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Menstruation is the hallmark of every girl’s life, it is when it passes the phase of child to woman. It is in it that the miracle of life surrounds itself and the possibility of the woman generating a life inside her womb.
When we think of menstruation, we think of the monthly bleeding that every woman of childbearing age has. But how does everything happen and how does the body react to changes until it reaches this bleeding? How is the body preparing to receive an embryo and be able to generate a baby?
These are common doubts and are easily answered when we delve into the anatomy of the female reproductive system and all the magic of life that happens around all women.
What is Menstruation?
Menstruation is the blood expelled by the female body monthly , in each menstrual cycle. In fact, this blood is the scaling of the endometrium that is lodged in the internal uterine walls and comes off when fertilization does not occur.
The menstrual flow is composed of blood and waste from the endometrium. This bleeding lasts for an average of 3 to 7 days and can vary from woman to woman. Menstruation begins in a woman’s life at around 12 years of age ( menarche ), in some cases considered early, at 8 years of age and ends at the menopause stage at around 45 and 55 years of age.
In some cases it can be terminated early due to some hormonal problems and even surgical procedures , such as removal of the uterus (hysterectomy), where menstruation is stopped and the symptoms of menopause can occur.
While menstruation is present , it means that the woman is of childbearing age and can become pregnant at any time. Because it is part of the menstrual cycle and the entire preparation of the female reproductive system to generate a baby.
Menstruation Color and Texture
When we talk about menstrual blood we automatically think of red blood, which is bright in color, but that is not always the aspect it has, even though this is considered normal.
It is common for women to have streams with different coloring , such as dark red or brown tones known as brown sludge . Its texture can vary from liquid to gooey and this can be a sign of hormonal change, in the case of estrogen or progesterone.
In the case of menstruation of living blood, even though it is considered healthy, if the presence of small clots occurs , it can mean a small hormonal lack of control. If menstrual blood is reduced and pink in color, your endometrium may be more in tune than normal and there has not been enough stimulation for the endometrium to thicken and line the walls of the uterus.
Strong Menstrual Flow
The amount of menstrual flow varies from woman to woman, there is no rule, as well as the days of the cycle. Some have intense menstrual flow and longer durability , up to 8 days. It may seem scary, especially for those who need to change pads up to 6 times a day, but believe me, it is not!
The intense flow factor is not a concern, except for the woman’s discomfort, obviously. But what can trigger women’s health due to the intense flow out of the normal yes.
Excessive menstrual bleeding can trigger profound anemia, as well as iron deficiency, which can profoundly affect health. So, if you have a very strong flow, talk to your gynecologist to have regular tests to assess your health and if necessary use a treatment to control the flow.
Weak Menstrual Flow
There are also those considered lucky women, who in addition to menstruating for a few days (3, 4 days), still have a weak flow , without so many worries about leaks and even changing pads.
Normally the weak flow occurs in women who use the contraceptive , because it causes a reduction in the production of the endometrium, which makes the menstrual bleeding less.
Menstruation Symptoms
It is not very difficult to notice the differences in our body when menstruation is approaching. Since the symptoms are quite uncomfortable and evident , such as abdominal swelling and breast tenderness, in addition to terrible menstrual cramps.
Changes in mood, headaches, severe back pain and in some cases even a change in appetite, nausea and dizziness. Symptoms can vary from cycle to cycle and each woman often feels different from others. Some cycles can get more intense and in others it just doesn’t happen.
IMPORTANT: If PMS symptoms are so intense that they disrupt professional and social life, talk to your gynecologist about a control treatment.
Is menstruating more than once a month normal?
As we have already reported, menstruation is part of the menstrual cycle and it is common for it to occur monthly, only once a month. However, some women may suffer “from this visit” beyond expectations, occurring twice or more in the same month . But is it normal?
And the answer is: it depends. Considering that a menstrual cycle usually lasts for 28 days, we affirm that the normal thing is that menstruation occurs only once a month . But we know that some women have a shorter menstrual cycle and depending on the month there may be a “little visit” of menstruation twice in the same month.
For example, if the woman’s cycle lasts for 25 days, it will be natural for menstruation to occur at the beginning of the month and also at the end, giving the impression of having menstruated twice in the same month.
But, if it is not your case and you have a regular cycle of 28 days or more, and it is happening that menstruation comes more often or even has small escapes during the cycle, we recommend that the cause be investigated.
Main Causes of Uncontrolled Menstrual Cycle
One of the main responsible for the uncontrolled hormone levels of women today is the contraceptive . Small leaks can occur throughout the cycle or even until the body gets used to the hormonal dosage of the medication.
If the problem persists for many months, it is necessary to talk to the gynecologist and perhaps change the contraceptive so that the body can adapt to the new dosage.
Another very common cause is the presence of fibroids in the uterus . In some cases, the fibroid can develop inside or outside the uterus, causing changes in the cycle and causing irregularity, in addition to leaks between one menstruation and another.
Polycystic ovaries or ovarian cysts are also on the list of causes of uncontrolled cycle. With proper treatment it is possible to control them and regulate the cycle again.
Another important factor is that of female sensitivity. As the woman is totally sensitive to external factors, this can also affect the menstrual cycle. Phases of a lot of stress, anxiety and even emotional crises can affect the proper functioning of the menstrual cycle.
How to Regular or Menstrual Cycle?
To regulate the menstrual cycle it is essential to visit your gynecologist . In order to prescribe the appropriate treatment, it will be necessary to know the cause of the uncontrolled cycle and, for that, exams will be requested.
Blood tests to assess specific hormone levels and ultrasounds will be essential for evaluation. If your doctor finds it necessary, he may order more detailed tests, but in general they are enough to obtain an accurate diagnosis and offer the correct treatment.
Usually the treatment follows the basis of contraceptives based on progesterone, testosterone and estrogen. Your gynecologist will see which method is most appropriate for your body.
Menstruation is part of the life of all women, so nothing better than knowing how our bodies work and knowing when something is not as expected. Recognizing symptoms and knowing when to seek medical help , in addition to keeping your health up to date and visiting your gynecologist on a regular basis, is a great way to have a healthy life.
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
