Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

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Periods, irregular

Menstruation is the periodic (approximately monthly) shedding of the lining of the womb (endometrium).

Menstruation or periods start at puberty (9 to 15 years) and continue until the menopause (45 to 55 years). The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, but commonly vary between 24 days and 35 days.

After puberty, most women develop a regular menstrual cycle with a relatively consistent length of time between periods. Menstrual bleeding normally lasts between 2 and 7 days, with the average length of bleeding being 5 days.