Also called: Also called: Menses, Menstrual period, Period
Menstruation, or period, is a woman's monthly bleeding. Every month, your body prepares for pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, the uterus sheds its lining. The menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue from inside the uterus, or womb. It passes out of the body through the vagina. Periods usually start around age 12 and continue until menopause, at about age 51. Most periods last from three to five days.
You should consult your health care provider if
- You haven't started menstruating by age 16
- Your period suddenly stops
- You bleed excessively, or for more days than usual
- You suddenly feel sick after using tampons
- You bleed between periods
- You have severe pain during your period
Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is a group of symptoms that start before the period. It can include emotional and physical symptoms.
National Women's Health Information Center
-
All about Menstruation(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/menstruation.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/sexual/menstruation_esp.html
-
Menstruation and the Menstrual Cycle(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/faq/menstruation.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://womenshealth.gov/espanol/preguntas/menstru.htm
-
Menstruation and the Menstrual Cycle
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/menstruation_and_the_menstrual_cycle.cfm
-
Menstruation(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp049.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/sp049.cfm
-
Dilation and Curettage
(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/dilatationandcurettage/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/dilatationandcurettagespanish/htm/index.htm - Estrogen Tests(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/estrogen/test.html
- FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/fsh/test.html
- Vaginal Bleeding(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/vaginal-bleeding/MY00209/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Menstrual Cycle Problems(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/538.printerview.html
-
Black Cohosh(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/blackcohosh/
-
Chasteberry(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/chasteberry/
-
Amenorrhea(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/amenorrhea.cfm
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/menorrhagia/DS00394/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Menstrual Cramps (Dysmenorrhea)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/menstrual-cramps/DS00506/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
-
Menstrual Irregularities(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Menstrual_Irregularities.cfm
- Mittelschmerz(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mittelschmerz/DS00507/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Adenomyosis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/Adenomyosis/DS00636/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Delaying Your Period through Oral Contraceptives(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/womens-health/WO00069/METHOD=print
- Endometrial Ablation(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp134.cfm
- Hormonal Causes of Ovulatory Disorders(Resolve) - http://www.resolve.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn_wii_od
- Tampons and Toxic Shock Syndrome(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tampons.html
- Toxic Shock Syndrome(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/toxic-shock-syndrome/DS00221/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Heavy Menstrual Periods(DSHI Systems) - http://www.freemd.com/heavy-menstrual-periods/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Irregular Menstrual Bleeding(DSHI Systems) - http://www.freemd.com/irregular-menstrual-bleeding/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
-
Dilation and Curettage(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/dilatationandcurettage/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/dilatationandcurettagespanish/htm/index.htm
-
Endometrial Ablation(OR-Live) - One hour program - 09/27/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/bse_1885/rnh.cfm?id=647
-
Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy(OR-Live) - One hour program - 10/18/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/shm_1890/rnh.cfm?id=646
- Atlas of the Body: Female Reproductive Organs(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlib/article/ZZZ8QKJ56JC
-
Female Reproductive System(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/female_reproductive_system.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/female_reproductive_system_esp.html
- Menstrual Cycle(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec22/ch241/ch241e.html
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Amenorrhea(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Amenorrhea%22
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Dysmenorrhea(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Dysmenorrhea%22
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Menstruation Disturbances(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Menstruation+Disturbances%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Valproate and lamotrigine level variation with menstrual cycle phase and... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19273825&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Effects of early luteal-phase vaginal progesterone supplementation on the outcome... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19172535&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin during the proliferative phase may adversely... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19165663&tool=MedlinePlus
- Menstruation -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=menstrual+cycle[majr]+NOT+(menstruation+disturbances[majr]+OR+infertility,female/therapy[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Menstrual disorders -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=menstruation+disturbances[majr]+NOT+(premenstrual+syndrome[majr]+OR+infertility,female/therapy[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- ACOG's Physician Directory(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - http://www.acog.org/member-lookup/disclaimer.cfm
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - http://www.acog.org/
-
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/
-
National Women's Health Information Center(Dept. of Health and Human Services) - http://womenshealth.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://womenshealth.gov/espanol/
- All about Menstruation(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/menstruation.html
- Five Things Girls Want to Know about Periods(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/girlstuff/five_period.html
-
Menstrual Problems(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growing/menstrual_problems.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/crecimiento/menstrual_problems_esp.html
- Menstruation: Preparing Your Preteen for Her Period(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/menstruation/FL00040/METHOD=print
- Pads and Tampons(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/girlstuff/pads_tampons.html
- Period Cramps(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/girlstuff/period_cramps.html
-
Talking to Your Child about Menstruation(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/talk_about_menstruation.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/padres/talk_about_menstruation_esp.html
-
When Will I Get My Period?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/when_period.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/preguntas/when_period_esp.html
-
All about Menstruation(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/menstruation.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/sexual/menstruation_esp.html
-
Coping with Common Period Problems(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/menstrual_problems.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/sexual/menstrual_problems_esp.html
-
Feeling Fresh(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/feminine_hygiene.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/feminine_hygiene_esp.html
-
Guide to Using Your First Tampon(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/tampon.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/sptampon.html
- Irregular Periods(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/question/periods/irregular_periods.html
- Medical Uses of the Oral Contraceptive Pill: A Guide for Teens(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/med-uses-ocp.html
- Toxic Shock Syndrome(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/tss.html
- Menopause - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/menopause.html
- Premature Ovarian Failure - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prematureovarianfailure.html
- Premenstrual Syndrome - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/premenstrualsyndrome.html
- Vaginal Bleeding - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vaginalbleeding.html
- Endocrine System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/endocrinesystem.html
- Female Reproductive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/femalereproductivesystem.html
- Women - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/women.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Menstruation is the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/