Menstruation is a natural process that girls and women need to feel empowered to talk openly about, yet this aspect of health is often still seen as a taboo subject. From the initial phase to menopause, our period affects our physical, psychological and social well-being and the healthiest thing is to talk about it.

During menstruation, the chances of pregnancy are low but not zero. The period itself does not prevent pregnancy, nor does it promote pregnancy. During the first days of the monthly period, the chances of pregnancy are lowest. As the days go by, the chances of pregnancy increase whether or not she is still bleeding. The risk of pregnancy increases until ovulation.

The first period, a point in time known as menarche, usually begins between the ages of 12 and 15. Menstruation starting as young as 8 years would still be considered normal. The average age of the first period is generally later in the developing world, and earlier in the developed world.

The typical length of time between the first day of one period and the first day of the next is 21 to 45 days in young women. In adults, the range is between 21 and 31 days with the average being 28 days.

Bleeding usually lasts around 2 to 7 days. Periods stop during pregnancy and typically do not resume during the initial months of breastfeeding.

Menstruation stops occurring after menopause, which usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age.

Up to 80% of women do not experience problems sufficient to disrupt daily functioning either during menstruation or in the days leading up to menstruation. Symptoms in advance of menstruation that do interfere with normal life are called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Some 20 to 30% of women experience PMS, with 3 to 8% experiencing severe symptoms. These include acne, tender breasts, bloating, feeling tired, irritability, and mood changes. Other symptoms some women experience include painful periods and heavy bleeding during menstruation and abnormal bleeding at any time during the menstrual cycle.

A lack of periods, known as amenorrhea, is when periods do not occur by age 15 or have not re-occurred in 90 days.

The average volume of menstrual fluid during a monthly menstrual period is 35 millilitres with 10–80 millilitres considered typical. Menstrual fluid is the correct name for the flow, although many people prefer to refer to it as menstrual blood. Menstrual fluid is reddish-brown, a slightly darker colour than venous blood.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a mood disorder characterized by emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment in menstruating women during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The symptoms occur in the luteal phase, (between ovulation and menses), improve within a few days after the onset of menses, and are minimal or absent in the week after menses. Please reach out to us on chat and we can point you in the right direction for help.

In most women, various physical changes are brought about by fluctuations in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. This includes muscle contractions of the uterus (menstrual cramping) that can precede or accompany menstruation. Many women experience painful cramps, also known as dysmenorrhea, during menstruation. Among adult women, that pain is severe enough to affect daily activity in only 2%–28%. Severe symptoms that disrupt daily activities and functioning may be diagnosed as a premenstrual dysphoric disorder. These symptoms can be severe enough to affect a person’s performance at work, school, and in everyday activities in a small percentage of women.

No. Most research finds no major changes in bleeding patterns after female sterilisation. If a woman was using a hormonal method or IUD before sterilisation, her bleeding pattern will return to the way it was before she used these methods. For example, women switching from combined oral contraceptives to female sterilisation may notice heavier bleeding as their monthly bleeding returns to usual patterns. Note, however, that a woman’s monthly bleeding usually becomes less regular as she approaches menopause.

The sponge is a hormone-free vaginal contraceptive that does not disrupt your menstrual cycle.

You may use the sponge as often as you wish but not during your menstrual period.

Many women with an IUS will experience less and lighter bleeding after the IUS is fitted. Some women may not have any periods at all anymore.

Use of sanitary pads is recommended. If tampons are used, you should change them more frequently, and with care so as not to pull the threads of the IUD when manipulating the tampon.

The female condom does not interfere with menstruation and can therefore be used. However, the female condom should be inserted just before intercourse and removed soon after.

Many women find that heavy, painful periods are reduced. There can sometimes be irregular bleeding initially, but this should go after the first few months.