What's the menstrual cycle? 

The menstrual cycle is the monthly series of changes a woman's body goes through in preparation for the possibility of pregnancy. Each month, one of the ovaries releases an egg, a process called ovulation. At the same time, hormonal changes prepare the uterus for pregnancy. If ovulation takes place and the egg isn't fertilized, the lining of the uterus sheds through the vagina. This is a menstrual period.

What's normal? 

The amount of blood that comes out of your body is called your menstrual flow. Whether your flow is light, moderate, or heavy, it's all considered normal. How long your period lasts also varies. The time from the first sign of blood to the last is usually in the 3-to-5-day range. Any length from 2 days to a week is normal for a period. 

The menstrual cycle, which is counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next, isn't the same for every woman. For most women, the average cycle is 28 days, although anything from 21 to 35 days is considered normal. For the first few years after menstruation begins, long cycles are common, but menstrual cycles tend to shorten and become more regular as you age. However, contraception will alter your monthly bleeding pattern. 

Your menstrual cycle might be regular or somewhat irregular, and your period might be light or heavy, painful or pain-free, long or short, and still be considered normal. When it comes to periods, "normal" covers a lot of ground. The only true normal is what's normal for you. However, Changes in your menstrual bleeding pattern, on the other hand, are sometimes considered abnormal and may be a sign of another condition.

How can I track my menstrual cycle? 

Closely tracking your menstrual cycles and other monthly changes on a regular basis has many benefits, whether you’re a woman thinking about getting pregnant, trying to prevent conception, assessing gynecological problems, understanding your sexuality and body or simply assessing your overall health.

The best way to track your period really means the best way for you. You can keep a record of your menstrual cycle through a calendar or an app on your phone. Begin by tracking your start date and end date every month for several months in a row to identify the regularity and length of your periods. You can also track the heaviness of your flow, pain, abnormal bleeding and other changes through an app, and in just 3 months, you can get a picture of what’s normal for you.

What causes menstrual cycle irregularities? 

Menstrual irregularities will occur when periods occur less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart, missing three or more periods in a row, erratic periods having been regular, lighter or heavier flow, longer periods than 7 days, painful periods with cramping, nausea or vomiting and bleeding or spotting between periods. 

Menstrual irregularities are caused by pregnancy, breast-feeding, eating disorders, extreme weight loss, excessive exercising, going off birth control, uterine or cervical cancer, complications associated with pregnancy, including miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy,  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is an endocrine system disorder, premature ovarian failure/ primary ovarian insufficiency, which is the loss of normal ovarian function before age 40, Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is an infection of the reproductive organs or due to uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous growths of the uterus, which can cause heavy and prolonged menstrual periods.

What can I do to prevent menstrual irregularities? Who to contact?  

Having kept track of your period and recognizing that an aspect of your cycle has changed, consult your doctor if you face any menstrual irregularities mentioned above. Your doctor will ask you about your menstrual cycle and medical history. He or she will perform a physical examination, including a pelvic exam and sometimes a Pap test. The doctor might also order certain tests, including blood tests to rule out anemia or other medical disorders;  vaginal cultures, to look for infections; a pelvic ultrasound exam to check for uterine fibroids, polyps or an ovarian cyst; or an endometrial biopsy, in which a sample of tissue is removed from the lining of the uterus, to diagnose endometriosis, hormonal imbalance, or cancerous cells. 

For some women, use of birth control pills can help regulate menstrual cycles. Treatment for any underlying problems, such as an eating disorder, also might help. However, some menstrual irregularities can't be prevented. You can take some self-care precautionary measures such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, changing your tampons or sanitary napkins approximately every four to six hours to avoid toxic shock syndrome and prevent infections, and see a doctor for regular check-ups. It is important to understand how to start tracking your menstrual cycle and what to do about irregularities, so do read and educate yourself.