Period FAQs

what is the purpose of a period

by Imelda Lueilwitz III Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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Menstruation, or period, is normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman's monthly cycle. Every month, your body prepares for pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, the uterus, or womb, sheds its lining. The menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue from inside the uterus.May 22, 2017

Full Answer

What's the point of a period?

The purpose of the menstrual period (if you mean just the part when a woman is actually menstruating) is to get rid of the lining of the uterus in the event that no child is conceived during that particular cycle. Each month, a woman's body prepares her uterus to receive a fertilized egg.

What does a painful period mean?

What are painful periods? Menstruation, or period, is normal vaginal bleeding that happens as part of a woman's monthly cycle. Many women have painful periods, also called dysmenorrhea. The pain is most often menstrual cramps, which are a throbbing, cramping pain in your lower abdomen.

What are the steps in the menstrual cycle?

The specific events that occur during the menstrual cycle can be described as follows:

  • The menses phase: This phase, which typically lasts from day one to day five, is the time when the lining of the uterus is actually shed out through the vagina ...
  • The follicular phase: This phase typically takes place from days six to 14. ...
  • Ovulation: This phase occurs roughly at about day 14 in a 28-day menstrual cycle. ...

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Why do we get periods?

Why Do Women Get Periods?

  1. The very first period. Many cultures (such as native Americans) celebrate this event as a sacred passage. ...
  2. Regular periods are the best sign of hormone balance. When my patients feel their hormones are “out of whack”, one of the first questions I ask is if they ...
  3. A. ...
  4. The least ideal part of the cycle is not your period. ...

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What’S The Menstrual Cycle?

Your menstrual cycle helps your body prepare for pregnancy every month. It also makes you have a period if you’re not pregnant. Your menstrual cycl...

When in Life Do Periods Start and stop?

At some point during puberty, blood comes out of your vagina, and that's your first period. Most people get their first period between ages 12 and...

Do Transgender Guys Get A period?

Not everybody who gets a period identifies as a girl or woman. Transgender men and genderqueer people who have uteruses, vaginas, fallopian tubes,...

When Can I Get Pregnant During My Menstrual Cycle?

You have the highest chance of getting pregnant on the days leading up to ovulation (when your ovary releases a mature egg) — these are called fert...

What is the purpose of the period?

The purpose of the menstrual period (if you mean just the part when a woman is actually menstruating) is to get rid of the lining of the uterus in the event that no child is conceived during that particular cycle.

What happens when a woman has her menstrual cycle?

When a female has her menstrual cycle, her body is ridding itself of the shed uterine lining. The uterus in the female prepares itself for implantation of the fertilized egg. When this doesn't occur, the uterine lining is shed as the menstrual cycle. Contained in the discharge of the menstrual cycle are blood cells, and the remnants of the uterine lining.

What happens to the uterus each month?

Each month, a woman's body prepares her uterus to receive a fertilized egg. The uterus must build up a lining in which the embryo would rest and from which it would get its first nutrition if it were to be fertilized. If no egg is fertilized (if the woman does not become pregnant) there is no need for the lining of the uterus and it must be expelled.

How long does it take for a woman to have a menstrual cycle?

Beginning at puberty and continuing until menopause, the menstrual cycle occurs each month. This cycle is approximately 28 days, although it may be slightly longer or shorter in some women. During this monthly cycle, the uterine lining, under the influence of hormones thickens. In the event an ovum (egg cell) is fertilized in the oviduct, this egg will eventually travel to the uterus and implant in the uterine lining and continue to develop until birth. However, if the egg that month is not fertilized, it will disintegrate. The uterine lining which is no longer needed, will break down and be shed. This is called menstruation. After menstruation, the cycle will repeat the following month and every month thereafter during a woman's reproductive years. The only time the menstrual cycle ceases during this time frame, would be when a woman is pregnant.

How often do women drop eggs?

Approximately every twenty eight days women of child bearing age drop an egg in the hopes that it will be fertilized by the male spermatozoa. This process is under hormonal control. If the egg is fertilized by the male, she becomes pregnant. If the egg is not fertilized, her menstrual period begins.

Can birth control be used to prevent periods?

These are excellent answers, but I will add that many modern women take some kind of birth control, and much of this birth control involves hormonal ways to eliminate menstruation, and pregnancy, but this can be used to prevent heavy periods in women who suffer from them.

When do you stop getting your period?

Most people stop getting their period when they’re between 45 and 55 years old — this is called menopause. Menopause can take a few years, and periods usually change gradually during this time. After menopause is totally complete, you can’t get pregnant anymore. Read more about menopause.

How often does a woman have her period?

Menstruation — aka having your period — is when blood and tissue from your uterus comes out of your vagina. It usually happens every month.

When can I get pregnant during my menstrual cycle?

You have the highest chance of getting pregnant on the days leading up to ovulation (when your ovary releases a mature egg) — these are called fertile days.

What is it called when you ovulate?

About halfway through your menstrual cycle, your hormones tell one of your ovaries to release a mature egg — this is called ovulation . Most people don’t feel it when they ovulate, but some ovulation symptoms are bloating, spotting, or a little pain in your lower belly that you may only feel on one side.

What hormones are involved in the menstrual cycle?

It also makes you have a period if you’re not pregnant. Your menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones like estrogen and progesterone. The 1st day of your menstrual cycle starts on the 1st day of your period (AKA menstruation).

Why do people track their menstrual cycle?

Many people track their menstrual cycles and other fertility signs to help them figure out when they’re ovulating. This is called fertility awareness — some people use it to prevent pregnancy, and others use it to try to get pregnant. Check out our app, which makes it easy to chart your cycle and figure out your fertile days.

How many ovaries do you have during your period?

This is when your body starts getting ready for the release of an egg. You have 2 ovaries, and each one holds a bunch of eggs. During your period, follicles (pockets) in your ovaries are stimulated to grow — there’s 1 egg in each of these follicles.

What is the most common use of period?

The most common use of the period is, of course, to end a declarative sentence. Interrogative sentences (questions) end with a question mark.

Where does the period go in a sentence?

In American English, the period goes inside the closing quotation mark at the end of a sentence.

What is a period in 2021?

Period. Grammarly. Updated on. January 14, 2021 Grammar. The period, called a full stop in British English, is one of the first punctuation marks we learn about when we begin reading and writing. Compared to commas or semicolons, the rules for using periods are blessedly simple.

When does the period go inside the closing parenthesis?

When a complete, independent sentence is entirely enclosed by parentheses, the period goes inside the closing parenthesis.

What is an ellipsis in literature?

You can also use an ellipsis for literary effect, to represent a dramatic pause or a thought that trails off. Sometimes, this type of ellipsis is also referred to as “suspension points.”

What Causes a Period?

A period happens because of changes in hormones in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers. The ovaries release the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones cause the lining of the uterus (or womb) to build up. The built-up lining is ready for a fertilized egg to attach to and start developing. If there is no fertilized egg, the lining breaks down and bleeds. Then the same process happens all over again.

How Long Do Periods Last?

Periods usually last about 5 days. But a period can be shorter or last longer.

When Do Most Girls Get Their Period?

Most girls get their first period when they're around 12. But getting it any time between age 10 and 15 is OK. Every girl's body has its own schedule.

How Does Ovulation Relate to Periods?

Ovulation (pronounced: ov-yoo-LAY-shun) is the release of an egg from the ovaries. The same hormones that cause the uterus lining to build up also cause an egg to leave one of the ovaries. The egg travels through a thin tube called a fallopian tube to the uterus.

Can a Girl Get Pregnant as Soon as Her Period Starts?

Yes, a girl can get pregnant as soon as her period starts. A girl can even get pregnant right before her very first period. This is because a girl's hormones might already be active. The hormones may have led to ovulation and the building of the uterine wall. If a girl has sex, she can get pregnant, even though she has never had a period.

Should I Use a Pad, Tampon, or Menstrual Cup?

You have many choices about how to deal with period blood. You may need to experiment a bit to find which works best for you. Some girls use only one method and others switch between different methods.

What Is PMS?

PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is when a girl has emotional and physical symptoms that happen before or during her period. These symptoms can include moodiness, sadness, anxiety, bloating, and acne. The symptoms go away after the first few days of a period.

What is a Period?

A period is a small dot-shaped punctuation mark that is used at the end of any sentence that is intended to make a statement. As with other punctuation marks that end sentences, the period should be placed directly behind the last letter of the last word of the sentence.

When to use period in abbreviation?

In the event that the abbreviation ends a statement, a command, or an indirect question, the period that ends that abbreviation is also used to complete the sentence.

Do acronyms have periods?

Although acronyms are abbreviations, they do not normally require periods. If you are using an acronym that is pronounced as a word such as NOW, NATO, RADAR, or SCUBA, you don’t need to insert periods between the letters. If you are using an acronym that is pronounced by speaking the letters individually, you may or may not need to use periods between the letters. Some examples include FBI, NBA, NCAA, NAACP, U.S.A., and U.N.I.C.E.F.

Do you put a space after a period?

After ending a sentence with a period, insert a single space before beginning the next sentence. This rule has only been in place since modern word processing became common – back in the days when people used typewriters, one would insert two spaces behind periods and other punctuation marks that end sentences.

Why is it important to track your period?

Tracking your menstrual cycles can help you understand what's normal for you, time ovulation and identify important changes — such as a missed period or unpredictable menstrual bleeding. While menstrual cycle irregularities usually aren't serious, sometimes they can signal health problems.

How long does a woman's period last?

Menstrual flow might occur every 21 to 35 days and last two to seven days. For the first few years after menstruation begins, long cycles are common.

What causes menstrual cycle irregularities?

Menstrual cycle irregularities can have many different causes, including:

What is the process of ovulation?

The menstrual cycle is the monthly series of changes a woman's body goes through in preparation for the possibility of pregnancy. Each month, one of the ovaries releases an egg — a process called ovulation. At the same time, hormonal changes prepare the uterus for pregnancy. If ovulation takes place and the egg isn't fertilized, ...

What to do if you have questions about your menstrual cycle?

If you have questions or concerns about your menstrual cycle, talk to your health care provider.

What happens when you get close to menopause?

Talk to your health care provider about what to expect. When you get close to menopause, your cycle might become irregular again. However, because the risk of uterine cancer increases as you age, discuss any irregular bleeding around menopause with your health care provider.

How long does it take for your period to stop?

In addition, consult your health care provider if: Your periods suddenly stop for more than 90 days — and you're not pregnant. Your periods become erratic after having been regular. You bleed for more than seven days. You bleed more heavily than usual or soak through more than one pad or tampon every hour or two.

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