Menstrual cycle is the fancy medical word for the cycle of hormones leading up to your period.
A typical menstrual cycle is 21–35 days in length. This varies quite a bit person to person. Most people’s cycles are regular, meaning each month is the same in timing. Many people have irregular cycles which makes it difficult to track.
Day 1 of the menstrual cycle is the first day of your period.
Your Period (Menstruation Phase)
Your period is when the uterus sheds the endometrial lining because no pregnancy has implanted there.
Typically periods start around age 9–11 and last until around late 40s–50s.
The length of a period can vary quite a bit between each person. Some people have 3–4 days of a period while others have 7–10 days. A typical period is about 7 days of bleeding, with days 3–4 being the heaviest.
The amount of bleeding experienced while on a period can vary quite a bit as well. Some people have very light spotting or a light flow, while other patients may have heavy bleeding and pass clots.
Symptoms during the period week may include bleeding, abdominal cramping, back pain, diarrhea, fatigue, bloating, and headaches.
Estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest level during this phase.
Follicular Phase
The next phase of the cycle is the follicular phase.
This is when the follicles on the egg form to prepare to release an egg.
Symptoms during the follicular phase include increased energy, increased libido, improved mood, and confidence as estrogen levels increase in the bloodstream.
Ovulation Phase
A surge of hormones starts the next phase, the ovulation phase, where an egg is released from the ovary in preparation for fertilization from a sperm.
This is the time in your cycle when you are most likely to get pregnant.
If the egg does not get fertilized by the sperm and implant in the uterine lining, it will leave the body and your body will prepare for the next phase of the cycle.
Symptoms during the ovulation phase include high energy, high libido, and increased mood. Some people notice a sharp cramp on one side of the abdomen or pelvis, typically related to ovulation occurring.
Luteal Phase
The final phase of the cycle is the luteal phase.
This occurs when the egg is not implanted and the body is preparing to shed the endometrial lining it prepared for the egg.
Symptoms during the luteal phase include bloating, breast tenderness, fatigue, irritability, headaches, constipation, or acne.
This is the time when premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) can occur for some patients.
Then the cycle repeats with the period.
When to Talk to Your Provider
There is a lot of variation in what is considered normal for each patient with their period. There are also quite a bit of changes that can be considered abnormal. If you are ever worried about what you experience with your cycle, it is important to talk with your provider about your symptoms.
Menstrual Cycle Care in Greensboro and Across North Carolina
If you have questions about your menstrual cycle, irregular periods, PMS, or PMDD, Haven Health provides reproductive care in Greensboro, North Carolina and by telehealth across the state.
Many patients are unsure what is considered normal for their cycle and when to seek care. Haven Health helps you understand your symptoms and offers treatment options when needed.
Patients from Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, Oak Ridge, Summerfield, Kernersville, and surrounding Guilford County communities visit Haven Health for compassionate reproductive care.
If you live anywhere in Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Asheville, Wilmington, or anywhere in NC, you can meet with a provider virtually to discuss your symptoms and have any necessary labs completed at a lab near you.
Haven Health provides patient-centered, evidence-based reproductive care both in person and online across North Carolina.