Menstrual Cycle

  You must have heard that regular menstrual cycle is compulsory for health of females. For healthy and well functioning body it is required for every female to have regular menstruation during her reproductive phase. Reproductive phase is the time period during which a female is able to achieve pregnancy. Menstrual cycle begins at the age of 10 - 14 years of age and stopped at the age of 40-45 years. In between this age group every female should have regular menstrual cycle that is after interval of 28 days. Early arrival of periods or delay is normal but only for 2-3 days. Delay in menstrual cycle for more than this, for example, 10-15 days may be a symbol of pregnancy or any type of hormonal or biological disorder. According to estimates, in India more than 40% women are suffering from irregular menstrual cycle.

What Is Menstruation?

As we have talked earlier, menstruation is a normal vaginal bleeding that occurs in a part of a woman's monthly cycle or menstrual cycle. The time at which the female is bleeding is known as menstruation and commonly called periods. When a girl attains puberty, her body undergo through several changes, menstruation is one of such changes. Menstruation or period occurs because the innermost layer of uterus, i.e., endometrium prepare itself to nourish thee fertilized egg or ovum, if the ovum is not fertilized it (endometrium) degenerates itself and shed all the blood collected the nourish fertilized ovum and prepare itself for the next menstrual cycle.

 If any woman is not having menstruation even for a single month without achieving pregnancy then it may be a problematic issue and immediately consult it with a doctor.

Importance Of Menstruation

Having regular menstrual cycle is a sign of healthy and well functioning body of a female. If you have achieved pregnancy and not having menstruation then it is normal, but if you are not  pregnant and not having regular menstruation then it is a issue of concern.

 Menstruation starts because of some hormonal changes in the body, if you are not getting your menstruation till the age of 15 years or having irregular menstrual cycle there are chances of some hormonal disorder or vaginal disease that should be consulted with doctor.

Normal Menstruation

Most of the females don't even know when it is needed to be consult with doctor and what is normal?

1. Normal Menstruation

Your menstrual cycle is normal if:

• If menstruation is started at the age of 10 to 14 years
• If periods are early or delayed 2-3 days
• Cycle occur at the interval of 26-29 days
• Bleed for 3-7 days

      2. Abnormal Menstruation

Your menstrual cycle is not normal if:

• Menstruation is not started till the age of 15 years of age
• If bleeding last for 7-10 days or more and 1-2 days
• Not having regular menstruation
• Heavy bleeding than usual

Menstruation And Hygiene

 

 According to a study, only 57.6% women in India use sanitary napkins and almost 23 million girls drop out school annually after they started their menstruation. 

If we are talking about menstrual hygiene then sanitary napkins, tampons, menstrual cups are must, because most of the females suffer from vaginal infection because of not adopting proper hygiene and sanitation during menstruation. To avoid vaginal or uterine infection, every female should adopt a few menstrual hygiene habits, that are, below listed:

• Don't use clothes instead of sanitary napkins
• Change napkins after 5-7 hours
• Wash your vagina properly
• Don't use soaps or vaginal hygiene products
• Discard used sanitation properly.