The behavior of women like the wind - it irritable and moody, the carefree and fun. But it is often to blame for not only her character. Undoubtedly, in today's society with rapid and hectic lifestyle it is becoming increasingly difficult to live and to control their emotions Emotions and culture: how to decipher the emotional code . But if you look deeper into the nature of the female body, the answer becomes obvious - all the processes, and accordingly, and behavior are regulated by periodic changes in the female reproductive organs under the influence of hormones. One of the factors mood swings are critical days. Their duration and pain depend not only emotions, but also health.

Critical days

Menstruation or, as they called the period of bleeding, critical days - is cyclical rejection of the functional layer of the endometrium (the mucous membrane of the uterus), which is accompanied by uterine bleeding Uterine bleeding outside of menstruation - a sign of a serious breach . Menstruation occurs due to hormonal changes in the body that is associated with regression of the corpus luteum and does not mean the release of "tainted" blood. In fact secretions contain very small amounts of blood mixed with mucus and uterine lining tissue.

The duration of menstruation of each woman individually and ranges from three to seven days. The period of heavy or moderate bleeding should last no more than two - to five days, and in the last two days of menstruation assumes the character of spotting. The volume of blood loss during the critical days is less than 50 ml, or 5-8 tablespoons per day.

Menstrual cycle

The menstrual cycle - a period lasting from the first day of menstruation to the first day of the next. The menstrual cycle should not be less than 21 days and more than 35 days. Any deviations in either direction are considered pathology. To understand what determines the duration of the critical days, and why they are there, it is necessary to recall the phases of the menstrual cycle.

• The first phase - follicular

Under the influence of hormones in the ovaries begin to grow the egg follicles, of which matures within one (sometimes two). This phase occupies about half of the menstrual cycle. At this time, it begins to grow and thicken the endometrium in preparation for future implantation of a fertilized egg.

• The second phase - ovulatory

Ovulatory phase lasts an average of three days, at this time the main burst follicle and mature egg leaves.

• The third phase - secretory

Secretory or luteal phase begins after the release of the egg and the formation of the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology . Under the influence of progesterone endometrial glands mature, proliferate and begin to secrete. The mucous membrane of the uterus becomes loose, edematous and juicy - the endometrium is ready for implantation.

• The fourth phase

This phase desquamation or menstruation. Due to lack of fertilization corpus luteum undergoes reverse development, the level of progesterone drops, begins rejection of the functional layer of the endometrium.

Based on the physiology of the menstrual cycle, it is clear that any effect on the body in one way or another phase not only affects the critical day length, but also the duration of the menstrual cycle.

Factors affecting the duration of critical days

• Contraception

Intrauterine contraception (eg, a spiral) lengthen the phase of desquamation. This is due to a traumatic effect on the endometrium helix, which manifests elongation menses and longer spotting at the end. Combination oral contraceptives, on the contrary, not only regulate the menstrual cycle, but also reduce blood loss and duration of menses.

• Childbirth

After birth, the nature and duration of the critical days, tend to vary. This occurs because of the anatomical changes in the cervix (which is shorter and wider), whereby the reduced duration of menses, the daily blood loss and the volume increases.

• External factors

Stress, climate change, food, intense physical activity and other factors affect the menstrual cycle as a whole, and by changing the duration of menstruation. The duration of critical days may be as decrease or increase.

• Diseases

And common diseases (infectious, endocrine), and diseases of the sexual sphere significantly affect the duration of menstruation. Uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts Ovarian cysts - normal or dangerous? Endometriosis significantly lengthen menstruation and make them heavy. In some diseases of the endocrine system (diabetes, thyroid disease, or adrenal glands) menstruation becomes shorter and poorer.

Anna Sozinova

The menstrual cycle a woman is exposed to many influences, both from the environmental factors as well as on the part of internal secretion. A strict hierarchical system of regulation provides neurohumoral interaction at its various levels and cyclical changes in the female body. Calculation of the menstrual cycle should be conducted after menarche (or menarche) throughout the reproductive age women and it greatly facilitate diagnosis in the case when the disturbances occur.

Changes in a woman's body during the cycle

During the menstrual cycle in women occur physiological changes cyclically repeated, the external manifestation of which is menstruation. The cycle is set to the time when the girl had the first menstruation and maintained throughout the childbearing and reproductive period during which a woman can have children. The entire menstrual cycle is divided into two phases:

• The first phase is called the follicular. It is characterized by growth, maturation of the follicle to the dominant stage. Later this follicle ruptures and the egg comes out of it. This process is called ovulation Ovulation - How to determine as accurately as possible? . In the case of fertilization pregnancy occurs, and if not, then a corpus luteum
• The second phase is directly related with the formation of the corpus luteum and is called lutein. Its duration is always the same and amounts to fourteen days

Concurrently with the processes in the ovaries cyclic changes occur in the mucosa of the uterine cavity. These include the proliferation of functional layer, secretory transformation and desquamation (directly itself menstruation).

The maximum length of menstrual bleeding is up to seven days, and the quantity of blood per day should not exceed 50 ml. Every woman should know exactly the length of her cycle and all the data are entered into a special calendar. 60% of women in the average cycle time is twenty-eight days, but the permissible fluctuation. If a woman's cycle lasts for twenty-one days or thirty-five days, it also refers to the normal range and should not be regarded as a deviation from the norm. Quite often women confused and begins to payment of its cycle since the end of menstrual bleeding. It is a serious mistake. The first day of the menstrual cycle The days of the menstrual cycle: Four phases   It should always be considered as the first day of menstruation, and from him to conduct all necessary calculations on days of the cycle.

The cycle duration and nature of the possible violations

Not in all cases, the menstrual cycle is established, the girl immediately. Usually it is given to one year to ensure that established cyclicity. If during this period the monthly not normalized, then you need to address for consultation to the children's gynecologist, who will be able to understand the possible causes of deviations. The main cause of changes in the duration and recurrence of menses in adolescent girls is that the functional relationship at the level of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovaries due to a number of moments are not established and are not synchronized. There may be a long and copious bleeding until the juvenile or, conversely, the delay of a few months to half a year.

Hormonal abnormalities that underlie the changes in the cycle occur after suffering a mental or physical stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis , Severe fatigue, for stays of adverse living conditions, against a background of malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. Of great importance in the development of disease in adolescence is attached to the presence of any chronic infection foci (pathology of upper respiratory tract, kidney, infectious diseases borne children), and comorbidities from the adrenal gland, thyroid gland. Recreational activities to play a significant role in the prevention of menstrual disorders and diseases of the reproductive system. Daily Diet girl should be organized in such a way that she had a good sleep Dreams: how to understand our dreams , recreation .  In adolescence have to deal with a weight problem, or rather with the diet, which can lead to exhaustion .  The weather fashion young girls wear themselves hunger limit in essential nutrients, which will necessarily affect the menstrual function .  With a significant weight reduction, the girl stopped menstruation, amenorrhea occurs .  For the full functioning of the reproductive system, you must have developed subcutaneous fat layer (ie certain indicators vesorostovye), where the metabolism of sex hormones .  Against the background of cessation of menstrual function and the continuing shortage of body weight over time, there will be problems with the reproductive function, that is, with the onset of pregnancy .  With timely restoration of normal power and performance cycle to normal weight .  Girl should take responsibility for the management of menstrual calendar, to be able to calculate the ovulation occurs in a cycle or not .

Every woman needs to know how the recovery cycle after its birth. It will help to maintain its calculation, in order to know in which circumstances might attack another pregnancy. During the early post-natal period, when a woman is constantly fed at set intervals, only without the addition of breast feeding, she will be absent physiologically whole period of blood (called lactation amenorrhea). Once a woman enters into a diet of solid foods for children, food is artificial, its cycle is restored, comes menstruation and pregnancy can occur.

Marina Solovyov