Question: How Many Days Does Menstruation Last?
Answer: On average, menstruation lasts from three to five days. That doesn’t mean that anything is wrong if your period is longer or shorter. Normal menstruation can last from one to eight days. Many factors play a role in how many days your period lasts. During the first few years after the onset of menstruation, many girls experience unpredictable menstruation. The good news is that menstruation usually normalizes after about two years of menstruation.
Using oral contraceptives can affect the number of days your period lasts. Women who use oral contraceptives frequently experience shorter periods, as well as lighter flow. In fact, today’s continuous oral contraceptives offer women the chance to menstruate four or less times per year.
Of course, anytime your period is excessively heavy, long lasting, or doesn’t seem normal, consult your physician for advice.
See:
Things You Should Know About Menstruation
Frequency of Menstruation
8 Signs You Should See Your Doctor About Your Period
Source: Menstruation and the Menstrual Cycle; WomensHealth.gov; http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/menstru.htm; accessed 07/21/08.
