Every month your body prepares for pregnancy and also release some important body chemicals to keep you healthy. So let's see what 'normal' means when it comes to the menstrual cycle. Renowned gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Duru Shah tells us about subtle shifts to watch out for...
Menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle should follow the 28-35 days duration. To count accurately, you should calculate from the first day of the period. If your cycle repeats in this time frame, it is considered normal. Else, you need to consult a doctor.
Menstrual duration
Menstrual cycle shortens with age, yet a normal menstrual period should last somewhere between 3 to 7 days. Out of the whole duration, you bleed heavily the first 2-3 days or sometimes more.
Menstrual flow
While you may think that you are bleeding a lot but an average period releases less than a cup of blood. If you are using up to 2-3 sanitary pads a day, it is normal. But if you are using 6-8 sanitary pads in a day, it is not normal and could be a sign of anemia. This is not it. If you are suddenly down to 1 pad a day, it is also a cause of concern. So if you notice any change in the menstrual flow, raise an alarm. It could be a sign of infection or side effect of some medicine or even indicate brain tumour.
Menstrual colour
Agreed you wouldn't normally want to keep a check on the colour of your monthly cycle, but examining the right colour is considered important. A regular menstrual cycle should be bright red in colour. But if it suddenly becomes brown or dark black, it could mean hormonal insufficiency.
Painful menstrual cycle
If you suddenly start to experience acute pain during menstrual cycle, it might call for medical intervention. You can overlook it if it happens once in a while but if it becomes a pattern and makes you extremely uncomfortable, it calls for visiting your gynecologist.
Bleeding between cycles
While it is normal for women to bleed between cycles if they are on pill but otherwise one should keep an eye out for this. Bleeding between cycles or random spotting could be a lesion or even a physiological issue. Get it examined immediately.
