During the first year of menstruation, it is often irregular, occurring between 21 and 45 days apart and lasting for a few days. After about 3 years, it typically stabilizes, and you will have a more regular cycle, as we call it. Your menstruation will then occur between 21 and 34 days. It is good to keep track of this for yourself. Nowadays, there are several apps available that can easily help you track your menstrual cycle on your phone.
When is it advisable to see your doctor?
If you have any complaints, it is wise to visit a doctor. They can better assess if something is going on, and it is helpful to have recorded your menstruation in an app. Possible irregularities may include:
If you are still very irregular after 3 years of menstruating.
If you used to have a regular menstrual cycle and now suddenly it’s irregular.
When your menstruation lasts longer than 7 days.
If your menstruation occurs only once every 3 months or less.
If you experience very heavy bleeding during your menstruation.
The first signs that something is happening?
The first menstruation can be quite exciting and usually occurs in most girls around 11-13 years old. A few years before the first menstruation, hormones in your body start to become active. For most girls, breast development begins about 2 years before the first period, and hormones also cause hair growth under the armpits and around the pubic area.
What is menstruation, then?
When you menstruate, it means your body is ready to conceive a baby, which we also call being fertile. Each month, approximately halfway through your cycle (between two menstruations), an egg is released from your fallopian tubes in a process called ovulation. This is when you are fertile. During this time, a man’s sperm can fertilize the egg, and then the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining, which is built up monthly, to grow into an embryo and later a baby. If the egg is not fertilized, the body will shed the built-up uterine lining, resulting in menstruation. All these processes are controlled by your hormones, which we can discuss another time.
What symptoms might you experience?
Before or during your menstruation, you may experience the following symptoms:
Abdominal pain and cramps
Lower back pain
Headache
Swollen, painful breasts
Digestive issues, diarrhea
Mood swings, irritability
Fatigue
Some girls and women hardly experience any of these symptoms, while others may have many. Generally, it’s good to take a bit more rest during your menstruation. Often, your mood already indicates that you may prefer to withdraw a bit and rest; it’s essential to listen to your body.
Do you want to be prepared for your first menstruation? Maybe moodies is just what you are looking for. Take a look at our collection.
What happens in your body during your menstruation?
The first period of menstruation
During the first year of menstruation, it is often irregular, occurring between 21 and 45 days apart and lasting for a few days. After about 3 years, it typically stabilizes, and you will have a more regular cycle, as we call it. Your menstruation will then occur between 21 and 34 days. It is good to keep track of this for yourself. Nowadays, there are several apps available that can easily help you track your menstrual cycle on your phone.
When is it advisable to see your doctor?
If you have any complaints, it is wise to visit a doctor. They can better assess if something is going on, and it is helpful to have recorded your menstruation in an app. Possible irregularities may include:
The first signs that something is happening?
The first menstruation can be quite exciting and usually occurs in most girls around 11-13 years old. A few years before the first menstruation, hormones in your body start to become active. For most girls, breast development begins about 2 years before the first period, and hormones also cause hair growth under the armpits and around the pubic area.
What is menstruation, then?
When you menstruate, it means your body is ready to conceive a baby, which we also call being fertile. Each month, approximately halfway through your cycle (between two menstruations), an egg is released from your fallopian tubes in a process called ovulation. This is when you are fertile. During this time, a man’s sperm can fertilize the egg, and then the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining, which is built up monthly, to grow into an embryo and later a baby. If the egg is not fertilized, the body will shed the built-up uterine lining, resulting in menstruation. All these processes are controlled by your hormones, which we can discuss another time.
What symptoms might you experience?
Before or during your menstruation, you may experience the following symptoms:
Some girls and women hardly experience any of these symptoms, while others may have many. Generally, it’s good to take a bit more rest during your menstruation. Often, your mood already indicates that you may prefer to withdraw a bit and rest; it’s essential to listen to your body.
Do you want to be prepared for your first menstruation? Maybe moodies is just what you are looking for. Take a look at our collection.
Source: Menstruatie (ongesteld zijn) | De Gynaecoloog, Book “Mooi Rood is niet lelijk” by Paula Kragten.