What Is The Definition Of Menstrual Cycle: Stages, Symptoms, Disorders

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In this article, we will share some information on what is the definition of the menstrual cycle stages, symptoms, and disorders. And if you are interested in more articles, comment to us below.

What Is The Menstrual Cycle?

The word menstrual or menses generally refers to the flow of blood through the female genital tract every month.

In medical terms, menstruation is defined as the cyclic discharge of cellular debris and blood from the female genital tract or vaginal tract. The cyclical variation occurring from one menstruation to the successive menstruation is called the menstrual cycle.

• Menstruation is also commonly called periods or dates.
• The blood and cellular debris released comes through the endometrium of the uterus.
• The blood released during menstruation is called menstrual blood.

Symptoms Of Menstruation:

• Pain in the lower back
• Mood Swings
• Fatigue
• Anger
• Painful cramps
• Bloating and sore breasts
• Food Cravings
• Headache
• Bleeding from the genital tract

What Is The Duration Of The Menstrual Cycle?

The duration of the menstrual cycle is usually 24-32 days, but on average it is known to be 28 days. You need not worry if your menstrual cycle does not occur after 28 days. The delay or early in the next cycle also depends on your lifestyle, diet, stress, hormonal changes, etc.

When To Contact A Doctor?

It is a serious or unwanted issue when your period delays more than 10 days or two weeks or missed a period.

The causes for delayed or missed periods are:

• Intense physical activity like exercise.
• Health illness
• Weight changes
• Hormonal imbalance
• Insufficient healthy diet
• Medications or drugs
• Changes in the routine schedule
• Breastfeeding
• Pregnancy

What Is Menarche?

Menarche is usually defined as the beginning or onset of the menstrual cycle in females. It occurs at the age between 11-14 years. The cause for menstruation is a part of puberty in which the hormones like Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) And Luteinizing Hormone (LH) enhance the secretion of female reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone that promotes menstruation.

Symptoms Of Menarche:

• Developing pimples
• Pain in the lower belly and lower back
• Fatigue
• Bleeding through the genital tract
• Mood swings
• Bloating

1. The early onset of periods is due to a condition called precocious puberty. It occurs before 11 years.
2. Delay at the beginning of menstruation is due to delayed puberty. It may not occur before 16-18 years.

What Is Menopause?

The term menopause is defined as a permanent natural stoppage or decline of menstruation. It usually occurs at the age between 45 to 50 years.

Reasons Or Causes For Menopause:

Depletion of functional ovarian follicles.

Ovarian Follicles fail to develop in response to FSH and LH.

Decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body.

Symptoms Of Menopause:

• Drying of the vagina
• Sleeping issues
• Mood swings
• Slower metabolism
• Increase risk of cardiovascular diseases
• Hot flashes due to peripheral vasodilation
• Night sweats
• Weight gain
• Degradation of bone increases

How Much Blood Is Lost During Menstrual Cycle?

A female body loses nearly 50 ml-60 ml (may reach up to 80 ml -16 teaspoons) of blood during her periods.

Heavy Period Or More Loss Of Blood During Periods Causes:

• Hormonal changes
• Side-effects os drugs or medicines
• Use Of IUDs (Intra-Uterine Devices)
• Cancer in the womb lining
• The misplaced lining of the womb (Endometriosis)
• Bleeding Disorders.

What Is The Duration Of Menstruation, Periods, Or Dates?

The normal duration of periods in the females is approximately 7 days, But the range is 3-5 days.

What Are The Hormones Involved In Menstruation, Menstrual Cycle, Or Periods?

The hormones responsible for the changes during menstruation are:

• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
• Estrogen
• Progesterone

Phases Or Stages Of Menstrual Cycle:

It involves three phases:

1. Follicular Phase (Proliferative Phase)
2. Luteal Phase (Secretory Phase)
3. Bleeding Phase (Menstrual Phase)

1. Follicular Phase Or Proliferative Phase:

The proliferative phase or follicular phase starts after the menstrual phase. This is discussed as the first stage because this is the early stage of the next menstrual cycle. The duration of this phase is about 10 days (from the fifth to the fourteenth day of the menstrual cycle). After the menstrual phase, most of the endometrium has been shredded. Thus, the beginning of the follicular phase is to heal the endometrium and then to proliferate rapidly from the fifth to the fourteenth day of the cycle. this proliferation is influenced by the estrogen hormone. 

                                In the endometrium, the growth of blood vessels and simple tubular glands occurs. The thickness of the endometrium layer increases to about 3-5 mm. At this time, a thick mucus is secreted from the endometrial glands. At the termination of this phase, ovulation occurs.

This phase is called follicular because during this stage the ovarian follicles mature and prepare one of them for ovulation. It is also called the proliferative phase due to the fact that this stage heals and proliferate shredded endometrium.

2. Luteal Phase Or Secretory Phase:

The luteal phase or secretory phase starts after the proliferative phase particularly after ovulation and it lasts for about 14 days and extends up to the successive menstrual cycle. In this stage, the layer of endometrium thickens up to 6 mm and its glands develop tortuous, bigger, and filled with secretions. The connective tissue cells proliferate, spiral arteries become highly dilated and coiled. The process is the result of the action of estrogen and progesterone hormones on the uterine endometrium.

This phase is called secretory due to more secretion of hormones like estrogen and progesterone. It is also called the luteal phase because the secretion of progesterone is from the corpus luteum.

3. Bleeding Phase Or Menstrual Phase:

The menstrual phase occurs immediately after the secretory phase. This phase lasts for 3-5 days. This stage occurs only if the released ovum is not fertilized. The corpus luteum starts to regain its previous form from the 24th day of the cycle and this causes decreased levels of progesterone and estrogen. It further leads to shrinking of the endometrium and spasm of the arteries leading to cellular death of the endometrium. Shredded endometrium, blood, and other secretion are released from the uterus to out through the genital opening.

The menstrual blood usually does not clot due to the presence of fibrinolysin released along with the shredded endometrium.

This phase is also called the bleeding phase because the bleeding occurs in this phase of the menstrual cycle.

Disorders Related To Menstrual Cycle, Periods, Or Menstruation:

1. Premenstrual Syndrome:

Premenstrual syndrome is a condition that occurs prior to the menstrual phase that is a secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The symptoms include headache, weight gain, depression, irritation, breast tenderness, etc.

2. Amenorrhea:

Amenorrhea is a health condition in which menstruation is absent in females. It usually occurs at the time of pregnancy.

3. Menorrhagia:

The condition in which a female faces the excessive loss of blood during periods or excessive bleeding during menstruation.

It is also called menometrorrhagia or metromenorrhagia. It usually occurs in females aged between 40-50 years.

4. Dysmenorrhea:

It usually refers to severe pain during the menstrual cycle or painful menstruation.

5. Polymenorrhea:

It is defined as a condition in which the menstrual cycle is shorter than 21 days whereas the normal duration is between 24-32 days.

Menstrual Or Period Products:

• Pads
• Reusable Pads
• Tampons
• Menstrual Cups
• Period Underwears

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What are periods?   What is menstruation?   What is a menstrual cycle?

Symptoms of periods   Symptoms of menstruation   Symptoms of the menstrual cycle    

Hormones Of Menstrual Cycle  Menstrual Or Period Products  Phases Or Stages of Menstrual Cycle

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