Page Header Page Content Page Footer
For a better experience on always.com, please enable JavaScript in your browser.
  • Part of the P&G Family
  • P&G Good Everyday
  • Tampax
  • Always Discreet
United English
close
Please select a location
  • Asia
  • Chinese Mainland – Greater China
  • Hongkong SAR – Greater China
  • India
  • 日本
  • 대한민국
  • Philippines
  • Taiwan – Greater China
  • Europe
  • Deutschland
  • France
  • Portugal
  • Россия
  • Spain
  • Türkiye
  • United Kingdom
  • North America
  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • México
  • USA (English)
  • South America
  • Brasil
  • Africa
  • Republic of South Africa
  • Kenya
  • Egypt
contact us
sign in   register
Signing out
Do you want to continue? Continue
Always
Search
  • Shop Products
    • Menstrual Pads
      • Menstrual Pads
      • Infinity Pads with FlexFoam
      • Pure Cotton Pads with FlexFoam
      • Radiant Pads
      • Special Pads for Teens
      • Ultra Thin Pads
      • Maxi Pads
      • Overnight Pads
      • Pure Pads
      • All Pads
    • Daily Liners & Wipes
      • Daily Liners
      • Regular Liners
      • Thin Liners
      • Long Liners
      • All Liners
      • All Wipes
    • Period Underwear
      • Always ZZZ Disposable Overnight Period Underwear for Women
      • Period Underwear
    • Bladder Leak Protection
      • Bladder Leak Protection
      • Leaks can't stop you now! Find Liners, Pads and Underwear for sensitive bladders at AlwaysDiscreet.com
      • Shop Always Discreet >
    • Shop all products >
  • About Us
    • We Care About Your Safety
      • We Care About Your Safety
      • What’s in an Always pad?
      • What’s in an Always panty liner?
      • Your Questions, Our Answers
    • We Care About the Environment
      • We Care About the Environment
      • Sustainable Manufacturing
      • You Can Help: Tips for Proper Disposal
    • We Care About All Women & Girls
      • We Care About All Women & Girls
      • Empowering through Puberty Education
      • Our Epic Battle #LikeAGirl
      • Helping #EndPeriodPoverty
      • Helping Girls Around The World
      • Always COVID-19 Response
      • Period Protection covered by FSA and HSA
    • Learn about all of Always's sustainability efforts here >
  • Tips & Advice
      • Choosing a Pad
      • Your (First) Period
      • Puberty 101
      • Parents & Carers
      • "The Talk"
      • Pregnancy
      • Feeling Fresh Every Day
      • A Sensitive Bladder
      • See all tips & advice
    • See all tips & advice
  • Period Calculator
      • Use our period calculator
  • Rewards & Offers
  • Home //
  • Tips & Advice //
  • Your (First) Period //
  • The Basics on Your Monthly Menstrual Cycle
Print

The Basics on Your Monthly Menstrual Cycle

Your monthly menstrual cycle is something every girl should come to understand! Get the basics about your menstrual cycle.

Recommended 50 Times Recommend
Instagram Pinterest Facebook Twitter

YOU'RE ABOUT TO LEAVE ALWAYS

Before you go, you should know: The site where you're going may have different privacy practices than P&G. You may want to look at their policies.

Any personal info you provide on the other site will be managed by their privacy policy.

Share on

EmailShare

SHARE THIS IN AN EMAIL

The Basics on Your Monthly Menstrual Cycle

There are (#) errors on this page.
Email Service Unavailable
   
   
   
   
Send
Cancel

WE SENT YOUR EMAIL!

Your friend should get it any second.

Back to Always.com >

First things first: All women have different menstrual cycles. Whether you’re waiting for your first period or have been getting them for a while, just know that your cycle is most likely on a different schedule than your friends’ or mom’s.

Menstrual Cycle Monthly Timing

In your cycle, “day one” is the first day of your period, or the first day you begin to bleed. Your cycle starts over at the beginning of your next period.

This may come as a surprise, but your “monthly” menstrual cycle doesn’t always take place once a month. Although the average menstrual cycle is 28 days, your cycle could be anywhere from 21 to 35 days.

If you have a short cycle, you may have a period more often than once a month. On that note, if your cycle lasts longer, you’ll probably get fewer periods in a year.

How Hormones Control Your Cycle

OK — get ready for some serious health class talk.

Your reproductive system goes through a pattern that’s controlled by rising and falling levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Rising levels of hormones cause the ovary to develop an egg and release it, a phase called ovulation. After ovulation, hormones help the lining of the uterus grow thicker in case you get pregnant.

Each month, an egg is released by one of the ovaries and travels down the fallopian tube. If you don’t get pregnant, the egg leaves your body with your menstrual flow.

The levels of estrogen and progesterone fall, and the lining of the uterus leaves the body. This is your period (also known as menses).

Phew. That wasn’t too bad was it?

If you want to learn more, read about the phases of your menstrual cycle.


Sources:

  • The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Patient brochure 041
  • ACOG, Factsheet: Toolkit for Teen Care, 2nd Edition
  • ACOG, Medical Student Education Module 2008
  • Comprehensive Gynecology Review, 3rd edition; editors, Ling FW, Vontver LA, Smith RP
  • Bloom and Fawcett: A Textbook of Histology, 11th edition, by Don W. Fawcett
  • Emans, Laufer, Goldstein's Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 4th edition, by S. Jean Emans and Marc R. Laufer

Related Articles

Puberty Talk: Materials for Parents
Puberty talk materials for parents
Your Menstrual Cycle Phases
The Menstrual Cycle Phases: The Details
Period Calendar - Why Track Your Menstrual Cycle?
Period Calendar - Why Track Your Menstrual Cycle?

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

  • Infinity Size 1 Regular Pads with Wings, Unscented

    Always Infinity Size 1 Regular Pads with Wings, Unscented

    Star Rating
    ( 1637 )
  • Always Radiant Daily Liners, Regular, Wrapped

    Always Radiant Daily Liners, Regular, Wrapped

    Star Rating
    ( 429 )
  • Always Xtra Protect Extra Long Daily Liners

    Always Xtra Protection Daily Liners, Extra Long

    Star Rating
    ( 93 )
Feel shower fresh all day

Learn more >
Happy family

Puberty Talk: Materials for Parents

LEARN MORE
  • CONNECT WITH US
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SHOP MENSTRUAL PADS
  • Infinity Pads with FlexFoam
  • Ultra Thin Pads
  • Maxi Pads
  • Overnight Pads
  • Special Pads for Teens
  • Pure Pads
  • SHOP DAILY LINERS
  • Regular Liners
  • Thin Liners
  • Thong Liners
  • Long Liners
  • Special Liners for Teens
  • SHOP ALWAYS WIPES
  • Always Feminine Wipes
  • Always Radiant Wipes
  • MORE
  • Tips & Advice
  • Period Calculator
  • Offers
  • ABOUT US
  • We Care About Your Safety
  • We Care About the Environment
  • We Care About All Women & Girls
  • HELP & SUPPORT
  • Contact Us
  • Smartlabel For ingredients and more, select a product.
  • Related P&G Products:
  • P&G Everyday
  • |
  • Tampax
  • |
  • Always Discreet
    • BBB
  • Privacy
  • CA Privacy
  • Careers
  • Site Map
  • AdChoices Ad Choices
  • Terms & Conditions
  • © 2021 Procter & Gamble
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
close

close