What is a normal period like?

Have you ever run to Google with a health question?

*whole room is full of raised hands*

You’re not alone! Pretty much all of us have probably Googled our health symptoms at some point.

We decided to beat you to the search bar with this question (unless that’s how you found us, of course) and answer this question straight up!

“Is my period normal?”

We’re so glad you asked. Periods are a part of everyday life, but for some (awful) reason we don’t talk about them. It’s “embarrassing.” Today, we’re going to really talk about periods, because it’s important that you know if your period is normal, or if something is wrong with your menstrual cycle.

First, what is a period?

Your “period week” is a small portion of your greater menstrual cycle, which is a recurring time period in which the body prepares for pregnancy and then restarts. At the start of the menstrual cycle, which begins after your last period’s flow ceases, your uterine lining is rebuilt and an egg is prepared for the middle phase which is ovulation. During ovulation, one of your ovaries releases an egg, and your body changes hormonally, preparing for a potential pregnancy. If the egg is fertilized, the egg will attach itself to the lining of the uterus and begin to grow, a tiny living human. If the egg is not fertilized your hormone levels will decrease and the uterus lining sheds during what we know as our “period week.”

The whole process is intricate and very beautiful! Our bodies were made so perfectly to fit the processes necessary for life! But sometimes, hormones can become imbalanced and things can get a little rocky. So we’ll move on to our next question:

Is menstruation a good thing?

While sometimes it feels like a literal pain in the you-know-where, periods are such a good thing! They are a natural progression of healthy hormones and processes that are very important, so if you don’t have a period, you might be experiencing some imbalance.

Is my flow too heavy?

If your flow amount is between 6-8 teaspoons or 30-40 ml (you can measure this with your Pixie Cup) you are within a healthy range, according to the NHS. Even if your flow seems heavier than this, take the time to measure your next period… it’s probably less blood than you think! Sometimes it could feel like your flow is a lot more than this, but if you measure it you will likely find that there is actually less blood than you think. If you use tampons, a regular tampon holds 5ml of fluid, and a super tampon will hold about 10ml.

Does my period last too long?

Is your period between 2-7 days? If so, you’re good! The average period is around five days. If your period is lasting longer than 8 days, you might wan to set up an appointment with your gynecologist.

My cycle is more/less than 28 days. Is that okay?

Healthy cycles range between 21-35 days! While a longer cycle might still be in the healthy range (this does not include “missed” periods or those that only occur every few months), a cycle shorter than 21 days is potentially problematic. If your cycle length is concerning to you, set up an appointment with your doctor to make sure you are at a healthy range for your body.

In conclusion…?

Each woman is so unique and beautiful in her own way, and our periods follow the same pattern. No two periods are the same, and that’s good! We hope you are in the healthy range on all of these categories. If your period is extra heavy and leaves you feeling exhausted, if your period rarely comes, or if you have another concern, don’t hesitate to get it checked out! Your health is so important, and there could be a simple fix that you didn’t even know about!

Was this blog post helpful to you? Do you have any more questions we didn’t answer? If so, leave them in the comments!