Periods can last somewhere between 2-8 days but it usually lasts about 5 days and the bleeding tends to be heaviest in the first 2 days.

Irregular periods can be caused by some medicines, exercising too much, having a very low or high body weight, or not eating enough calories. Hormone imbalances can also cause irregular periods. It is normal to have irregular periods for the first few years of menstruating and sometimes even longer. But the only way to know if everything's OK is to visit your doctor or nurse practitioner.

To ensure hygiene during periods follow the following steps:

 i) Change your sanitary napkin every 5 hours during the daytime.

ii) Gently wash the genital area using warm water.

iii) Stick to only one method of sanitation in a period cycle.

iv) Take a bath regularly and stay hygienic.

The menstrual cycle length varies from woman to woman, but the average duration between the two periods is 28 days. Period cycles that occur between 21-40 days are considered normal.

PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease) is a medical condition in which the woman's ovaries produce immature or partially mature eggs in large numbers and over time these become cysts in the ovaries causing infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, hair loss and abnormal weight gain. 

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is a metabolic disorder in which the woman is affected by hormonal imbalance in their reproductive years leading to irregular menstrual periods, making it hard to get pregnant, getting abnormal hair growth on the body and face simultaneously leading to heart disease and diabetes.

To calculate your menstrual cycle, count the days between your last few periods. Begin counting from the first day of your period to the day before your next period. Do this for a few cycles, and add up the total number of days, dividing it by the number of cycles. That gives you the average number of days in your menstrual cycle.

The symptoms of periods are:-

i) Tender breasts

ii) Headaches

iii) Abdominal cramps

iv) Muscle aches, Joint Pain and Lower Back Pain

v) Fatigue

vi) Bloating

vii) Acne

viii) Diarrhea or Constipation

ix) Mood swings

x) Trouble Sleeping

xi) Nausea

xii) Aggression

xiii) Food cravings.

i) Heavy menstrual flow than normal.

ii) Have menstrual periods lasting more than 7 days.

iii) Have constant pain in the lower part of the stomach during your periods.

iv) You feel tired, lack energy or are short of breath.

v) If the pain is not relieved from your usual pain killers and is accompanied by nausea or vomiting.

vi) If there is a sudden noticeable increase in your cramps and the pain radiates to your back or legs.

vii) Bleeding between periods including light spotting.

viii) Missing a period.

First, there is no need to panic, as it is a natural process and talking to your parent, teacher (if you are in school) or any adult who you trust will make you feel relieved. Ask them to get a sanitary napkin for you if you don't have one. It's a good idea to start carrying and knowing how to use sanitary pads or tampons in advance.

Bright red is the normal colour of period blood. However, if you experience any other colour, it could be because of various reasons. To know more about the same, kindly refer to this link- https://www.instagram.com/p/CbfM9-ihjyX/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= 

It is advisable to eat a healthy balanced diet, avoid trigger foods such as caffeine, alcohol, sugary or spicy food etc., drink enough water, get good sleep and exercise regularly during the menopausal transition. If you experience unusual symptoms or uneasiness, kindly visit a doctor.