Menstruation is a periodic bleeding that occurs in humans and a few mammals. It serves the purpose of reproduction and only occurs during the fertile period of the female species.

The word menstruation comes from Latin and originally comes from the word “menstruus”, which means “monthly”.

Subsequently, the derivation “mensis” was used, which stands for “month”. These words describe the length of the menstrual cycle or the lunar month, which is 28days lasts. 

Menstruation – from Latin

menstruum, menstruus = every month, monthly

menstrua = the monthly

mensis = month 

“Period” is a synonym for menstruation and comes from Greek. The Greek “perodos” describes “regular recurrence”.

Period – from Greek

periodos = regular recurrence

peri = around

hodos = way

In a medical context, the term “menorrhea” is also often used, which also comes from Greek and is composed of the two words “month” and “flow”. This is where the expression “menstrual flow” comes from.

Menorrhea – from Greek

men = month

rhoe = river, flowing

Almost all known expressions for a woman’s monthly bleeding refer to the periodic recurrence at intervals of about 28days n.

Other synonyms for menstruation are period, rule, menses, monthly flow,days and strawberry week.