Period Facts: Your Menstrual Cycle
Curious about what menstruation is all about? Here are a
few quick facts to help you out.
Menstruation is another term for your monthly period — which
is when a woman’s uterus sheds tissue, fluid and blood it no longer needs. The word
"menstruation" comes from menses — the Latin word for "month." If you’ve heard friends
talk about "that time of the month," you can probably guess they are talking about
being on their period.
menstrual cycle is the
time between the first day of one period and the first day of your next period —
usually about a month. The average cycle lasts 28 days, but anywhere between 21
and 35 days is normal.
Quick Menstruation Facts
You may see a clear or whitish fluid in your underwear. This
is vaginal discharge and is a sign that your period is on its way.
The average period releases about 4-12 teaspoons of menstrual
fluid and only a small amount of that is blood. However, your flow can change throughout
your menstrual cycle where some days are lighter or heavier than others.
Getting your period is a normal, healthy and positive part
of growing up!
Each of your two ovaries holds thousands of eggs, and you
are born with all the eggs you’ll ever have!
Everyone’s menstrual cycle is different. Keep track of your
unique cycle with a calendar, or our Period Calculator, to help you prepare
for your next period.
Have questions about this article? Ask us
here. And be sure to
share this article with your friends using #BGmenstruation.
Read about menstruation and learn helpful tips for dealing with your period from BeingGirl.