Menstruation

Menstruation is something that happens in the body in girls and women. About once a month, the uterus bleeds. This is also called menstruation, period, cycle, days or rule. It is something normal and not a disease.

Girls usually have their first bleed when they are between 10 and 16 years old. However, it can happen earlier or even later. Adult women have a period about every four weeks, which then lasts a few days. However, the first bleeding does not always happen so regularly.

The first menstrual period indicates that a girl has had her first ovulation beforehand. This means that if she sleeps with a boy or man without using contraception, i.e. has sexual intercourse, she can become pregnant and have a child. A woman does not ovulate during pregnancy and therefore does not menstruate because the child is then growing in the body.

About every month, an egg matures in one of the two ovaries and travels to the uterus. There, a mucous membrane forms in which a fertilised egg can grow. If fertilisation does not occur, the body excretes parts of the uterine lining that are no longer needed. This allows the mucous membrane to form again.

The excretion takes place through bleeding. Only a little blood is lost and the body can quickly replace it. The blood passes from the uterus through the vagina to the outside. There it can be absorbed with pads or panty liners. Instead of pads, many women use tampons, which are inserted into the vagina and absorb the blood right there. There are also menstrual cups that are also inserted into the vagina and collect the blood there.

During a menstrual period, some girls and women only feel a moderate pulling sensation in the lower abdomen. For others, the pain is more intense. Some take it easy during "the period" and are less active, others do everything as usual. Girls or women with heavier bleeding do not like to go to the swimming pool during this time.