By Maggie Landwermeyer, MD
Hill Country OB/GYN Associates
It is pretty much universal…most women hate their period. We call it by many endearing nicknames: “Aunt Flo”, “The Monthly Curse,” – you get the idea. We all know it is a necessary evil for reproductive health. Let’s take a closer look at the menstrual cycle and learn about it.
Ovulation occurs when a mature egg is released into the fallopian tube in hopes of conception and subsequent pregnancy. Calculating the day of ovulation is kind of tricky. This is because it is typically a constant 14 days from ovulation to the first day of menstrual flow. However, the number of days between the first day of the period and ovulation is variable. To determine ovulation, count backwards 14 days from the first day of bleeding. This is typically the day that ovulation occurred in the previous cycle. You should be able to then predict when the next ovulation is likely to occur.
The lining of the uterus thickens throughout the month in hopes of sustaining a pregnancy. However, if the egg is not fertilized by the sperm, hormonal signals cause the lining of the uterus to shed. This is the menstrual bleed. The menstrual cycle begins (on average) at age 13 and ends (on average) at age 52. The range of normal can be from 21 to 35 days from Cycle Day 1 to the next Cycle Day 1. Average length of bleeding ranges from 3 days to 10 days.
Hemorrhage concerns occur if a woman soaks through a pad/tampon an hour for 2 consecutive hours, or becomes light-headed, dizzy, or feels like she may pass out. Contact your provider if these symptoms occur.
Maggie Landweiler, MD, Hill Country OB-GYN Associates, anaelezea jinsi wanawake wanavyoweza kuepuka kuanguka kwa sababu ya hali ya kawaida ya hedhi. Tunaita kwa majina mengi ya utani: "Mama Flo", "Laana ya Kila Mwezi", "unaelewa wazo. Sisi sote tunajua ni uovu unaohitajika kwa afya ya uzazi. Hebu tuchunguze kwa undani zaidi mzunguko wa hedhi na kujifunza juu yake. Ovulation hutokea wakati yai kukomaa ni iliyotolewa katika bomba la utumbo katika matumaini ya mimba na mimba ya baadaye. Kuamua tarehe ya ovulation ni vigumu. Kwa kawaida, ni siku 14 kutoka ovulation hadi siku ya kwanza ya hedhi. Hata hivyo, idadi ya siku kati ya siku ya kwanza ya hedhi na ovulation hutofautiana. Ili kujua wakati wa ovulation, hesabu nyuma siku 14 kutoka siku ya kwanza ya kutokwa na damu. Hii kwa kawaida ni siku ambayo ovulation ilitokea katika mzunguko wa awali. Kisha unapaswa kuwa na uwezo wa kutabiri wakati ovulation ijayo inawezekana kutokea. Uso wa tumbo la uzazi huongezeka mwezi mzima kwa matumaini ya kudumisha mimba. Hata hivyo, ikiwa yai halizaliwi na shahawa, ishara za homoni husababisha utando wa tumbo la uzazi kuondolewa. Hii ni damu ya hedhi. Mzunguko wa hedhi huanza (kwa wastani) katika umri wa miaka 13 na kumalizika (kwa wastani) katika umri wa miaka 52. Kipindi cha kawaida cha siku 21 hadi 35 kutoka siku ya kwanza ya mzunguko hadi siku ya pili ya mzunguko. Kwa wastani, muda wa kutokwa na damu ni siku tatu hadi kumi. Msaada wa damu hutokea ikiwa mwanamke anaingiza kupitia pad au tamponi kwa saa moja kwa masaa mawili mfululizo, au anakuwa na kichwa nyepesi, kizunguzungu, au anahisi kama anaweza kuzimia. Wasiliana na mtoa huduma wako ikiwa dalili hizi zinatokea.