Somewhere around your teenage years, you will begin to menstruate. Also, known as 'getting your periods'.
Menstruation is the periodic bleeding that occurs monthly in a woman's body, also known as 'menses' or 'periods'.
But don't be worried!
Menstruation is a natural and physiological process, a healthy sign that you are growing up and becoming a woman. When a girl menstruates, a bloody (but harmless) fluid called menstrual blood dribbles out of the vaginal opening.
It is a woman’s monthly cycle of natural bleeding. Most menstrual periods last from three to five days.
In the initial years, the menstrual cycle takes time to become regular. You may get your period for one day or sometimes more. It might become a monthly occurrence or occur with longer gaps between each. It takes the body one to two years to get used to the changes and become more predictable with the menstrual cycle.
During menstruation, the body sheds the lining of the uterus. The menstrual blood flows from uterus, through the small opening in the cervix, and passes out of the body through vagina. It is a sign that your body is healthy!
Menstrual cycle is the series of changes that occurs in the uterus and ovary for the purpose of having babies. It is repeated every month during women’s reproductive years. Each time a woman has her period, a new cycle begins and first day of bleeding is called Day 1 of the cycle. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days* long (but it could be as short as 20 days and as long as 30-35 days, depending on your body).
Menstruation is part of the menstrual cycle, which prepares your body for pregnancy each month. A cycle is counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next period.
Here mentioned the detailed phases of Menstrual Cycle:
The Menstrual phase is the first part of the menstrual cycle. In this phase, the uterus sheds its inner lining of soft tissues and blood vessels through the vagina in the form of menstrual blood.
This is the second phase of menstrual cycle. In this phase, the ovaries grow new egg cells in a sac-like structure called follicles. While the egg cells are maturing, a new layer of soft tissues and blood vessels are developed in the uterus.
In this phase, a mature egg is released from the ovarian follicles into the oviduct. This egg cell is taken into the fallopian tube and stays there. After about a day, an unfertilized egg will disintegrate or dissolve in the fallopian tube.
Which of the two ovaries—left or right—ovulates appears essentially random; no known left and right co-ordination exists. Occasionally, both ovaries will release an egg; if both eggs are fertilized, the result is fraternal twins.
The luteal phase is the final phase of the ovarian cycle.
The egg cell stays in fallopian tube for 24 hours. If a sperm cell does not impregnate the egg cell within that time, the egg cell disintegrates. Because of this, progesterone levels drop and the stimulation for the lining is lost. This causes the lining to shed as a new menstrual cycle starts.
The loss of the corpus luteum can be prevented by fertilization of the egg. If you become pregnant during your period, fertilization will occur within 24 hours of ovulation.
If any aspect of your menstrual cycle worries you, do not hesitate to consult a doctor.
Poor menstrual hygiene can cause fungal infections, Reproductive Tract Infection (RTI) and Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Unhygienic practices also leave women vulnerable to infertility.
The biggest barrier to adoption of quality sanitary pads in India turned out to be 'affordability' and 'accessibility'. Nearly 70 percent of women said that their families cannot afford sanitary pads.
Review article 'Relation between poor menstrual practices and cervical cancer.'