The menstruation cycle in women is one of the most complex internal procedures in the human body. This leads to a lot of confusion about what actually takes place, why it is important and also the fact that the dates seem to change extremely frequently, causing a lot of inconvenience. The onset of menstruation happens when a girl reaches the age of puberty and the reproductive cycle starts to mature. During a menstrual cycle, a woman will lose some blood from the uterus via the vagina and this process could last from anything between three to seven days. Each cycle will usually happen every 28 days as long as the girl or woman is not pregnant during a given cycle. The procedure is rather complex as it demands the attention and is influenced by hormone levels in the body, the brain and sex organs such as both ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the uterus and vagina. The ovaries contain a number of eggs that are present when a girl is born and, during the course of each period, an egg will ripen and mature as a result of the hormones circulating in the blood stream. When the egg matures, it leaves the ovaries and drifts through the fallopian tube and into the uterus. The lining of the uterus is also thickened as a result of the hormone levels in the body and is therefore prepared for the arrival of the fertilized egg. If during this time the woman is impregnated, the fertilized egg will fasten itself onto the lining of the uterus. However, if the egg is not fertilized, the new hormonal changes cause the lining to slip away - resulting in menstruation. The discharge consists of the lining of the uterus along with a little fresh blood that is caused by the breaking of very fine blood vessels within the uterus that are severed when the lining is torn away.
There are a number of different menstrual problems that women encounter with regards to their menstrual cycles. Some experience significantly more pain than others, while some women may experience frustratingly inconsistent cycles. Other women may even experience a little bleeding in between cycle - which could cause a lot of mental stress as the reason for this may occasionally remain unknown. There are no natural methods to suppress menstruation and any changes involving the disruption of your body clock are usually unhealthy. Newer forms of birth control make this a very real possibility, but you should consult your gynecologist to identify if any of these options will have a negative long term effect on your body.
answered by M W