A menstrual cycle is a monthly occurrence for women of childbearing age, and it disappears after menopause. Knowing your cycle length is crucial, whether you're trying to conceive or simply like to know when to expect your period.
But does every woman have a 28-day cycle? The simple answer is no. Many women have longer or shorter cycles, but it's still a regular menstrual pattern. Knowing your body and specific menstrual cycle helps you understand when you can get pregnant or realize if an issue has arisen.
Our team at New England Women's Healthcare specializes in fertility, infertility, and women's health. Our OB/GYN physicians help you understand your menstrual health through Pap smears, regular pelvic exams, and issues like PCOS that could affect your cycle length.
A menstrual cycle runs from the first day of bleeding one month until the first day of bleeding in the next month. During this cycle, the uterus sheds its lining if there's no pregnancy in your period.
The body triggers the menstrual cycle with a hormone change at the beginning of your period. Four specific stages follow:
Your period, or menses, is the first day of the menstrual cycle. It happens when you're not pregnant, and the body eliminates the uterine lining through the vagina. The menses phase lasts 3-7 days.
The follicular phase starts on day one of your period and ends when you ovulate. At this time, estrogen levels rise, causing the uterine lining to thicken. The body also releases follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which causes follicles in the ovary to grow into eggs.
Ovulation can happen at any time but usually occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle. Luteinizing hormone (LH) causes one of the ovaries to release a mature egg, which is ovulation.
The luteal phase lasts from the day of ovulation until the start of the next period. During the luteal phase, progesterone rises, which prepares the uterine lining for a fertilized egg. If conception doesn't happen, progesterone and estrogen levels decrease, ending in your period.
The 28-day menstrual cycle isn't necessarily a myth: Some women have a regular 28-day cycle monthly, but it's not always the norm. A menstrual cycle can range from 21-35 days long and still be "normal."
When we refer to a 28-day cycle, we're really telling you how long the average menstrual cycle lasts, not your specific circumstances. It's an easy way to break down the four weeks or so of a cycle so women know when to expect ovulation and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
For example, if you have a 28-day cycle, your period may last from day one through seven, with ovulation occurring on or around day 14. You would then expect to have PMS and period symptoms around day 21, with your period starting around day 28.
But for most women, that isn't the case. Your period can vary from month to month based on your overall health, a sudden illness, or even stress. It's normal to have a menstrual cycle outside of the 28-day average.
A "normal" menstrual cycle has various meanings. Still, it occurs when you have a period monthly, around the same time, without issues like abnormal vaginal bleeding or skipping periods due to problems like PCOS.
Women who have a regular menstrual cycle typically have a period every 21-35 days. That means your cycle could last only three weeks or as long as five weeks. Any variation within those two numbers is considered a regular cycle.
The tricky aspect of not having a 28-day cycle happens when you're trying to get pregnant. In a 28-day cycle, you would expect to ovulate on day 14, but many things affect the ovulation phase.
The best thing you can do if you have a longer or shorter cycle is track it with a phone app or a calendar. After a few months, you should know how long your menstrual cycle lasts.
Once you figure out how long your cycle lasts, you can find the middle and predict when you should ovulate. You can also use ovulation tests, which detect the spike in luteinizing hormone just before ovulation.
If these options aren't enough, our team offers fertility testing and advanced options to help you know the best time to try conceiving.
Call your nearest New England Women's Healthcare office to set up a consultation for abnormal menstrual cycles and fertility advice, or request an appointment on the website. We're a premier, full-service practice with convenient locations in Woburn and Wilmington, Massachusetts.
