Diana, July 4, 2023
The duration of a menstrual period has long been a concern for women.
Many women compare horizontally (Why does my sister menstruate for 5 days while I only for 3 days?), and also vertically (Why did I menstruate for 6 days last time, but only 4 days this time?)
Is there a problem with my period?
How long should a normal period durations last?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other health authorities, a normal menstrual period lasts between 2 to 7 days [1]. Individual physical conditions cause some variation in duration.
When a woman starts menstruating for the first time, the duration tends to be longer. As women age, the start times and durations of their periods tend to stabilize.
The statements above are rather general, and we have also collected some personalized questions to help those in doubt.
Question: Is it normal for periods to be very short (such as two or three days) or very long (such as eight or nine days)?
Answer: If menstruation has always been fairly regular, whether it lasts two or three days or eight or nine days, it's normal. Due to individual differences, the period length of different women is not necessarily the same, influenced by innate and acquired factors: on one hand, everyone's endometrial thickness and the speed of menstrual blood discharge vary, leading to different period lengths; on the other hand, age, hormone levels, diet, medications, weight changes, weather changes, emotional changes, stress, etc.[2,3], can all cause fluctuations in menstrual periods and cycles.
Question: What kind of fluctuation in the number of days is normal? For example, 7 days one month and 3 days the next.
Answer: Influenced by acquired factors such as age, hormone levels, diet, medications, weight changes, weather changes, emotional changes, stress, etc.[2,3], the duration of each menstrual period for a woman is not necessarily the same, generally being normal within 2 to 8 days. If the period often exceeds 8 days or is less than two days, and the length suddenly changes significantly, it should be taken seriously.[4]
What to do if the menstrual duration is abnormal?
A menstrual period that is too long or too short indicates an abnormal menstrual phenomenon. Common causes include hormonal imbalances or gynecological diseases, such as uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps, or malignant tumors of the uterus, all of which could affect a woman's menstrual cycle.[5]
Therefore, if a menstrual period is unusually short or long, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly, undergo examinations, and obtain a doctor's diagnosis. Due to individual differences, some menstrual durations that are considered abnormal may still fall within normal ranges, but still need to be confirmed by diagnosis.[5]
Additionally, it is recommended that women change sanitary pads regularly during menstruation, maintain good menstrual hygiene, and avoid excessive fatigue during this time.
Resources
[1]https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/how-long-should-a-menstrual-period-last-12200143.html
[2]World Health Organization. Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use (5th edition). 2015. http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/family_planning/MEC-5/en/
[3]Jahanfar S. Genetic and environmental determinants of menstrual characteristics. Indian J Hum Genet. 2012 May;18(2):187-92. doi: 10.4103/0971-6866.100759. PMID: 23162294; PMCID: PMC3491292
[4]Public account: Dr. Dingxiang's "4 criteria to determine whether menstruation is healthy!" Let’s see if you are “normal”
[5]https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/how-long-should-a-menstrual-period-last-12200143.html
