What is a normal period?

Bottom lineA normal period generally means a cycle of 21 to 35 days, 2 to 7 days of bleeding, and about 5 to 80 ml of blood loss, but the healthy range is wide and your own consistent pattern matters most; see a doctor for cycles under 21 or over 35 days, bleeding longer than 7 days, very heavy flow, no periods for 3+ months, or severe pain.

A "normal" period covers a wide range, and your normal is what matters most. As a guide, most healthy periods fall within these ranges.

Typical ranges

• Cycle length: 21 to 35 days from the first day of one period to the first day of the next
• Period length: 2 to 7 days of bleeding
• Blood loss: about 5 to 80 ml total (roughly 2 to 6 soaked regular pads or tampons a day at most)
• Color: bright to dark red, sometimes brown at the start or end

What's normal for you

Periods vary from person to person and can shift with age, stress, and life stage. The most useful signal is consistency and change from your own baseline, not hitting an exact textbook number.

When to check with a doctor

• Cycles consistently shorter than 21 or longer than 35 days
• Bleeding longer than 7 days or very heavy (clots, flooding)
• No periods for 3 or more months (and not pregnant)
• Severe pain, or bleeding between periods

Track a few cycles with the Menstrual Cycle Calculator to learn your baseline, and read more on what your cycle reveals.

Femora logs your length, duration, and flow so you can see your own normal at a glance.