Menstruation: fact and figures

Menstruation is amazing part of a woman's body function. Here are some facts and figures:

• While it may seem like a lot of blood is lost, the average cycle only produces between 10-85ml, which is around three tablespoons.
• Day 1 of your menstrual cycle is the first day of bleeding.
• The average cycle is 28 days, but may be longer or shorter depending on the individual (anywhere from 21-35 days is considered normal).
• On average a girl will start menstruation at age 13 (called menarche) and will continue until she's around 51 (called menopause).
• In the mid-1800s the average age for a girl to start her period was 16 or 17. Better nutrition has contributed to the significant decline in the age for menarche.
• The colour of blood loss can vary from dark brown to bright red, depending on how old the blood is and how oxygen has affected it.
• In years gone by, girls were told they could not swim, have a bath or wash their hair while they had their period. This is most certainly a myth, it's important to have good hygiene at all times, especially when you have your period. You can swim, you will just need to use a tampon.
• While many woman suffer from period pain, not all will. If your period is heavier you are more likely to suffer monthly pain.
• Some nicknames for your period include: Aunty Flo, the monthly, on the rags, 'the time of the month', crimson tide, under repairs, crimson tide, the curse and a whole host of weird and silly things.
• Some women who live together or spend a great deal of time together discover their cycles become in sync.
• The blood you lose while on the contraceptive pill is not considered to be a 'real' period. It is also possible not to have a monthly blood loss while you're on the pill.
• While a menstrual cycle may have hereditary factors, a daughter's cycle can be quite different to her mother's.

Find all articles relating to puberty, girls and menstruation.

This article was written by Corinne Draper for Kidspot, New Zealand's best parenting resource.