The four phases of your cycle
Your menstrual cycle is divided into four phases: menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase. Each phase is driven by a distinct hormonal shift — oestrogen and progesterone rise and fall in a careful choreography that prepares your body for a potential pregnancy every month. Understanding these phases helps you decode symptoms that might otherwise feel random.
What "normal" actually means
A cycle anywhere between 21 and 35 days is considered within the normal range. Your period itself can last 2–7 days, and flow ranges from light spotting to heavier bleeding in the first couple of days. Mild cramping is common as your uterus contracts; severe pain that stops you from your daily routine is not normal and warrants a conversation with your gynaecologist.
Signs worth paying attention to
Sudden changes in your cycle — a period that arrives much earlier or later than usual, unusually heavy bleeding that soaks through a pad in under an hour, bleeding between periods, or cycles that disappear for three or more months — are worth discussing with a doctor. These can signal conditions like PCOS, thyroid irregularities, or endometriosis, all of which are very treatable when caught early.
Tracking as a health tool
Keeping even a rough log of your cycle start and end dates, flow intensity, and notable symptoms gives your gynaecologist useful data. You don't need a specialised app — a note in your phone calendar works fine. Patterns over 3–6 months are far more informative than a single cycle, so consistency matters more than precision.