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2004/04/19, 05:32 AM
No need to be uncomfortable, your question is a good one. I double checked the following information at Kotex.com, feel free to check it out, it's not just for girls.
The average menstrual cycle is 28 days. That's 28 days from the first day of one period to the first day of the next period. How many of us are "average?" Not many.
Every woman is different and a normal cycle can be anywhere from 21 days to 45 days (from the first day of one period to the first day of the next period). It takes some women several years before they settle into periods you can set your watch by and other women never get them that regularly.
It's important to keep track of menstrual cycles on a calendar, because if you don't, it will SEEM like there is a period all the freakin time.
If your girlfriend has been regular up till now and her cycles have been getting shorter (or longer) for 3 months or more, she should see her doctor. Irregular cycles are caused by all kinds of things but the most common are stress, increased excercise and hormonal fluctuations.
As far as wanting to make her more comfortable, which is wonderful of you, there may not be much that you can do. It sounds like she is already doing the things that help, a good balanced diet, excercise and drinking lots of water.
What you can do is keep track of her cycles on your own, just make a little mark on your calendar. For me, the most supportive thing my significant other does is not make me tell him "I started." It's really hard to work into a conversation and even at my age (41), it's still embarassing to have to tell him.
Here's another bonus. Groups of women tend to have their periods around the same time. If your girlfriend spends a lot of time with the same women, ie her vollyball team, chances are good that her cycle is adjusting their cycles.
I hope this helps.
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Anni
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Freud was WRONG!
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