Lo básico del ciclo
Cómo funciona el ciclo menstrual, fase a fase.
How the menstrual cycle works
Each cycle, your body gets ready for a possible pregnancy and then resets with a period. Here is the big picture of what happens from one period to the next.
The four phases of your cycle
Your cycle is often split into four phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulation and luteal. Here is what happens in each one, and why any phase dates you see are only estimates.
Hormones across your cycle
Four main hormones run your cycle: FSH and LH from the brain, and oestrogen and progesterone from the ovaries. Here is what each one does, phase by phase.
Ovulation and its signs
Ovulation is when an ovary releases an egg, usually 10 to 16 days before your next period. Here is when it happens, the signs some people notice, and what a calendar cannot tell you.
Cervical mucus through the cycle
The mucus from your cervix changes through your cycle as hormones rise and fall. Knowing your usual pattern helps you understand your body and notice when something is different.
What counts as a normal cycle
Most adult cycles last between about 21 and 38 days, and periods last 2 to 7 days. Some change from month to month is normal. Here is what to expect and when to get checked.
Your reproductive anatomy
A plain guide to the vulva, vagina, cervix, womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries: where each part is and what it does. Every body looks a little different, and that is normal.
Tracking your cycle
A simple record of your periods and symptoms helps you learn your own pattern and notice changes early. Here is how to count your cycle and what is worth noting.
Periodos
Sangrado, productos menstruales y problemas habituales del periodo.
Periods: what to expect
A period is when your body sheds the lining of the womb. Here is how long periods usually last, how much blood is typical and how periods change through life.
Pads, tampons, cups and period underwear
There is no single best period product. Here is how pads, tampons, cups, discs and period underwear work, how to choose, and how to use them safely.
Toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is rare but can be life-threatening. Know the warning signs, what to do straight away, and how to lower your risk with tampons and cups.
Heavy periods
Heavy periods are common and can be treated. Learn the signs that bleeding is heavy, what can cause it, and the help a doctor or nurse can offer.
Period pain and cramps
Cramps are very common, especially in the first days of a period. Here is why they happen, what helps, and when pain is a reason to get checked.
Irregular periods
It is normal for your cycle to vary a little. Learn what can make periods irregular, when it is expected, and when it is worth talking to a doctor or nurse.
Missed or late periods
A late or missed period is common and often not serious. Pregnancy is one reason, but stress, weight changes, exercise, contraception and some health conditions can also play a part.
Bleeding or spotting between periods
Light bleeding between periods or after sex has many causes and is often not serious, but it should always be checked. Here are the usual causes and the signs that need urgent care.
Period blood: colour, clots and smell
Period blood can change colour, contain small clots and have a mild smell, and this is usually normal. Here is what to expect and which changes are worth checking.
Delaying or skipping a period
You can delay a period for a holiday or event with hormone tablets or by changing how you take some contraception. A doctor, nurse or pharmacist can help, but you need to plan ahead.
Period myths and facts
Many things people hear about periods are not true. Here are some common myths about cycles, blood, pregnancy, tampons and exercise, and what health sources say.
SPM y síntomas del ciclo
Síntomas que van y vienen con tu ciclo.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
PMS is a mix of physical and emotional changes in the week or two before a period. Most people get some symptoms, and there is a lot you can do to feel better.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
PMDD is a severe form of PMS that mainly affects mood in the week or two before a period. It is a recognised medical condition, and treatment can help.
Cyclical breast pain
Breast pain that comes and goes with your cycle is common and rarely serious. Here is how it feels, what helps and when to get it checked.
Headaches and migraine around your period
Falling hormone levels before a period can trigger headaches and migraine. Knowing your pattern helps you plan ahead and get the right treatment.
Acne and your cycle
Spots that flare before a period are common and linked to normal hormone changes. Gentle skin care helps, and a doctor can offer more if needed.
Bloating and digestion changes
Many people feel bloated or notice bowel changes before or during a period. This is common, and a few simple steps can help. Here is when to get checked.
Tiredness and sleep across the cycle
Feeling more tired or sleeping badly before a period is common. Here is why it happens, what can help, and when tiredness is worth getting checked.
Food cravings and appetite
Feeling hungrier or wanting certain foods before a period is common. Here is what research shows, what is still unclear, and gentle ways to look after yourself.
Síntomas habituales
Cólicos, fatiga, cambios de ánimo o hinchazón son frecuentes. Registrarlos ayuda a ver patrones; no sustituye una consulta clínica.
Problemas de salud
Afecciones que pueden influir en el periodo, el dolor y la fertilidad.
PCOS (now also called PMOS)
PCOS is a common hormone condition that can cause irregular periods, acne and extra hair growth. Its symptoms can be managed, and many people with PCOS can still get pregnant.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common long-term condition that can cause severe period pain. It often takes years to diagnose, so knowing the signs helps you get the right care.
Adenomyosis
Adenomyosis is when the lining of the womb grows into its muscle wall. It can cause heavy, painful periods, and there are treatments that help.
Fibroids
Fibroids are common growths in or around the womb that are almost never cancer. Many cause no symptoms, but some lead to heavy or painful periods.
Ovarian cysts
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs on an ovary. Most are harmless and go away on their own, but a few need treatment and some signs need urgent help.
Iron deficiency anaemia
Heavy periods are one of the most common causes of low iron. Learn the signs of iron deficiency anaemia, how it is tested and how it is treated.
Thyroid problems and your cycle
Your thyroid helps control how your body uses energy, and it affects your periods too. Too much or too little thyroid hormone can make periods lighter, heavier or irregular.
Bleeding disorders
Very heavy periods are sometimes caused by blood that does not clot as well as it should. Knowing the signs of a bleeding disorder can help you get tested and treated.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
PID is an infection of the womb, fallopian tubes or ovaries, usually caused by an STI. It can be mild or cause no symptoms, but quick treatment helps protect your fertility.
How your cycle can affect other conditions
Hormone changes across your cycle can make some long-term conditions, such as asthma, epilepsy or migraine, worse at certain times. Tracking can help you spot a pattern.
Salud vaginal y vulvar
Flujo, infecciones y cómo cuidar la zona.
Vaginal discharge: what's normal
Discharge is a normal, healthy fluid that keeps your vagina clean and moist. Here is what usual discharge looks like and which changes are worth getting checked.
Thrush (yeast infection)
Thrush is a common yeast infection that causes itching and thick white discharge. It is not classed as an STI, and antifungal treatment usually clears it within 1 to 2 weeks.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
BV is a common change in the balance of bacteria in the vagina. It can cause thin, fishy-smelling discharge, and it is treated with antibiotics.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
A UTI can make it burn when you pee and make you need to go more often. Most clear up with antibiotics, but some signs mean you should get help the same day.
Caring for your vulva and vagina
Your vagina cleans itself and needs very little help. Gentle washing of the outside is enough, and douching and scented products can do more harm than good.
Your pelvic floor
Your pelvic floor muscles support your bladder, womb and bowel. Regular exercises can make them stronger and help with leaks.
Fertilidad
Entender la fertilidad y buscar un embarazo.
Your fertile window
You can only get pregnant during about a week of each cycle, around ovulation. Here is how the fertile window works and why any app's estimate is only a guide.
Fertility awareness methods
Fertility awareness means tracking body signs to work out your fertile days. It can work well when learned properly, but with typical use it is much less reliable.
Trying to get pregnant
Most couples where the woman is under 40 get pregnant within a year of regular sex without contraception. Here is how timing works, what helps, and when to ask for help.
Getting healthy before pregnancy
A few steps before you conceive, such as taking folic acid and reviewing your medicines and vaccines, can help both you and a future baby.
Age and fertility
Fertility falls with age, from around 30 and more steeply from the mid-30s. Most couples where the woman is under 40 still conceive within a year.
Infertility and when to get help
Infertility means not getting pregnant after a year of regular sex without contraception. It is common, affects men and women, and help is available.
Ovulation tests and temperature tracking
Ovulation tests and temperature charts can help you find your most fertile days when trying for a baby. Here is how they work and what they cannot tell you.
Anticoncepción
Métodos anticonceptivos y cómo afectan a tu ciclo.
Choosing contraception
There are many ways to prevent pregnancy. This guide compares how well each method works, how you use it, and what to weigh up when you choose.
The pill
The pill comes in two main types: combined and progestogen-only. Here is how each works, how well it protects, common side effects and who may need a different method.
IUDs (hormonal and copper)
An IUD, or coil, is a small T-shaped device placed in the womb that prevents pregnancy for years. Copper and hormonal IUDs work differently and affect periods differently.
The implant
The implant is a small rod placed under the skin of your arm. It releases a hormone that prevents pregnancy for years, with nothing to remember day to day.
Patch, ring and injection
The patch, the vaginal ring and the injection are hormonal methods you do not need to think about every day. Here is how each works, how often you use it and what to expect.
Condoms
Condoms are the only contraception that also lowers the risk of STIs, including HIV. They work well when used correctly every time. Here is how to get it right.
Emergency contraception
Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after sex without contraception or when a method fails. Act as soon as you can: it works better the sooner you use it.
Periods on hormonal contraception
Hormonal contraception often changes your bleeding. It may get lighter, become irregular or stop. Here is why, what to expect, and when a change is worth checking.
Embarazo
Desde un retraso hasta las primeras semanas, y después del parto.
Early signs of pregnancy
For most people, the first sign of pregnancy is a period that does not come. Feeling sick, tiredness and sore breasts are common too, but not everyone gets them.
Pregnancy tests
Most home pregnancy tests work from the first day of a missed period. A positive result is almost always right; a negative one is less certain if you test early.
Prenatal care and a healthy pregnancy
Regular check-ups during pregnancy help spot problems early. Here is what prenatal care involves, habits that help, and warning signs that need care straight away.
Miscarriage
Losing a pregnancy can be very hard. Here are the signs of miscarriage, when to get help, what happens next and where to find support.
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy grows outside the womb and cannot continue. It can become a medical emergency, so it helps to know the warning signs and get help fast.
Unplanned pregnancy: your options
If you are pregnant and did not plan to be, you have options. The decision is yours, and a doctor, nurse or clinic can help you think it through.
Periods after giving birth
After birth you bleed for a few weeks, but this is not a period. Periods can return within weeks or after many months, depending on how you feed your baby.
Sexo y salud sexual
Sexo más seguro, ITS, pruebas y placer.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
STIs are very common and often cause no symptoms. Testing is quick and routine, and every STI can be treated, with many cured completely.
Safer sex
Safer sex means lowering the chance of STIs and of pregnancy you do not want. Condoms, regular testing, vaccines and honest talk with partners all help.
HPV and the HPV vaccine
HPV is a very common virus passed on through sex. Most infections clear by themselves, but some can lead to cancer. The vaccine and cervical screening help protect you from cervical cancer.
Sex drive and your cycle
Sex drive varies a lot between people and over time. Hormones, health, stress and relationships all play a part, and low desire is only a problem if it bothers you.
Pain during sex
Pain during sex has many possible causes, from dryness and infections to vaginismus or endometriosis. You do not have to put up with it, and help is available.
Consent and healthy relationships
Consent means freely and clearly agreeing to sexual activity, every time. Here is what real consent looks like, and the signs of a healthy or unhealthy relationship.
Sex during your period
Sex during your period is fine if you both want it. You can still get pregnant or get an STI, so contraception and condoms still matter.
Perimenopausia y menopausia
Los años en que el ciclo cambia y los periodos se retiran.
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the time leading up to your last period, when hormone levels change and periods become less predictable. It often starts in your 40s and lasts a few years.
Menopause symptoms
Hot flushes, poor sleep, mood changes and vaginal dryness are common around menopause. Here is why they happen, what helps, and when to talk to a doctor or nurse.
HRT and other treatments
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) relieves most menopause symptoms and helps protect your bones. Here is a balanced look at its benefits and risks, and at options without hormones.
Early menopause and POI
Menopause before 45 is called early menopause, and before 40 it is called premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Here is why it happens and why treatment matters for long-term health.
Bone health and osteoporosis
After menopause, lower oestrogen speeds up bone loss and raises the risk of osteoporosis. Here is why it happens and what you can do to protect your bones.
Bleeding after menopause
Any bleeding from the vagina after menopause should be checked by a doctor promptly, even if it is light or happens once. Most causes are not cancer, but it must be checked.
Mente y estado de ánimo
La salud mental y su relación con tu ciclo.
Mood changes across the cycle
Many people notice their mood shift before a period. Here is how hormones may play a part, what helps, and when low mood is more than PMS.
Depression
Depression is more than a few sad days. It is common, it affects how you feel, think and cope, and it can be treated. Here are the signs and where to start.
Anxiety
Feeling anxious now and then is normal. When worry is hard to control and gets in the way of daily life, support and treatment can help.
Postnatal depression
Feeling low for a few days after birth is very common. If low mood is severe or lasts longer than 2 weeks, it may be postnatal depression, which can be treated.
Stress and your cycle
Stress can delay or even stop your period for a while. Here is how stress affects your cycle, ways to cope, and when a missed period needs checking.
Body image
Body image is how you think and feel about your body. A kinder view of yourself is good for your mental health, and it can grow with practice.
Eating disorders
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, and they can be treated. Here are the signs, how they can affect periods, and how to get help early.
Alimentación, movimiento y sueño
Hábitos diarios que cuidan tu ciclo.
Iron and your period
People with periods need more iron, and heavy bleeding raises the risk of running low. Here is how much you need, where to find it, and when to get checked.
Eating well
Eating well is about variety and balance over time, not strict rules or diets. Here are the basics most health bodies agree on.
Calcium and vitamin D
Calcium and vitamin D work together to keep your bones strong. Here is why they matter at every age, where to find them, and who may need more.
Staying active through your cycle
You can keep moving during your period, and gentle exercise may even ease cramps. Here is how much activity helps, and when hard training can stop periods.
Under-fuelling and lost periods (RED-S)
If you do not eat enough to cover the energy you use, your periods can become irregular or stop. Lost periods are a warning sign worth getting checked.
Sleep well
Most adults need 7 or more hours of sleep a night. Here is why sleep matters, habits that help, and how your cycle and mood can affect your sleep.
Alcohol, smoking and reproductive health
Smoking and alcohol can affect period pain, your chances of getting pregnant and a baby's health. It is never too late to stop or cut down.
Pubertad y primera regla
Para adolescentes y para sus familias.
Puberty: what changes
Puberty is when your body starts to grow up. For girls it usually starts between ages 8 and 13. Here is what changes in your body and your feelings.
Your first period
Most people get their first period at around age 12, about 2 years after their breasts start to grow. Here is what it is like, what to use and how to be ready.
Period problems in teens
In the first few years, periods are often irregular and cramps are common. Most of this is normal, but some problems need a doctor. Here is how to tell the difference.
Talking with your child about periods
Children as young as 6 or 7 can follow a simple explanation of periods. Small, regular chats make it easier to cover the facts well before a first period arrives.
Revisiones y cuándo consultar
Cribados, revisiones y las señales que necesitan atención.
When to see a doctor about your period
Some period changes are worth a routine check-up, and a few need urgent care. Here is how to tell the difference, and what to bring to your appointment.
Cervical screening (smear or Pap test)
Cervical screening is a quick test that helps prevent cervical cancer by finding cell changes early. Who is invited, and how often, depends on where you live.
Your gynaecology appointment
Knowing what happens at a gynaecology appointment can make it feel easier. Here is what to expect, how a pelvic exam works, and how to prepare.
Breast awareness
Being breast aware means knowing how your breasts usually look and feel, so you notice changes early. Many changes have other causes, but any new change should be checked.
Using your cycle log at an appointment
A few months of notes about your periods and symptoms can help a doctor or nurse understand what is going on. Here is what to record and how to use it.
Gynaecological cancers: signs to know
Knowing the signs of gynaecological cancers helps you act early. These symptoms often have other causes, but any that last or are not normal for you should be checked.
Cuándo consultar
Ciclo es una app de registro y pronóstico. No sustituye atención sanitaria.