The menstrual cycle is your body's way of preparing for the possibility of pregnancy every month. Menstruation generally follows a predictable pattern. The typical menstrual cycle is 28 days long. However it can be as short as 21 days or as long as 35 and still be regarded as normal. Your cycle is defined as the period of time between the first day of bleeding from one cycle to the next. Charting your menstrual cycle can help you know when to expect your next period.
Tracking Your Cycle
Step 1
Mark the first day of your period on a calendar. You can expect bleeding to continue for approximately five days, but anywhere from two to seven days is considered normal.
Step 2
Count the first day you bleed as day one of your menstrual cycle. Count the second day as day two, the third day as day three, and so on. The last day of your cycle is the day before bleeding begins again. If the first day you menstruate is June 1st and the next time you start to bleed is June 30th, then you menstrual cycle is 29 days long. Expect your next period to arrive on July 28th.
Step 3
Keep track of a few menstrual cycles to calculate an average cycle length. Note that you may experience slight variations in the number of days between the start of bleeding. For example, if you have a 31 day cycle one month, a 28 day cycle the next, and a 30 day cycle on the third month, your average menstrual cycle would be 29.6 days.
Tips and Warnings
- If you have a typical 28-day cycle, its midpoint would be day 14. Ovulation takes place around this time. This information is important if you are trying to become pregnant or avoid conception. Keep track of your cycle even when you are not sexually active. Knowing when you are about to menstruate will remind you to pamper yourself if you are not feeling up to par.
- Don't count on your cycle to dictate with precision whether you can or cannot become pregnant on a certain day of the month. Remember that it's possible for ovulation to take place on varying cycle days. It doesn't necessarily fall exclusively in the middle.
Things You'll Need
- Calender
