Know your menstrual flow

The menstrual cycle is a natural part of life for many people, and understanding its flow can offer crucial insights into overall reproductive health.

In this article, we'll explore in detail how to measure your period flow, defining light, medium, and heavy flow objectively. We'll also cover different menstrual products such as tampons, menstrual underwear, and menstrual cups.

Objective measures

To measure consistently, we introduce the concept of milliliters (mL) as a quantitative measurement. It is essential to understand the capacity of menstrual products in terms of volume. For example, a regular tampon can hold 6 to 9 ml, while a super tampon can hold 9 to 12 ml. It is crucial to note the type of product used, as capacities vary by brand.

Measuring your menstrual flow

1. Light Flow 🩸

   • Tampon: 1 to 2 normal(s) per day
   • Menstrual underwear: 1 pair of panties or pad per day
   • Menstrual cup: 5 to 10 ml per day

2. Average Flow 🩸🩸

   • Tampon: 3 to 5 normal or 2 to 3 super per day
   • Menstrual underwear: 2 panties or pads per day
   • Menstrual cup: 10 to 25 ml per day

3. Abundant Flow 🩸🩸🩸

   • Buffer: 6 or more normal or 3 or more super per day
   • Menstrual underwear: 3 pairs of panties or pads per day
   • Menstrual cup: 25 ml or more per day

How to start measuring?

Tracking the number of menstrual products used each day (or ml in a menstrual cup) helps classify the day as light, average, or heavy. For example, using just one tampon indicates a light day, while using three super tampons indicates a heavy day.

Difference between spotting and light bleeding

It is crucial to differentiate light discharge from light bleeding. Light discharge is present almost systematically during toilet visits, while light bleeding is more irregular, following a start/stop pattern. Discharge less than 5 ml per day is considered light bleeding, usually present only on toilet paper.

Normal amount of flow

The normal range for menstrual flow is 50 to 80 ml over the entire menstrual period. Below 50 ml is considered light flow, above 80 ml is considered heavy flow. Concrete examples are provided to illustrate these ranges.

Management of abnormal flows

If your period is too heavy or too light, it can be an indicator of your overall health. It is crucial to discuss these observations with your doctor, as it could be an early sign of a health problem. Reproductive health deserves special attention.