On average, a menstrual cycle lasts for 28 days, with each period generally lasting from three to seven days. Each woman is different though, so what is normal for others may not be normal for you. It is also worth remembering that your periods do change throughout your life, so you should be aware of any changes that may occur.
A missed period is a sign of pregnancy, so if you’ve missed a month and you’ve had sex, you should take a test to find out if you’re pregnant. If you’re not pregnant and you’re still missing periods, you should seek advice from your GP. There are various reasons why your periods might not be regular anymore, from stress and dramatic weight loss to intense exercise. Those who have been taking contraceptive pills for a long time may also find that their periods become irregular.
You should be aware of bleeding between periods or after sex, as this can be a sign of an infection or abnormalities on the cervix – in severe cases, it can also be a sign of cancer. If you’re experiencing this problem, you should seek medical advice. Likewise, you should be aware of sudden changes in your periods such as longer periods or heavier bleeding. If you’re over 40, this is even more important, as erratic bleeding needs to be investigated further to rule out endometrial cancer or cervical polyps.
If you’re experiencing bleeding after menopause, this should be a cause for concern, so seek medical advice urgently. If you’ve taken HRT to control menopausal symptoms, you may notice bleeding or spotting but if you’re noticing a period-like bleed, this is more worrying.
Lastly, vaginal discharge is a perfectly normal and is actually a sign of a healthy vagina. Clear, creamy or white discharge is normal – during ovulation, this discharge becomes stretchy and liquid, with the consistency of raw egg white. However, if you’re noticing a change in colour or smell, or that this discharge is becoming blood-stained, you should seek advice from your GP to rule out infection.
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