Many women have questions regarding their menstrual cycle.  The women’s health care providers at MSU Student Health are available to answer and address your concerns.

Knowing what a normal menstrual cycle is can be very helpful.  A typical healthy young woman will have a menstrual period about every 28 to 32 days.  The length of the cycle is counted from the first day of bleeding until the next month’s bleeding begins.  The number of days a woman bleeds can range from 1 to 8 days. Some women experience menstrual cramps with their periods.  These cramps can range from mild to severe (dysmenorrhea). Severe menstrual cramps can be very difficult to deal with and pose a significant health concern for women who suffer from them.  Some women also experience significant mood disorders such as depression and anxiety associated with their menstrual cycle or the 2 weeks prior to bleeding.  This condition is sometimes referred to as “Premenstrual Syndrome” or PMS (Link).  Other menstrual problems can include heavy bleeding, irregular periods, bleeding in between periods and late periods.  In young women the most common reason for a late or irregular period is pregnancy.  It is important that you talk to a health care person if you are experiencing any problems with your menstrual cycle or period.  Your MSU Student Health care provider can help you with your menstrual concerns, please contact us for an appointment.

For more information about menstruation you can access these sites:

www.familydoctor.org (menstrual cycle flow chart)
www.womenshealth.gov

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 9/21/2007