How long does a menstrual cycle last?

Let's see what a menstrual cycle is

A menstrual cycle is a natural process that occurs every month in women of childbearing age. It is divided into four phases:

• menstruation (also called periods),
• the follicular phase during which an egg is created,
• ovulation, which sees the release of the egg from the ovaries,
• and the luteal phase, which corresponds to the body's preparation for implantation in the event of fertilization.

The four phases of the menstrual cycle are regulated by hormones and prepare the body for a possible pregnancy. If fertilization does not occur, the cycle ends with menstruation: a new cycle begins!

So, what is the “normal” length of a menstrual cycle?

The length of a cycle is the number of days between the first day of a menstruating person's period. Contrary to popular belief, there is no normal length for a menstrual cycle. A majority of women have a menstrual cycle between 24 and 32 days , with an average of 28 days . These durations are healthy and are not, in themselves, limits to women's fertility.

In a 28-day menstrual cycle, the duration of the phases that make it up is distributed approximately as follows:

• 13 days for the follicular phase (menstruation and follicular phase overlap)
• 1 day for ovulation
• 14 days for the luteal phase

These phases vary with the length of your menstrual cycle.

⚡ Cycle lengths can change throughout a woman's life . Several factors affect the length and regularity of menstrual cycles. We'll discuss these factors further below in this article.

Why this figure of 28 days?

The figure of 28 days fixed for the duration of menstrual cycles is nothing more nor less than a construction of doctors of the past which has been anchored in popular beliefs and continues to spread today.

Indeed, women were associated with the moon and lunar cycles last 28 days: the length of women's menstrual cycles was aligned with the lunar cycles.

More than the length of cycles: the regularity of cycles

Beyond the length of your menstrual cycle (the number of days between periods), it's also worth considering the regularity of your menstrual cycle. This refers to the repetition of your menstrual cycle length. Is your menstrual cycle always the same length, or does it vary from month to month?

Just as cycle lengths can vary throughout a woman's life, their regularity can also vary greatly due to various factors. It's a good idea to track your cycle lengths over the long term.

I have short menstrual cycles

Your menstrual cycles are shorter than 28 days, meaning you have shorter cycles than most people who menstruate. However, your menstrual cycle will be considered short if it lasts less than 21 days.

💡Short and/or light periods do not necessarily mean that you have short menstrual cycles. They are two different concepts. To check if your menstrual cycle is short, refer to the number of days between your first two days of period.

Having short menstrual cycles is usually harmless and harmless. It doesn't mean you'll have a harder time getting pregnant or that you'll experience any health problems. However, it can be annoying in your daily life because you'll have your periods more frequently.

When should you worry about a short menstrual cycle?

You should talk to a healthcare professional about your cycle length if:

1. your cycle is less than 21 days
2. over a period of more than 6 months

A short menstrual cycle, repeated over the long term, can thus be a sign of medical conditions that disrupt the hormonal system or the reproductive system. This is why it may be a good idea to consult a healthcare professional and share your concerns on this subject: a general practitioner, a gynecologist, or a midwife. These professionals will answer your questions and assess your medical situation to provide you with an answer.

My short menstrual cycles bother me

Having a short menstrual cycle means, for some women, having periods multiple times a month. This can be particularly debilitating and doesn't have to be inevitable: you can use hormonal contraception to artificially lengthen your cycles and make them easier to manage. They will then be punctuated by your contraception.

To this end, we can only recommend that you consult a healthcare professional: a general practitioner, a gynecologist or a midwife. This person will assess your medical situation, take into account your medical history, answer your questions and will be able to prescribe the hormonal contraception best suited to your profile.

I have long menstrual cycles

Your menstrual cycles last longer than 28 days: you therefore have longer menstrual cycles than most menstruating people. A menstrual cycle will be considered long if it lasts longer than 35 days: between 28 and 38 days, the menstrual cycle is considered average.

💡Long and/or heavy periods do not necessarily mean that you have long menstrual cycles. They are two different concepts. To check if your menstrual cycle is long, refer to the number of days between your first two days of period.

Experiencing long menstrual cycles is usually harmless and harmless. It doesn't mean you'll have a harder time getting pregnant or that you'll experience any health problems. However, it can be a cause for concern and may cause problems when it comes to getting pregnant.

When should you worry about a long menstrual cycle?

You should talk to a healthcare professional about your cycle length if:

1. your cycle is longer than 38 days
2. over a period of more than 6 months

Just as a short menstrual cycle can be a sign of various medical conditions, a long menstrual cycle over the long term can have medical factors. This is why it is important to consult a healthcare professional to communicate your concerns: a general practitioner, a gynecologist or a midwife will be able to answer your questions and conduct further tests.

Help! 👋 My cycles are irregular, is this serious?

Menstrual irregularity is most often without cause and without serious consequences. However, it can be disturbing in everyday life (especially when anticipating the occurrence of one's period) and in the context of a pregnancy project, as the day of ovulation and fertility can be very variable.

Menstrual cycle irregularity refers to having cycles that vary greatly in length from one month to the next. Sometimes your cycle lasts 28 days, sometimes 32 days, sometimes 24 days. The duration of menstruation can also vary, as can the symptoms associated with your cycles (stomach cramps of varying severity, breast pain of varying duration, etc.).

Menstrual irregularities are common in newly menstruating teenage girls, as are people who have used hormonal contraception (pill, hormonal IUD, implant, etc.) for a long time before stopping. Other factors, such as heredity, also come into play.

When should you worry about an irregular cycle?

You should talk to a healthcare professional about your cycle length if:

1. the variation in your cycles exceeds 9 days (for example, a 24-day cycle that increases to 31 days the following month).
2. over a period of more than 6 months

Long-term menstrual irregularity can be linked to various hormonal and/or reproductive organ conditions. Consulting a healthcare professional such as a general practitioner, gynecologist, or midwife is a good idea in this context to conduct the necessary tests and ensure that everything is going well.

When should I worry? 😟

Let's repeat it again: cycle length (long or short) and cycle irregularity are, most often, nothing to worry about. Many factors can be involved in the length and irregularity of the menstrual cycle , and these do not necessarily have serious causes or consequences.

However, the persistence of very short (less than 24 days), very long (more than 38 days) or irregular (variation greater than 9 days) cycles, beyond six months, may raise questions. Do not hesitate to consult a healthcare professional to ask your questions and answer your concerns and questions. They will conduct the necessary tests based on your profile and symptoms.

Difficulty getting pregnant

If your cycle is long, short, and/or irregular, and you're having trouble getting pregnant, it may be related. In this case, consulting your healthcare professional is a good idea. You can talk to them about the length and irregularity of your cycles, and after assessing your profile and medical situation, they can prescribe the necessary medical tests. If you're looking to better track your cycle, you can use a basal thermometer to identify your ovulation period naturally .

I want this cycle tracking thermometer >

The disappearance of your cycles

If your irregular cycles result in the disappearance of your periods, it is also important to consult your healthcare professional. Indeed, the disappearance of periods is called amenorrhea and can be due to pregnancy, menopause, or various health issues (anorexia can cause the disappearance of periods). This will help you understand the cause.

Factors influencing the length of a menstrual cycle

The duration and regularity of menstrual cycles can be influenced by various factors, some more serious than others. These factors can also add up to an embarrassing cocktail effect.

Heredity

The primary factor that influences the length and regularity of menstrual cycles is heredity. In other words, your cycles are likely to be similar to those of the women in your family—mother, grandmothers, aunts, etc. Don't hesitate to ask questions within your family if you can and feel comfortable with the subject.

Age

During adolescence, young women often have very irregular menstrual cycles. Their genitals and associated hormones are still developing, and regularity can take several years to stabilize. This can be a stressful time for some girls, who sometimes experience leaks due to the irregularity of their periods and the difficulty of anticipating them. To overcome these situations, you can opt for menstrual panties for teenage girls with medium or heavy flow.

I want these menstrual panties for teens >

For most women, the menstrual cycle then stabilizes before being disrupted again by a new stage in the life of every menstruating person: menopause. Because during this period, the number of ovaries becomes increasingly limited, the body gradually struggles to produce more. As a result, ovulation may not occur and the cycle may lengthen.

These two stages are normal in the life of a menstruating person, so there's no need to worry. However, it may be worth consulting your doctor, if only to ask questions and reassure yourself.

Hormones

We told you about it in our article on the menstrual cycle: five different hormones affect the menstrual cycle . It is therefore quite logical that in the event of a hormonal disorder and/or a disruption in their number and presence in our body, menstrual cycles are impacted.

Stress

Because it has the ability to disrupt a person's hormonal functioning, stress can be the source of problems with the length and regularity of the menstrual cycle.

How can stress affect your period and menstrual cycle? Stress can lead to increased production of stress hormones, such as cortisol. These hormones can disrupt normal hormonal balance and affect the production of other hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. This disrupts your menstrual cycle and delays your period. If you're currently experiencing stress, discover our natural solutions to soothe, relax, and regulate your body and mind . You'll find CBD oil , dietary supplements , and anti-stress infusions !

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Contraceptive methods

Hormonal contraception (pill, implant, hormonal IUD, etc.) has an impact on the length of the menstrual cycle. It is in fact the hormones released into the body by contraception that will block / regulate / trigger the menstrual cycle. It is with this in mind that you can take hormonal contraception to lengthen a menstrual cycle that is too short or regulate an irregular menstrual cycle.

Furthermore, stopping hormonal contraception can mean a change in your menstrual cycles: it is not uncommon for women who had a menstrual cycle of X days before contraception to have a menstrual cycle of Y days after contraception. The duration and abundance of periods can also be permanently modified.

💡Note: While the copper IUD is known to lengthen the duration and abundance of periods, it is not expected to affect the length and regularity of your menstrual cycle. That said, it is possible that the stress of having the IUD inserted could affect your cycle.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

The occurrence of pregnancy has a lasting impact on menstrual cycles. It is even one of the reasons why the menstrual cycle stops (there are some exceptions, notably in cases of denial of pregnancy). It then resumes at the end of the pregnancy, this is the return of menstruation , a particularly fertile period for women.

Because it stimulates the hormone prolactin, which slows the resumption of the menstrual cycle, breastfeeding can block the resumption of the menstrual cycle after childbirth. It is even a natural method of contraception , although it is not 100% effective.

Furthermore, a menstruating person's menstrual cycles can change permanently following pregnancy. It is not uncommon for women who had a menstrual cycle of X days before pregnancy to have a menstrual cycle of Y days after childbirth. The duration and abundance of periods can also be permanently altered, as can symptoms related to the menstrual cycle.

Medicines

Taking certain medications can affect a woman's menstrual cycle . Aside from hormonal contraceptives, which specifically affect the menstrual cycle, certain medications such as oral corticosteroids, antidepressants, antipsychotics, certain vaccines, and cancer drugs can disrupt the cycle and cause periods to be delayed or absent for several months.

If you are currently on treatment and notice a change in the occurrence of your cycles, do not hesitate to ask your doctor for more information.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome and other diseases

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that affects the ovaries in menstruating women of reproductive age. It is characterized by the presence of multiple cysts in the ovaries and can have other consequences such as menstrual irregularity and hormonal imbalances leading to acne, increased body hair (hirsutism), and hair loss. It is estimated that 10% of women are affected, with more or less serious consequences that can range from menstrual irregularity to infertility.

PCOS isn't the only condition that can impact your menstrual cycle. Endometriosis, ovarian cancer, and even depression and anorexia can disrupt your menstrual cycle and make it irregular—or even cause amenorrhea. That's why it's important to consult your doctor about these issues if you have concerns or experience irregularities that last longer than several months.

Smoking

If you've been looking for a good reason to quit smoking, you've come to the right place. It's a little-known fact, but smoking also affects your menstrual cycle , making it irregular. This is for two reasons:

1. Smoking causes a decrease in estrogen secretion
2. Smoking affects the liver by causing an acceleration of the destruction of these hormones

As a result, menstruating people who smoke are more likely to experience menstrual cycle disturbances, such as irregular cycles and increased pain.

Alcohol

Alcohol consumption affects the body's hormone levels. After drinking alcohol, numerous studies ( 1989 , 1993 , 2010 ) have found an increase in estrogen levels, and sometimes an increase in testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH). However, these hormonal changes are more likely to occur with heavy and recurrent alcohol consumption.

People who chronically consume alcohol may experience various menstrual problems, such as prolonged absence of periods , irregular cycles or anovulation (absence of ovulation during the menstrual cycle).

Weight gain / weight loss

Drastic and restrictive diets that lead to sudden weight loss, such as obesity, are the cause of irregular cycles. People with anorexia may lose their periods (amenorrhea), while obese people naturally produce more male sex hormones (androgens), leading to a reduction in ovulation and therefore in periods.

Furthermore, the faster the weight gain or loss, the more the body is disrupted and the more the menstrual cycle can be altered.

Whatever your situation, don't hesitate to consult your doctor if you notice changes in your menstrual cycle following a change in weight. They will be able to help you.

And even travel!

Fun fact, to lighten your mind a little and help you assimilate all this information, another factor in the change in the length and regularity of menstrual cycles is... travel! And yes, traveling, and especially changing time zones, can disrupt your body enough to shut it down or impact the length of your menstrual cycles! Everything should gradually fall back into place, without any intervention on your part.

If, after a few months of traveling, your cycles have not returned to normal, don't hesitate to tell your doctor. It's possible that other reasons could be at play.

Why is it important to know the length of your menstrual cycle?

As a person who menstruates, it's easy to see the benefit of knowing the length of your menstrual cycle to anticipate your period and avoid finding yourself without menstrual protection on the day... But that's not the only reason why it's important to know the length of your cycle !

Anticipate your period

Having a rough idea of when your period is due can help you prepare yourself, both physically and emotionally, and avoid being caught off guard. Whether it's to keep essentials on hand or to better navigate the emotional roller coaster of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), anticipating your period can be a sweet comfort.

Also read: Choosing the right menstrual protection >

Anticipate your symptoms

Some women, perhaps even you, experience more pronounced symptoms during their cycle, such as period fatigue , cramps, bloating, headaches, or breast pain. By being aware of your cycle phase, you can anticipate and alleviate these symptoms with targeted approaches.

Understanding and living better with your moods

Along the same lines, many women experience mood swings throughout their cycle due to hormonal fluctuations . Emotional irritation, stress before menstruation, a tendency to feel annoyed or have depressive episodes before or after menstruation , and paranoia... Understanding your moods and aligning them with a time in your menstrual cycle can help you better understand yourself, better manage your emotions, and more easily share your feelings with those close to you.

Strengthen your emotional well-being

For some women, tracking their cycle can have both a spiritual and emotional dimension, helping them feel more in tune with their body's natural rhythms. Ovulation and period rituals have been practiced since the dawn of time.

Planning (or not) your pregnancy

Are you longing to start a family? Understanding your cycle and identifying your ovulation days can be a valuable ally, bringing you one step closer to that sweet dream of motherhood.

On the other hand, if this isn't your plan and you'd like to explore other paths, this knowledge will give you greater peace of mind to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. It's worth noting, however, that natural contraception based solely on ovulation and fertile days isn't foolproof. Consider adding another method of contraception to ensure you don't get pregnant.

Spot irregularities

Sometimes, an erratic cycle can be a reflection of minor health issues, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or fibroids, to name a few. By keeping a close eye on your cycle, you can detect these irregularities earlier and consult a healthcare professional.

Communicate better with healthcare professionals

If you have concerns about your cycle or reproductive health, knowing the length and specifics of your cycle can be invaluable during medical consultations. It is important to be able to provide detailed information to your healthcare professional.

Anticipating menopause

As menopause approaches, cycles can become more irregular. By tracking her cycle, a woman can better understand and anticipate the changes that occur during this transition.

Menopause isn't an easy stage for everyone. From perimenopause to the end of menstruation, discover our products for hot flashes , vaginal dryness , and dry skin .

Learn how to calculate your cycle length!

As we've mentioned, knowing how to track your cycle length is helpful and can help you better understand your body and take better care of yourself. To calculate your menstrual cycle length, follow these steps: identify the first day of your cycle, count the days until the start of a new cycle, and repeat this process for at least three cycles.

Also read: Calculate your ovulation date >

Identify the first day of your cycle

The first step in calculating your cycle length is to identify the first day of your menstrual cycle. It's easiest to start counting from the first day of your period. Depending on your period, this may be spotting or actual blood flow.

Count the days

The first day of your period counts as 1 day.

From this day, count the following days until your period returns. This indicates that you have completed a full menstrual cycle. This will give you an idea of the length of your menstrual cycle.

To help you make this calculation, you can use your calendar or you can rely on an app to track your cycle. The latter also allows you to track your symptoms at different times of the cycle, which can be useful. The goal is not to add to your mental load, so see what helps you the most.

Follow at least 3 cycles

From one month to the next, your cycle can vary by a few days or much more (we talked about it in this article: there can sometimes be up to 10 days of difference!). Moreover, it is the repetitiveness of an irregularity (cycle too long, cycle too short, irregular cycle) that signals a health problem.

This is why it is interesting to follow at least 3 menstrual cycles in a row to get an idea of the average length of your menstrual cycle.

Prefer simplicity? Download a tracking app!

Don't want to mark your calendar every day of your period? Would you like to have a clearer idea of the length of your menstrual cycles so you can plan ahead, consider getting pregnant, or answer questions you may have about your health?

We highly recommend that you trust a menstrual cycle tracking app . Often geared toward tracking your period, there are a growing number of period apps that allow you to record and track the symptoms that accompany your menstrual cycle.

These applications save you mental load and are an important source of information for the healthcare professionals who monitor you on a daily basis.

The menstrual cycle of menstruating people lasts between 24 and 32 days, far from the 28-day standard previously repeated. However, a shorter or longer menstrual cycle can be a daily occurrence without it being synonymous with a health problem, as heredity plays a large role in the length of the menstrual cycle. However, it is worth consulting a doctor if you notice significant variations in your menstrual cycle for more than six months.