Do thinner people have longer cycle durations? My friend is very thin and started menstruating at 10, and she has about 9 days of menstruation every month! My sister, on the other hand, started menstruating at 12 and is fuller, you know? Only 3 days (I'm afraid of menstruating for many days since I'm thin)

No, it has nothing to do with whether your body is thinner or not with how many days your period will last! That's a myth, I swear. Everyone is different, you know? And it's super normal to have very varied cycles, like your friend and your sister.

What influences the duration of menstruation?

So, the duration of menstruation is like a very personal thing, and it changes from girl to girl. What happens inside your body, like your hormones, is what runs the show. Some girls menstruate for 3 days, others for 5, and some even for 7 or more, and that's okay! Everything considered "normal" is between 2 and 7 days, but some people menstruate for longer and that's also normal for them. The important thing is how it is for YOU. Like, if your period always lasted 5 days and suddenly starts lasting 10, then it's worth keeping an eye on it.

And the first menstruation?

It's super common that at the beginning, like in the first year or two, menstruation is a bit messy. It might last 3 days one month, 7 the next, and the flow can change. It's your body getting used to all of this, you know? It's like a testing phase, literally. Don't worry too much about what happens with your friend or sister, your body will have its own way of working.

If you want to track how your cycle is and how many days your period lasts, the Sosô app is great for that! You can log everything there and see what's normal for you.