What is a Normal Period?
Paying attention to your period’s regularity and intensity is one of the best ways to determine if your hormones are balanced. Our hormones are vital for maintaining many of our daily functions, and all of the hormones in our body work together to meet these needs. If hormones are imbalanced over an extended time, this can lead to many complications like PCOS, osteoporosis, nutrient deficiencies, hair loss, fatigue, depression, and low energy. A normal period consists of many different traits that you can assess for yourself. As a rule of thumb, your period should not be a stressful and dreaded time of the month. Many women suffer from enduring a painful period each month, and just because this may be common, it is not normal and shouldn’t be accepted as something women should just deal with. Let’s now explore what is a normal period so that you can discover if your cycle is normal.
Here are 5 key features for what is a normal period:
1. Period Lasts 3-7 days
From the first full-bleed day to the last day of spotting, this time frame should be 3-7 days. The period length is one of the first features you should discover when learning about what is a normal period. Anything shorter than 3 days can be an indicator of low estrogen, low progesterone, PCOS, undereating, stress, overexercising, low thyroid, and premature ovarian failure. Any period length longer than 7 days can be an indicator of endometriosis, adenomyosis, low thyroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
2. Consistent Cycle Every 21-35 Days
The next thing to look at when you learn about what is a normal period is to look at cycle length. This is different from period length because cycle length is measured from the first day of a full bleed to the next first day of a full bleed. A normal cycle length is anywhere between 21-35 give or take a few days. It’s important to mention that just because the range 21-35 days is quite broad, each individual should stick to around the same cycle length each month. For example, if you average a cycle length of 22 days for one month then 35 for the next then 25 for the next, this may be a sign to check into your root causes. If you have a consistent cycle length of less than 21 days each month, this could indicate imbalanced progesterone, early ovulation, and high FSH levels. If you have a consistent cycle length of more than 35 days could be an indicator of PCOS, high androgens, stress, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and high prolactin levels.
Source: NIH
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3. Dark or Cranberry Red Color
Period color is the next thing to look at when you learn what is a normal period. Bright or dark red blood is the gold standard for period color; this is the gold standard of a sign of a healthy period. If it is purplish or blue, this color plus clotting or looking like crushed blueberries can be a sign of estrogen dominance (either high estrogen + low progesterone, high estrogen + normal progesterone, or normal estrogen + low progesterone). Light pink-colored blood coupled with a cycle of 3 or fewer days can be a sign of low estrogen. Brown blood turns this color due to oxidation (or exposure to oxygen), this can be old blood that did not leave from your previous cycle or could indicate low progesterone levels. Orange blood could mean it is time for a trip to the doctor because this color indicates a possible infection. If your period blood is gray, this also means it is time for a trip to the doctor due to possible bacterial vaginosis. Clear, creamy, or watery period blood can be a sign of a nutrient deficiency.
Source: NIH
4. No or Light Cramping
The next feature to identify is menstrual cramping when you learn about what is a normal period. Severe cramping is not normal though many women admit to taking NSAIDs for the first few days of their cycle to ease their pain. Cramping is caused by the uterine contractions that squeeze the uterus’ smooth muscle to shred the endometrial lining. Light cramping or no cramping is normal and doesn’t indicate an underlying issue. Severe or debilitating cramping may be an indicator of prostaglandins being too high, high stress, estrogen dominance, gut issues, caffeine, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, and endometriosis.
Source: 28944048
5. Minimal Symptoms
Lastly, noticing any other symptoms is important when you learn about what is a normal period. Again, period symptoms should not be debilitating or require NSAID usage or a day off school/ work. Period pain, headaches, and acne are all indicators of nonminimal symptoms and can be due to estrogen and progesterone imbalances, gut issues, or high androgen levels.
