Menstruation is the name given to women's monthly bleeding. Every month the female body prepares for pregnancy, and when this does not occur, the uterus has its membrane peeled off. Menstruation eliminates this composition through the vagina, which is therefore partially formed by blood tissue from the uterine interior. Most periods last from three to six days.
This period of menstruation generally begins at the age of twelve (the first time being called menarche) and ends around the age of fifty, during menopause.
Generally the menstrual cycle lasts 28 days and consists of four phases:
First phase: Menstruation, in the first seven days, the surface of the endometrium breaks down and turns into a bloody fluid.
Second level: o eggs and prepare to leave the ovary: normally between the sixth and twelfth day, the pituitary gland stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone, the hormones responsible for the menstrual cycle. Progesterone keeps the walls of the uterus intact until the woman becomes pregnant, during pregnancy, until menstruation begins.
Third phase: Ovulation, between days 13 and 15 (before the next menstruation) the pituitary gland sends a signal that causes the body to release hormones.
Fourth phase: The uterine lining becomes thicker, after ovulation, the ovary travels through the fallopian tube towards the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized, the surface of the endometrium is no longer needed. The cycle is complete and menstruation will begin again.
During menstruation, the muscles of the uterus contract to help the body shed the endometrial lining. This can be quite uncomfortable for some women. Pain related to menstruation can be relieved with light exercise, a warm bath, a pillow to generate heat in the belly or with medicines prescribed by a doctor.
