How long do periods last?

Two days, four days, eight days, sometimes three days, sometimes ten days… Talking to many menstruators over the past few years has taught us that there's no one way to get your period. We all have different experiences with menstruation when it comes to the length of our periods . Over the past few months, you've asked us many questions about period length: how long they're normally supposed to last, how often, why it changes, is it normal, and so on. Today's article gathers these questions and offers our answers.

What to remember There's no such thing as normal when it comes to menstrual cycles: length, flow, symptoms. We're all different! The key is to observe your body first and foremost! Periods last on average between 2 and 8 days. The menstrual cycle lasts between 24 and 32 days. It is considered normal to have irregular cycles (of varying lengths) as long as the difference between these lengths does not exceed 7 days.

What exactly are periods?

Before answering your questions about periods, let's briefly review what periods are. Periods appear at puberty and are a sign that the female reproductive system is functioning properly and that fertilization has not occurred.

At the beginning of each female menstrual cycle , an egg develops in the ovarian follicles (follicular phase) before being released (ovulation). The body then prepares to be fertilized, notably by the thickening of the uterine lining, the endometrium, in order to allow the fertilized egg to settle there (luteal phase). If the egg is not fertilized, it dies and is expelled from the body at the same time as the endometrium: this is menstruation. This ballet is repeated during each menstrual cycle, orchestrated by the different sex hormones, notably estrogen and progesterone.

What is the so-called “normal” duration of periods?

The "normal" duration of menstruation is 3 to 8 days. When menstruation is within the normal range, menstruating people lose an average of between 25 ml and 80 ml of blood.

Furthermore, the duration of your period can vary from one cycle to the next for various reasons. As long as your period length remains within the so-called "normal" range, there's nothing to worry about. We'll tell you, a little later in this article, what should (or shouldn't) raise your suspicions.

What are “abnormal” period durations?

When periods last one day and cause almost no blood loss (less than 25 mL), we speak of hypomenorrhea . On the other hand, we speak of hypermenorrhea or hemorrhagic periods when they last more than 8 days and are very heavy, over 80 mL.

When they persist, these two conditions can be symptoms of health problems and mean that you may have difficulty conceiving. This is why they require seeing a doctor, especially if they persist over time (more than three consecutive cycles) without taking any contraception.

However, don't panic! The notion of normal when it comes to periods is chaotic . It's possible for your period to last only 2 days or, on the contrary, for 10 days, without it being a symptom of a health problem.

And what is the average frequency of periods?

The average frequency of periods , on the other hand, depends on the length of your menstrual cycle . The average length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days, but it is considered “normal” when it is between 24 and 32 days. It is also considered “normal” or “typical” to have irregular cycles as long as the difference between the durations is less than 7 days (if your cycle lasts 28 days, then 24, then 30, this is considered normal, as the difference does not exceed 7 days).

What are the so-called “abnormal” cycle durations?

Beyond 21 and 24 days we speak of a short menstrual cycle , while we speak of long menstrual cycles when the menstrual cycle exceeds 32 days.

Similar to "abnormal" period lengths, long-term "abnormal" menstrual cycle lengths can be a sign of health problems and can lead to difficulty getting pregnant. These conditions also require you to see a doctor, whether a general practitioner or specialist (especially a gynecologist), to better understand what's happening and determine the causes.

And, just like with “abnormal” period lengths, cycle lengths outside the average range may be completely normal for you and not a sign or cause of any health issues. Every body is unique and functions differently, so there’s no need to panic!

Why might the length and frequency of my periods be unregulated?

There are several reasons why your period duration or frequency may not be “normal,” or even why it may vary from one cycle to another. We detail these reasons below.

Life events

The duration of periods and menstrual cycles is closely linked to the periods of a woman's life . During puberty, periods are different from those during menopause, not to mention pregnancies, which can really change the game! Since hormonal fluctuations are particularly strong during these periods, it's obvious that periods are affected!

Genetics and heredity

As is often the case in the health field, genetics reigns supreme. If your mother and the women in your family all have short periods, it's likely that... you have short periods. And vice versa. So don't hesitate to ask if you feel it: it will be an opportunity to perhaps discover other similarities, such as shared premenstrual symptoms!

The random cycle

To quote a well-known expression: “Rules have their reasons that reason ignores”. And yes! The first cause that can explain a change in cycle or period duration is… nothing . For no reason , while everything is fine, you have no health problems, no stress in your life, no particular change, your menstrual cycle can suddenly change. Your premenstrual syndrome is stronger, with the ton of symptoms that accompany it, the length of your cycle changes, the length of your period changes. And everything can suddenly return to normal the next cycle, as if nothing had happened. It was just a slightly rougher menstrual cycle like the few we experience during our lives.

Stress and anxiety

Another reason that can impact the length of your cycles and periods is stress and anxiety . These can act punctually (if you have a period of high stress, during an exam or a move for example, your cycle can be affected) or chronically (an anxious person, prone to panic attacks, may see their cycles disrupted). Stress and anxiety have a role on hormones and this can generate more or less significant and more or less lasting disruptions.

The journey

Here's yet another reason your periods can suddenly go off-kilter: travel. When you travel, your routine is disrupted. There doesn't even have to be jet lag: the stress and changes in routine associated with travel can alone play havoc with your hormones and alter your cycles for a few months.

The practice of sport

The practice of sport, and more specifically intensive practice of sport , can also have an effect. Athletes who exercise at a high level, practicing several training sessions per day, can thus see their periods diminish, or even stop for some of them (amenorrhea). This is explained by the fact that the hormones of sport (dopamine, adrenaline) interfere with the sexual hormones and cause their levels to fluctuate, disrupting the precise mechanics of the cycles.

💡 Did you know? Having sex and masturbating during your period can shorten your period! Vaginal contractions during orgasm can lead to increased blood flow and a shorter period!

Significant weight variation and nutritional deficiencies

Significant weight variation in a short period of time (gain and loss) can also be linked to a significant change in the duration of periods . It can even lead to amenorrhea (disappearance of periods).

When weight loss is too intense, the body goes into survival mode and can stop ovulating. This is also the case when deficiencies are too severe, particularly iron deficiencies: young women with anemia may experience periods stopping. In the case of significant weight gain, hormones can fluctuate, leading to changes in the cycle. Diabetes can also be a factor in changing the duration of periods.

The use of contraception

Contraception , whether hormonal or not, can also have a significant effect on the duration of periods. Inserting a copper IUD (non-hormonal IUD) is known to increase the duration of periods in many women. Conversely , since periods induced by hormonal contraceptives (particularly contraceptive pills) are not “real” periods, their duration may be affected.

Diseases and treatments

The last reason that can lead to fluctuations in the duration of periods and menstrual cycles is related to the issue of illness . This, at different levels.

On the one hand, there are diseases that are strongly linked to hormones and the menstrual cycle, which have a direct link with changes in periods and cycles. These include endometriosis and PCOS . The former tends to cause long, hemorrhagic periods, while the latter tends to cause a slowdown in ovulation. These two conditions, which together affect around 20% of women (10% each), therefore impact periods and fertility.

On the other hand, diseases that affect the female reproductive organs (uterus, vagina, vulva) can cause bleeding and changes in cycles: sexually transmitted diseases, cervical cancer, etc.

Finally, medical treatments can affect the duration of periods, whether the condition is serious or not. For example, blood-thinning medications, such as anticoagulants, can increase bleeding. Medications that interact with hormones can also have this type of effect.

Our experts answer all your questions about the duration of periods

To provide you with more personalized answers, we've compiled a list of the specific questions you've sent us and forwarded them to our experts. Still have questions? Send them to us via chat 💬 and social media—we're here to help!

Is it normal for periods to last 7 days?

It is considered normal for periods to last 7 days . However, this is the upper average and, depending on your flow, it can be similar to so-called heavy or even hemorrhagic periods. If you lose more than 80 ml of blood and develop blood clots, we recommend that you consult a doctor.

Why does my period last 1, 2 or 3 days?

Light and/or very short periods can be caused by low progesterone levels or thin, fast-flowing blood. If your period lasts less than 2 days over a long period, it may be worth seeing a doctor to make sure everything is okay.

How long do periods last after 40?

As menopause approaches, during perimenopause, which begins after the age of 40, there is most often a change in the length of periods and the duration of cycles. For some postmenopausal people, the menstrual cycle becomes shorter, for others it becomes longer. The same goes for the duration of periods. Note: spotting (loss of droplets of blood) can last longer around the time of menstruation, up to 10 days, in particular due to the drop in hormone levels.

What are the dangerous days of the menstrual cycle?

The days when you're most likely to get pregnant if you don't use protection are the few days around ovulation—also known as the fertile window. While an egg has a lifespan of only 24 hours, sperm have a lifespan of 3 days in the female reproductive system. This is why there are 5 risky days in a cycle: the 3 days before ovulation, the day of ovulation, and the day the egg travels through the fallopian tubes.

To calculate the dangerous days of your cycle, it is therefore essential to know the day of your ovulation. Regardless of the length of your cycle, ovulation always occurs 14 days before your period. For a so-called “normal” cycle of 28 days, ovulation will therefore occur on the 14th day after the start of your period and the dangerous days will therefore be days 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. For a short cycle of 21 days, ovulation will occur on the 7th day after the start of your period and the dangerous days will therefore be days 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. And for a long cycle of 32 days, ovulation will occur on the 18th day of the cycle with dangerous days on days 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33. Finally, if your cycles are irregular in length, it will be more difficult to know your dangerous days precisely.

💡 Did you know? You can definitely get pregnant while you're still on your period! Protect yourself to limit your risks if you don't want to get pregnant. There are more and more male and/or female contraceptive methods available.

Can you induce your period?

Aside from taking hormones, especially hormonal contraception, which can trigger “false periods,” there’s no way to trigger your period earlier. Your body can even be mocking and deceiving you: the more you stress about not having your period, the more you can unintentionally delay it. Our bodies are really trolls sometimes! 🧌

And conversely, can you delay your period?

It is possible to delay your period by taking hormonal contraception. Some people opt to take contraception permanently to delay their periods, prevent them from occurring during a particular event (sports competition, wedding) or even stop them completely. This is particularly interesting for people who suffer from endometriosis: stopping periods helps slow the development of the endometrium! While for a long time the practice of stopping your period was frowned upon and criticized (it was thought that it impacted the female reproductive system), studies have recently shown that taking hormones continuously had no more negative effects than taking contraceptive hormones in general. Don't hesitate to talk to your doctor about it.

How do you know if your period is over?

Periods usually have a fluctuating flow depending on whether it is the beginning or end of the period. Generally, women observe:

• Spotting on the first day(s) of your period
• Heavy flow
• Flow decreasing
• End of period spotting

This variation in flow is bound to vary from one woman to another: some women experience heavy flow from the first day, while others just have spotting throughout their period. Have we already told you in this article that normal is a particular concept when it comes to periods?

Also, if your periods are usually of a fixed duration and have a fixed flow pattern (spotting / heavy flow / flow that subsides / spotting), there is a good chance that spotting that comes after a heavier flow is the mark of the end of your period.

To ensure you don't miss a single drop, we recommend wearing your sanitary protection until the last drop of blood. Disposable protection includes tampons and panty liners for light flow/spotting. Non-disposable protection includes menstrual panties for medium or light flow , and you can continue to wear your cup even at the end of your cycle.

All our menstrual panties with invisible seams >

🌈 On our e-shop, we love the Jho menstrual cup , perfect for beginners with its stem that makes it easy to remove. Made from 100% medical silicone and made in France, it's perfect! When it comes to menstrual cups, the size isn't so much related to your flow as it is to your vagina: size 1 will probably fit you better if you've never given birth vaginally, while size 2 will certainly suit you better if you've already given birth vaginally.

I want this menstrual cup >

When should you worry about abnormally long periods?

Generally, since menstrual cycles are particularly sensitive, it is recommended to be concerned about an abnormal duration of periods when the change is lasting (more than 3 consecutive cycles).

In other words, we recommend that you consult a general practitioner if:

your period lasts less than 2 days or more than 8 days;

• you lose less than 25mL of blood or more than 80mL of blood during your period (testing the menstrual cup for a few cycles is a good way to realize the amount of blood you lose during a cycle);
• Your periods have recently changed —they have become very short or very long—and this change seems to have settled in: you have been experiencing periods that are different from what you used to experience for more than 3 or 4 months.
• you have bleeding between your periods , at different times during your cycle;
• you have not had your period for more than three cycles (and pregnancy tests are negative);

As we've mentioned several times in this article, these changes in the length of your period aren't necessarily serious—on the contrary: there could be many benign reasons for them! That's why there's no need to be alarmed. Consulting a doctor will help you understand the reasons for the changes and/or rule out negative causes.

✋ Your GP or specialist may not find any reason to explain an abnormal period length. The lengths given here are averages: some people may deviate significantly from these lengths without their health being at risk or their fertility being damaged. As long as all the necessary tests are carried out and all risks are ruled out, there is nothing to worry about! Your body is just a little different from everyone else's!

How to track and calculate the date of your next period?

As a menstruating person, knowing when your period is due and having an idea of ​​its duration is essential for being able to organize yourself. It also helps reassure yourself if you have had unprotected or poorly protected sex (we can't tell you enough to protect yourself, but let's be honest, accidents happen!). Keeping track of your menstrual cycle is also important for your health: it's because you track your menstrual cycle that you'll be able to spot any changes over the long term.

To do this, several solutions are available to you:

• Identify your ovulation and count the days from its occurrence: there are always 14 days between your ovulation and your period. Also, if you know how to identify your ovulation, you will be able to anticipate the day of your period!

Keep a logbook: directly on your paper or digital diary or in a paper journal, you can record the first day of your period, its duration, your ovulation… Keeping this log will allow you to have a clear vision of your cycle, the duration of your period, your flow, its evolution and so on. You will also be able to note your premenstrual symptoms and have an idea of ​​your PMS.

Use an online tracking app: Menstrual cycle tracking apps , available on phones, allow you to clearly track your menstrual cycles. Often used by women who want to have children (especially because they specify ovulation and fertility periods), they are very good tools for tracking your cycles and recording your symptoms. We recommend them because they are more practical than a notebook and allow you to summarize your menstrual cycles (sometimes for a fee).