Menstruation is normal vaginal bleeding that is a natural part of a woman’s monthly cycle. Let’s find out why does menstruation occur in this article!
Contents
Why do women menstruate?
Every month, during the years between puberty (usually ages 11 to 14) and menopause (usually around age 51), the body gets ready for pregnancy. The lining of the uterus thickens and an egg develops and is released from one of the ovaries. If the egg is not fertilized, the body doesn’t need the thicker lining of the uterus.
When not pregnant, estrogen and progesterone levels drop, eventually reaching levels that signal a woman’s body to start menstruating. During a woman’s menstrual period, the uterus sheds its lining and it, along with some blood, is expelled from the body through the vagina. That is menstrual blood.
A normal woman loses about 50-80ml of blood after each menstrual cycle. The time between periods (last day to the first day) usually averages 28 days, with bleeding usually lasting about 4 to 5 days. However, people can experience longer periods between periods, fewer or more bleeding days, and still have perfectly regular periods.
Menstrual disorders
Menstrual disorders are problems that affect a woman’s normal menstrual cycle. These include cramping, pain during your period, and unusually heavy or no bleeding:
- Dysmenorrhea is cramping pain during menstruation.
- Premenstrual syndrome is the physical and psychological symptoms that occur before menstruation.
- Menorrhagia is heavy bleeding, including prolonged periods or excessive bleeding for a normal length of time.
- Dysmenorrhea is irregular bleeding, especially between menstrual cycles.
- Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation.
- Menstrual irregularities include light, light menstrual periods.
Women experience menstruation very differently. It is important that you contact your doctor if you have questions about:
- Regular cycle: Is it regular every month, irregular, or no period?
- Duration: Is it stretched, or characteristic?
- The volume of Menstrual Flow: Heavy, Light, or Characteristic?
Stages in a Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle of each person starts from the time of puberty (about 12 – 17 years old) until the end of menopause (about 45 – 55 years old). A menstrual cycle consists of the following phases:
Menstrual phase
This is the first phase of the menstrual cycle. It is also known as the menstrual period. This stage occurs when an egg in the previous cycle is not fertilized or pregnancy does not occur. At that time, the lining of the uterus is shed and leaves the body through the vagina, the levels of Estrogen and Progesterone decrease, the egg will be released along with blood, mucus, uterine lining and blood. menstrual cycle formation.
At this stage, your body may appear some symptoms such as menstrual pain, chest pain, lower back pain, headache, easy anger, mood swings, etc. Menstrual period signal.
Typically, a menstrual period lasts from 3 to 7 days, but many people may have shorter or longer periods.
Follicular phase
This phase occurs parallel to the menstrual period. The follicular phase begins when the first day of the menstrual cycle occurs and ends with ovulation.
The pituitary gland will be signaled to release the follicle-stimulating hormone. This hormone stimulates the ovaries to produce 5 to 20 small follicles, each containing an immature egg. The remaining immature eggs will be reabsorbed into the body.
Mature follicles alter estrogen levels and thicken the uterine lining to create a nutrient-rich environment that facilitates conception and fetal formation.
Ovulation phase
This is the only stage in your cycle where you can get pregnant. When the ovaries release a mature egg, the egg travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus and is fertilized by sperm.
Ovulation occurs on the 14th day of the menstrual cycle. Within 24 hours, the possibility of pregnancy will take place. During this time, if not fertilized, the egg dies or dissolves inside the body.
Luteal phase
This phase occurs when the follicle releases an egg. The body then releases the hormone Progesterone and some estrogen. High levels of this hormone help thicken the lining of the uterus and prepare it for the next fertilization process.
In case fertilization occurs, the hormone gonadotropin will maintain the corpus luteum and keep the uterine lining thickened, ensuring a safe pregnancy.
In the absence of pregnancy, the corpus luteum contracts and is reabsorbed into the body. Estrogen and Progesterone levels drop, and a new menstrual cycle begins. At that time, the lining of the uterus will shed along with blood, eggs and vaginal fluids to form menstruation. The luteal phase usually lasts 11 to 17 days. If you’re not pregnant, you’ll experience some of the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Specifically like:
- The chest is swollen and painful
- Mood swings
- Stomach bloating, flatulence
- Difficulty sleeping, insomnia
- Sexual desire is changed
- Appetite
Can menstruation disappear?
Menstruation may stop when the following occur:
Birth control pills: If a woman takes the Pill every day, after a year, there’s about a 70% chance of stopping her period.
Hormone injections: Hormone injections can affect a woman’s fertility for up to 22 months. After a year, there’s about a 50 to 60% chance of stopping your cycle; about 70% after 2 years.
Hormonal IUD: If you use an IUD after one year, there is a 50% chance of stopping your period.
Arm implant: With an arm implant, a woman’s chance of stopping her period is about 20% after 2 years.
Not all women have periods:
The reason menstruation occurs regularly every month is that the female reproductive endocrine system works in harmony, including the uterus, ovaries, pituitary gland, and hypothalamus.
A woman’s period is a natural occurrence. It’s part of a woman’s body preparing for pregnancy. Every month that a woman is not pregnant, her body sheds tissue that is no longer needed to nourish the fertilized egg.
If you experience inconsistencies such as changes in the regularity, frequency, duration, or volume of your periods, talk to your gynecologist to find out why.
Final thought
Many women may not be fully aware of what happens during their menstrual cycle. The body prepares for pregnancy and releases an egg cell that outgrows other egg cells. If the egg is not fertilized, it will follow the blood and the lining of the uterus out of the body through the vagina, then the cycle is repeated. Those are the basics of a menstrual cycle.
If a woman is planning a pregnancy, in addition to learning about the ovulation process to make a rational decision to have sex. But both husband and wife need to check the fertility situation 3-5 months before getting pregnant to make sure the couple’s health is completely good to prepare for a healthy pregnancy.
Top News hopes this article can help you know more about why does menstruation occurs and wishes your health is always in the best condition!
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