Your menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your period. Your cycle prepares your body for a possible pregnancy. The average cycle lasts between 24 and 38 days.

Triggered by falling progesterone levels, menstruation (commonly referred to as a "period") is the cyclical shedding of the lining, and is a sign that pregnancy has not occurred. Each cycle …

Dec 5, 2025 · Menstrual cycle, recurring fluctuations in hormone levels that produce physical changes in the uterus and ovaries to prepare the female body for pregnancy. In adult women, …

If the egg does not become fertilized, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is shed during menstruation. The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. The cycle starts with the first day of …

Apr 22, 2023 · What's typical? The menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. The cycle isn't the same for everyone. Menstrual bleeding might …

Jan 13, 2025 · Throughout a monthly menstrual cycle, your body makes different amounts of chemicals called hormones to prepare for pregnancy. These changing hormone levels can …

Menstruation starts during puberty (the first period is called menarche) and stops permanently at menopause. (Menopause is defined as 1 year after the last menstrual cycle.) By definition, the …

Sep 4, 2025 · A menstrual cycle is a monthly process the female body goes through to prepare for pregnancy. Your brain and hormones (natural chemical messengers) tell your body how to …

What’s the menstrual cycle? Your menstrual cycle helps your body prepare for pregnancy every month. It also makes you have a period if you’re not pregnant. Your menstrual cycle and …

Apr 23, 2025 · Everyone’s menstrual cycle is different. This guide describes what’s normal, how to manage symptoms and optimize your health, and what abnormalities to watch out for.