Menstruation explained: what happens in the body?

Menstruation is also known as a (monthly) period or as menses. It is a natural process in the female body that usually occurs for the first time during puberty. Generally speaking, menstruation happens on a monthly basis until the menopause. Women and teenage girls can perceive their periods in different ways as the experiences associated with them are very individual.

What happens during your period?

Menstruation is a shedding process in the body. In each cycle, a mature egg is discharged from an ovary during ovulation and then passes through the fallopian tube towards the womb. In preparation for a potential pregnancy, the mucous membrane on the inner wall of the womb builds up to accommodate the egg. If the egg remains unfertilised, the mucous membrane dies and detaches from the womb wall. The womb is cleaned in preparation for the next cycle: the muscles contract in an irregular rhythm and relax again in order to discharge the detached womb lining, along with some blood and mucus, through the vagina. A regular period lasts between three and seven days.

The first period in young girls is called menarche and, for girls in Switzerland, it usually occurs between 9 and 14 years of age. Researchers believe that body mass index has a connection with the onset of menstruation. The higher the body fat percentage, the earlier menstruation begins. The average time between the first and last menstruation is 37.1 years.

On average, menstruation lasts for between three and five days. However, this does vary from one person to the next and can even differ from cycle to cycle. A range of factors influence the length of your period, including hormone fluctuations, age, lifestyle and general health. Many women experience a change in the length of their periods when going through stressful times or when making certain lifestyle modifications. Periods can also vary in length during puberty. Listen to your body and reach out to a doctor if you have any concerns.

Even though it may feel like more, the amount of blood lost during menstruation is normally only 40 to 60 ml, which is approximately ten teaspoonfuls. As a rule of thumb, with “normal” bleeding, you should need to change your tampon or towel less than every two hours.

It is not uncommon for blood clots to be in the blood lost during your period. These are made up of thickened blood and tissue. Blood clots like this are normal during your period. In particular, menstrual blood can contain blood clots during a heavy period.

Spotting may also occur before and after your period. They are a sign that your period will start soon or occur as your period comes to an end. Spotting generally only happens for a short time. Many women even experience spotting instead of a regular period. This is particularly the case in phases of hormonal change. If you are regularly experiencing spotting, then it is best to discuss this with your doctor so that any possible causes can be identified.

Tip: using a period calendar, such as on an app, will let you gain an overview of how regular your menstruation is. You can also use it to track the amount of blood lost during menstruation.

The colour of the blood can be used to draw conclusions about your health. If the blood is deep red, everything is fine. It is mainly brownish near the end of your period or at the very beginning, when old blood is discharged. Light-coloured blood can indicate low oestrogen levels and nutritional deficiencies, and orange-grey blood is usually a sign of an infection. In this case, you should consult your gynaecologist.

The days leading up to a period put a strain on many women and cause a variety of physical and mental discomforts: abdominal cramps, headaches or even migraines and joint pain, fatigue and hypersensitivity are just a few examples. These symptoms are known as premenstrual syndrome – or PMS for short.

Women each experience their periods in very different ways. In any case, it is important to pay attention to the signals from your body and to seek medical advice if you experience symptoms that are severe or out of the ordinary.