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About Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is a series of changes that occur in a woman's body as part of the preparation for the possibility of pregnancy occurring. It is a cycle that usually begins between 12 and 15 years of age that continues up until menopause, which, on average, occurs at the age of 52. The menstrual cycle is typically counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next.

Understanding Your Cycle

A regular menstrual cycle is considered to be a menstrual cycle where the longest and shortest cycles vary by less than 8 days. The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. As part of the menstrual cycle, the lining of the uterus thickens, and an egg, which is required for pregnancy to occur, is produced.

Ovulation

The egg is released from the ovaries in a process called ovulation, which corresponds with the time during which a woman is most fertile (~5 days before ovulation, up through 1-2 days after ovulation). If the egg is not fertilized, pregnancy cannot happen, and the lining of the uterus will shed during a menstrual period, after which the cycle restarts.

Period

A period, a commonly used term for referring to menstruation, is a woman's regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue that occurs as part of the menstrual cycle. Bleeding and discharge of the mucosal lining of the uterus, through the vagina, usually lasts between 2 and 7 days.