All you need to know about your period!

Think you know all there is to know about periods? Here are several information about your period so you can keep track of any abnormal changes in your period and seek treatment early. A period refers specifically to the time that you are actually bleeding but it is just one part of the menstrual cycle. Average age when girl gets their first period is around 12 years old.

There are 4 phases of a normal menstrual cycle which are menstrual, follicular, ovulation and luteal phases.

The menstrual phase is the first phase of the menstrual cycle. The cycle occur because of drop in estrogen and progesterone level once the egg from the previous menstrual cycle does not get fertilized. Because the thickened uterine lining is now not needed, it will  be break down and shed. This lining and the egg then exit through the vagina during the menstrual phase. The menstrual phase vary between individual but it usually last between 2-7 days.

Average woman can lose anywhere from one tablespoon to a small cup of blood during a normal period. There is a myth that you cannot get pregnant during period. However since sperm can live in the female reproductive tract up to 7 days, if you have sex on the last days of your period, you can potentially get pregnant if there are still living sperm when ovulation occurs. Having sex during period can help relief the cramps but there are also higher risk of STD transmission from the menstrual blood.

The second phase is follicular stage in which there is a hormone from the brain called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) that stimulates the production of follicles which contain an immature egg. As the follicle matures, the body start releasing estrogen which also cause the uterus lining to thicken. This phase will end when a person ovulates.