Menstrual cycle with intercultural perspective

More than 50% of the world’s population menstruates, has menstruated or will menstruate throughout their lives and yet, in much of the world, menstruation continues to be a huge taboo.

We call the menstrual cycle the period between the beginning of menstruation and the beginning of the next one. It has an average duration of 28 days, although it can last between 21 and 35 days and be considered normal. If our cycles are less than 21 days or more than 35 days, we should go to the gynecology consultation to verify that everything is fine.

trans children , non-binary people and all those who have a uterus, tubes, ovaries and vagina.

The menstrual cycle has different phases :

Menstrual phase, menstruation or period: marks the beginning of the cycle and usually lasts between 3 and 7 days. It is the period in which the endometrium (the inner layer of the uterus) is detached when fertilization does not occur and is expelled through the vagina in the form of blood.
Preovulatory phase : it is the phase that occurs between the end of menstruation and ovulation. During this phase, the endometrium begins to thicken again and a follicle (a sac containing an immature egg) matures in the ovaries.
Ovulatory phase : around day 14 of the cycle, a peak of a hormone called LH occurs and about 36 hours after this, ovulation or the release of that mature egg occurs.
Premenstrual phase: during this phase the endometrium matures and, if fertilization does not occur, the egg is reabsorbed inside the body

The first menstruation is known as menarche . Traditionally, girls and other menstruating children have been made to think that this moment marks the beginning of their adult life. However, that is not entirely true since menarche only marks the beginning of a transition to adulthood, which will last several years:

Menarche YES is:

Menarche is the appearance of the first menstruation.
Menarche is a moment of vital transition.
Menarche is the beginning of cyclical life.
Menarche is a time of celebration.
Menarche is an opportunity to connect with the mother, grandmothers, sisters, ancestors who menstruated.
Menarche is the awareness of one’s own sexuality.
Menarche is learning to take care of yourself.
Menarche is incorporating a new emotional reality into the life experience.

Menarche is NOT:

Menarche is not the conversion of a girl into a woman.
Menarche is also not the conversion of menstruating trans or non-binary childhoods into adults.
Menarche is not the arrival of the optimal time to have sexual relations.
Menarche is not the tragic end of childhood.
Menarche does not make you weaker or more vulnerable.