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Body
Your menstrual cycle
The chart below is based on a sample 28-day menstrual cycle, but every woman is different. Your cycle could be as short as 23 days or as long as 35, so do not worry if it is not exactly 28 days long.
The menstrual cycle includes not just your period, but the rise and fall of hormones and other body changes that take place over the month. At first, your periods may not be regular; you may have two in one month, or have a month without a period at all. Periods will become more regular in time.
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Every woman is different in:
- the number of days in between periods
- how long periods last
To learn about your own pattern or schedule, it can help to keep track of your periods on a calendar. Keeping track will help you to better know when to expect your next period. Learn to use the girlshealth.gov Cycle Calendar.
Content last updated June 18, 2008
