What Is Menstruation and Why Do Menstruation Occur?
In this article, we will discuss what is menstruation, why it occurs and problems during menses. Menstruation is the monthly discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus of a woman. It is also called the monthly period or menses. It is normal and healthy and not a sign that something is wrong. A girl generally begins to menstruate when she begins puberty. The average age of menstruation is 13 years. Women during menstruation need to use sanitary pads to soak up the menstrual flow.
Menses usually lasts between two to eight days and happens once a month. Normal bleeding lasts from 3 to 5 days. The average menstrual period is four days and the amount of blood discharged varies from one to five ounces.
It normally happens every month between puberty and menopause but not while the woman is breastfeeding or pregnant. It occurs because sex hormones make the endometrium grow thicker and get soft and spongy, ready to receive a fertilized ovum. If no ovum is fertilized the thickened edometrium is not needed, so it breaks away from the uterus and passes out of the female organ together with a little blood during the monthly period. After menses, the endometrium starts to thicken again and the whole menstrual cycle repeats itself.
If a woman has indulged in unprotected intercourse and her menstrual period stops, she might be pregnant and should see a doctor. About 50% of women do not menstruate while they are breastfeeding the baby.
Many girls and women have no problem when they menstruate. But some get an ache or cramp and pain in their lower abdomen before and during menses. Some women and girls also get sore breasts, have a headache and feel tired.
Some girls and women have the same problem every time, whenever they have their monthly period. The problem usually starts a week or two before the menstrual period. They vary from woman to woman but include things like mood swings, depression, anxiety, headaches, feeling bloated, sore breasts, feeling dizzy, putting on weight, and a craving for starchy and sweet food items. The problems usually go away after the menstrual period starts and then come back again before the next one starts.
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