Menstrual

Cycle

Menstrual Cycle
- One way in preparing for a woman to getpregnant.
- The average length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days, but this can vary between women and from one cycle to the next.
- The length of the menstrual cycle is calculated from the first day of the period to the day before the next period starts.

About once a month,

theuterus grows a new
lining (endometrium) to
get ready for afertilized
egg.

When there is no fertilized egg to start a pregnancy, the uterus

sheds its lining. This is the monthlymenstrual bleeding(also
called menstrual period) that women have from their early
teen years until menopause, around age 50.

Phases of Menstrual flow

First Phase
(Proliferative)

second Phase
()

third Phase
()

fourth Phase
()

Length and Timing of the

Cycle
-it differs from woman to woman, but the average

length is 28 days (from the beginning of one menstrual

flow to the beginning of the next).

CHARACTERISTICS OF
NORMAL MENSTRUAL
CYCLE
Beginnin
g
(Menarc
Average age at onset, 12
years old; he)
average range,
9-17 years old

CHARACTERISTICS OF
NORMAL MENSTRUAL
CYCLE
Interval
between
Average,
28
cycles
days; cycles of
23-35 days not
usual

CHARACTERISTICS OF
NORMAL MENSTRUAL
CYCLE
Duration
of
Average flow,
menstru
2-7 days; ranges
al
flow
of 1-9
days
not abnormal

CHARACTERISTICS OF
NORMAL MENSTRUAL
CYCLE
Amount
of
Difficult to
menstru
estimate;
al
flow
Average
30-80
mL per
menstrual
period

CHARACTERISTICS OF
NORMAL MENSTRUAL
CYCLE
Color of
menstru
Darkflow
red; a
al
combination of
blood, mucus,
and
endometrial
cells

CHARACTERISTICS OF
NORMAL MENSTRUAL
CYCLE

Odor
Similar to that
of marigolds.