, walnuts, flax seeds
Calcium and magnesium rich foods: Broccoli and fortified cereals
Foods rich in vitamin C: Green leafy vegetables, zucchini, tomatoes, oranges, lemon, strawberry
Fresh fruits
Whole grains
Green tea, peppermint tea
Drink plenty of water
Explanation:
Menstrual Cramps are caused due to the contractions of the uterine and abdominal muscles to expel the menstrual fluid out of the body. These muscle contractions are caused by certain chemicals called prostaglandins. Dairy products and red meat contain arachidonic acids that instigate the production of cramp causing prostaglandins. Food rich in omega-3 fatty acids inhibits the release of cramp causing prostaglandins. Calcium and magnesium have been found to relieve menstrual cramps. Bloating is caused by excessive water retention by the body. Salted, processed and canned food contain high amounts of sodium. Consuming such food causes bloating. Consuming fibre rich food like whole grain cereals and vegetables and drinking plenty of water alleviates bloating. Green leafy vegetables provide iron to the body which prevents iron deficiency anaemia. Consuming vitamin-C increases iron absorption by the body.
One of the best ways to get relief from cramps besides modifying your diet is to increase your activities as it improves blood and oxygen circulation in the body helping in lessening the cramps. Taking an orgasm releases oxytocin which is the body's own pain reliever and can provide relief from cramps.

Spotting is light bleeding from the vagina outside of menstruation. Sometimes, spotting may be a different colour than regular blood (think: brown versus red). There are many reasons for spotting, including:
Ovulation. It is common for some women to experience spotting as part of their monthly menstrual cycle. This is because when the ovaries release an egg, a small follicle breaks. Ovulation may include light cramping.
Hormonal birth control: The pill or the hormonal IUD may contribute to the spot during the first few months of use. If spotting begins after several months of use, contact a doctor.
Health issues: These could include injuries, miscarriage, uterine polyps, and others. If you have any concerns regarding your health please contact a physician as soon as possible.

Every woman experiences menstruation differently. For over 90% of women of reproductive age, that means dealing with the emotional and physical side-effects that come along with it once a month. We also have an article dedicated to dealing with PMS.
Here are a few of the most common:
Abdominal cramps
Acne
Anxiety
Bloating
Changes in appetite
Constipation
Depression
Digestive troubles (diarrhoea or constipation)
Drowsiness
Cravings
Irritability
Insomnia
Tender breasts
Keep in mind that every woman’s body is different. If you are concerned about the period symptoms you’re experiencing, please contact a licensed medical professional.

The hormones estrogen and progesterone are responsible for the emotional changes that a woman may experience. This is because these hormones affect serotonin levels in the brain, which can control mood, digestive health, and other important processes.

Use a heating pad on your lower back or stomach. Increasing hydration and avoiding caffeine can help. And a warm bath might help you feel better, too

Many, many women feel bloating during their periods. The tummy feels full and tight to touch and might even be painful or at least cause some discomfort.
It is also common to pass gas frequently just before and during the days of menstruation. There are also women who experience intestinal symptoms which affect bowel movements – yes, the so-called period poop.
But why do women get so bloated and gassy during periods? It has a perfectly logical – albeit not very satisfactory – explanation. Read on!

During your cycle, a lot happens in your body, not just the week of your actual period. Hormones (and the changes caused by them) cause Pre-Menstrual Syndrome, stress, pain, and a myriad of symptoms. And – you might see where this is going – being bloated and gassy during your period is also due to hormones.
Oestrogen is ready to cause trouble
During your cycle, the levels of the hormone oestrogen will rise, peak, and then decrease. Simple, right? Well, not so much. Oestrogen peaks around the 14th day of your cycle and then decrease steadily, but while doing it, it really does a number on your intestine. Oestrogen affects the receptors in your stomach and small intestine. Specifically, oestrogen reduces bowel motility, which means food moves more slowly through your intestine.
As such, it is common to experience some flatulence and constipation. And since your intestine is not working properly, there’s a build-up of gas which causes bloating. And so is progesterone
As you know, progesterone levels will start rising and peak in the days before your period. As it happens, progesterone also has an effect on your intestines by either causing reduced bowel motility, like oestrogen, which translates into flatulence, bloating and constipation, or by causing diarrhoea. We know, why can’t our hormones give us a break, right? But that’s not all. High levels of progesterone can also trigger liquid retention which causes further bloating.
What even are prostaglandins?
Yep, the party’s not ready without prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are eicosanoids but since this is not a pop quiz, let’s just say that they act just like hormones, but aren’t hormones. Prostaglandins help your uterus contract to shed its lining every month since one of their functions is to help muscles contract. Well, it happens that sometimes prostaglandins cause your intestines to contract as well, and this worsens gas build-up. And this is how you get bloating.
As you can see, a powerful combination of oestrogen, progesterone and prostaglandins is causing you to be bloated and gassy during your period. Sometimes birth control helps, but you should talk to your doctor.

We're not sure what exactly causes cravings and other PMS symptoms, but it seems like hormones are involved. Some women really want foods like ice cream, chocolate, and potato chips when their period comes. Need something sweet? Reach for fruits instead. Want fatty, fried, or greasy foods? Choose healthier fatty foods like salmon, nuts, or avocado.

Premenstrual syndrome or PMS is a group of symptoms that occur in women, typically between ovulation and a period. The cause isn't fully understood but likely involves changes in hormones during the menstrual cycle. Symptoms include mood swings, tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue, irritability and depression.

You may want to exercise, skip salty foods, and cut back on caffeine the week before your period. If your mood is still tricky, talk to your doctor. They may suggest you take medication.

Irregular menstrual cycles are common. Here are a few potential reasons:
Stress, dietary changes, and increased exercise: Can all cause a missed period. If you are concerned that you are not eating enough or exercising excessively, please contact a physician.
Pregnancy: Pregnancy is also possible. A missed period is one of the most common signs that a woman may be pregnant. If you believe yourself to be pregnant, please contact a doctor.
New birth control: Trying out a new form of hormonal birth control (think: a hormonal IUD or the pill) may affect your period as your body adjusts to new hormonal balances.

Technically, yes, you can get pregnant on your period. Every woman’s cycle is different, and if you happen to ovulate early on in your cycle, it’s possible you could get pregnant. For example, say you have unprotected sex on the last day of your period (day four), then you ovulate on day six. Sperm can live for up to five days in your reproductive tract, so there is a slight chance that sperm could find its way to a released egg.

Not always. Sometimes women can still bleed early in their pregnancy. If the bleeding doesn't seem like a regular period, or if you're nauseated or tired, you may want to see your doctor or take a pregnancy test.

Girls generally get their periods around the same time as their mothers did. So you can start telling your daughter about menstruation a year before she is expected to get her first period. Or else when she turns 9. If your daughter is old enough to ask about something, she is old enough to know about it.
Here I am providing you with 7 tips to keep in mind while talking to your daughter about periods:
Refresh your own knowledge. Get your facts straight and be able to explain them well before explaining them to your daughter. Your daughter could be curious about many things like why does menstruation happen (or even how is it related to fertility)? How does it feel? What to do if she gets her periods etc. If she asks a question that you don't know the answer to, tell her so, find out the answers and get back to her. Or even better involve her in finding the answers may be by referring to a website or book together. That way she'll also know other sources of information that are accurate and would not have to only depend on you for answering her curiosity.
Have small conversations at the right moment. It is important to not tell your daughter everything in one go as this would overwhelm her with information overload and more likely to scare and confuse her but instead tell her over many small conversations. Answer her curiosity on this subject and arouse curiosity if possible. You can use TV ads or packs of sanitary napkins or tampons as a way to arouse curiosity and trigger a conversation. It is quite possible that your daughter already knows more than you think. Ask her what she already knows, build on top of it or corrects her if what she knows is not correct. This way you can keep it casual for yourself as well as your daughter.
Use diagrams to explain complex concepts. You might like to explain certain topics using a diagram. For that, you can use Menstrupedia's Quick Guide. It will also give you an idea of all the topics that you should address for your daughter.
Share your experience. Share your stories of periods and keep them positive. How did you deal with your first period? Were you at home or the school etc? These stories will help your daughter become psychologically prepared for her periods. She will feel comfortable that she is not the only one to have to go through this. Sharing your experience projects you as a person who has gone through it herself and therefore understands how to deal with it and it will also help your daughter connect with you at a more intimate level.
Instil body positive attitude. Give your daughter reasons to like her body and the way she is. Make her feel proud of herself. Never instil shame, it will do long-lasting harm to her self-confidence and self-esteem. Maybe you can plan a private celebration with your daughter when she gets her first period. Take her out for a treat or buy her a gift or prepare her, her favourite meal! Make her first period a memorable and cherished moment.
Give her a book about menstruation. It is a good idea to leave her with a book on this topic that she can read in her own private time and go through it at her own pace.
Tell her about different products to manage periods. This is so that she is not clueless when she does get her periods.
It is very important that you remain your daughter's primary and most accessible source of information and therefore keep your conversation with your daughter on this topic comfortable and friendly.
Hope this helps!

Menopause is the time when a woman has not menstruated for 12 months straight. It is preceded by a time called perimenopause during which her period is irregular. Perimenopause can last several years. Menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.

A woman’s menstrual cycle is very personal and highly individual. What’s considered a “normal” period for one woman may be extremely abnormal for another. Some women seem to be blessed with light periods and a little discomfort, while others struggle with naturally heavy bleeding and pain.
“Heavy bleeding, or menorrhagia, is common among women and one of the most common problems I hear about from my patients,” says board-certified obstetrician and gynaecologist Stephanie Shisler, M.D., a gynaecologist and physician on the medical staff at Texas Health Rockwall. “In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that heavy bleeding affects more than 10 million women in the U.S. each year. This means that about one out of every five women experiences problematic periods.”
“What many women do not know is that many options are available to treat menorrhagia,” Shisler adds. “Additionally, some women do not seek help because they are too embarrassed to talk with a doctor about their problem. Speaking openly with your doctor is very important in making sure you are diagnosed properly to get the optimum treatment.”
So how does a woman determine what is a normal menstrual period and what isn’t? When is it time to discuss concerns with your gynaecologist?
On average, menstrual bleeding lasts about 4 to 5 days and the amount of blood lost is small — between 2 and 3 tablespoons. However, women who have menorrhagia usually bleed for more than 7 days and lose twice as much blood. Shisler recommends using these guidelines in determining when a doctor’s visit is most likely in order:
Have a menstrual flow that soaks through one or more pads or tampons every hour for several hours in a row
Need to double up on protection to control your menstrual flow
Need to change pads or tampons during the night
Have menstrual periods lasting more than 7 days
Have a heavy menstrual flow that keeps you from doing the things you would do normally
Have constant pain in the lower part of the stomach during your periods
Are tired, lack energy or are short of breath
Just as the menstrual cycle is unique to each individual, so too are the potential causes of heavy bleeding. A woman may experience menorrhagia due to a hormone imbalance, non-cancerous uterine fibroids or polyps, problems related to pregnancy (miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy) or cancer of the uterus or cervix. Pelvic inflammatory disease and other more minor infections can also cause increased menstrual bleeding.
“The type of treatment I recommend will depend on the cause of the excessive bleeding and how serious it is,” says Shisler. “To evaluate the problem, I will obtain a comprehensive medical history and perform a thorough physical. I may request a blood test, Pap test, endometrial biopsy or ultrasound. Factors such as age, general health, and a woman’s wants and needs are also considerations in determining a treatment plan. For example, some women want to make sure they can still have children in the future. Others want to lessen the pain more than they care to reduce the amount of bleeding and some women do not want to have a period at all. I always discuss all treatment options with a woman and, together, we can decide which is best for her.”
Shisler points out that a variety of treatment options exist for the various causes of heavy menstrual bleeding. Lifestyle modifications, including weight loss, can be helpful. Iron supplements may be prescribed to help ease anaemia associated with heavy blood loss. Birth control pills and other hormonal options can help lighten and shorten menstrual flow as well as ease pain. And in more severe cases, surgical options such as hysterectomy and endometrial ablation to remove all or part of the endometrial lining of the uterus may be considered.
Left untreated, heavy or prolonged bleeding can stop you from living your life to the fullest. The good news is that it’s relatively easy to re-establish and maintain a healthy, regular cycle when you give your body the right support and seek the help of a qualified doctor.