What is the average woman cycle

The menstrual cycle is the monthly series of changes a woman's body goes through in preparation for the possibility of pregnancy. Each month, one of the ovaries releases an egg — a process called ovulation. At the same time, hormonal changes prepare the uterus for pregnancy. If ovulation takes place and the egg isn't fertilized, the lining of the uterus sheds through the vagina.

This is a menstrual period. The menstrual cycle, which is counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next, isn't the same for every woman.

Menstrual flow might occur every 21 to 35 days and last two to seven days. For the first few years after menstruation begins, long cycles are common.

However, menstrual cycles tend to shorten and become more regular as you age. Your menstrual cycle might be regular — about the same length every month — or somewhat irregular, and your period might be light or heavy, painful or pain-free, long or short, and still be considered normal.

Within a broad range, "normal" is what's normal for you. Keep in mind that use of certain types of contraception, such as extended-cycle birth control pills and intrauterine devices IUDs , will alter your menstrual cycle. Talk to your health care provider about what to expect.

When you get close to menopause, your cycle might become irregular again. However, because the risk of uterine cancer increases as you age, discuss any irregular bleeding around menopause with your health care provider. To find out what's normal for you, start keeping a record of your menstrual cycle on a calendar. Begin by tracking your start date every month for several months in a row to identify the regularity of your periods.

For some women, use of birth control pills can help regulate menstrual cycles. Treatment for any underlying problems, such as an eating disorder, also might help. However, some menstrual irregularities can't be prevented.

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health. People using the mini-pill may experience irregular bleeding, reduced bleeding, or no bleeding at all The injection and the implant both work to stop ovulation, which prevents hormone cycling 28, Both of these birth control methods can cause unpredictable or irregular bleeding patterns 28, The number of bleeding or spotting days tends to decrease over time with the implant or the shot and may result in no bleeding at all, particularly for people using the shot All of these changes are typical with these forms of birth control.

When using a hormonal IUD , you may not have a typical cycle. Most people will continue to ovulate while using a hormonal IUD Ovulation is more likely the longer you've had your IUD and with the IUDs that contain lower doses of progestin 36,38, Bleeding pattern while using a hormonal IUD does not necessarily indicate whether ovulation occurs during a cycle—you can have no bleeding and still be regularly ovulating 36, Bleeding usually lessens over time and some people will stop bleeding completely while using a hormonal IUD 9.

That means the majority of your cycles should be 24—38 days long, which is the typical range for cycle length in adults 3. Some people using a copper IUD may notice that their period is heavier and longer, or they may experience unscheduled spotting, but these side effects often improve over time 9.

Download Clue to track your menstrual cycle length. Article was originally published on May 17, Science is evolving each day on how coronavirus affects pregnancy, lactation, and postpartum. When you subscribe to Clue Plus, you don't only get new features: you also fund important research, support data privacy, Clue Birth Control.

Close main menu Homepage Encyclopedia. Menstrual Cycle. Birth Control. About Clue. App Store Play Store. Download Clue to track your cycle length and changes.

Track your period, PMS, cravings, and more in the Clue app. Your body is not a clock, and variation in your menstrual cycle is normal. By providing your email, you agree to the Quartz Privacy Policy. Skip to navigation Skip to content. Discover Membership. Editions Quartz. More from Quartz About Quartz. Follow Quartz. These are some of our most ambitious editorial projects. From our Special Project. Women and their allies are taking bold steps towards achieving gender equality in the workplace.