A normal kitaran haid (menstrual cycle) is counted from the first day of one period to the day before the next. The average is about 28 days, and cycles from 21 to 35 days are normal according to the NHS (the US Office on Women's Health uses 24 to 38 days). A period usually lasts 2 to 7 days, about 5 on average, with the heaviest bleeding in the first 2 days. Period blood is red on heavy days and may be pink or brown on lighter days. See a doctor if your periods become irregular, last more than 7 days, are very heavy, or if you bleed between periods or after sex. This guide explains how to count your cycle, what period blood colour means, common causes of irregular periods and when to get help.
Apa itu kitaran haid?
The menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones (NHS). In each cycle:
- rising levels of the hormone oestrogen cause an ovary to develop and release an egg (ovulation), and the lining of the womb starts to thicken;
- in the second half of the cycle, the hormone progesterone helps the womb prepare for a possible pregnancy;
- if pregnancy does not happen, oestrogen and progesterone levels fall, and the womb lining comes away and leaves the body as a period (haid). Period blood is made up of blood and the womb lining.
Changes in these hormones before a period can also cause bloating, breast tenderness and mood swings; see our guide to PMS.
Kitaran haid normal: berapa hari?
| What is normal | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle length | About 28 days on average; regular cycles from 21 to 35 days are normal. The US Office on Women's Health says periods are still regular if they usually come every 24 to 38 days. | NHS, Office on Women's Health |
| Period length | 2 to 7 days, usually about 5 days | NHS |
| Heaviest days | The first 2 days | NHS |
| Blood loss | About 20 to 90 ml (about 1 to 5 tablespoons) over a period; some women bleed more | NHS |
| Month-to-month change | Your cycle length can differ a little from month to month | Office on Women's Health |
The NHS says a woman's periods are irregular if the gap between them is less than 21 days or more than 35 days. The Office on Women's Health advises talking to a doctor or nurse if your cycles are longer than 38 days or shorter than 24 days.
Cara kira kitaran haid dan masa subur
How to count your cycle. Day 1 is the first day of your period. The last day of your cycle is the day before your next period (NHS). For example, if your period started on 1 March and the next one started on 29 March, your cycle was 28 days long.
Track it. The Office on Women's Health suggests marking the day your period starts on a calendar or in an app. After a few months you can see whether your periods are regular. It is useful to note:
- when your bleeding starts, and whether it is earlier or later than expected;
- how many days it lasts and how heavy it is, including how many pads you use on your heaviest days;
- pain, or bleeding that stops you going to work;
- PMS symptoms such as cramps, headaches, mood changes, bloating or breast tenderness.
Your fertile time. The NHS says ovulation happens around 10 to 16 days before the next period, so a woman with a regular 28-day cycle is likely to be fertile around day 14. This does not apply if your cycle is shorter or longer. Sperm can survive in the body for up to 7 days, so the fertile time starts a few days earlier (NHS). Around ovulation, vaginal discharge often becomes thinner and stretchy, like raw egg white (NHS). See our guide to ovulasi dan masa subur.
Warna darah haid dan darah beku
The NHS says that when your period is at its heaviest, the blood will be red. On lighter days, it may be pink or brown.
| What you see | What it usually means | When to get it checked |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Usual on the heaviest days (NHS) | If you need to change your pad every 1 to 2 hours, bleed through clothes or bedding, or bleed for more than 7 days, these are signs of heavy periods (NHS) |
| Pink or brown | Usual on lighter days of a period (NHS) | If it happens between periods, after sex or after the menopause, it needs to be checked by a doctor (NHS) |
| Large blood clots | Passing clots larger than about 2.5 cm is one of the signs of heavy periods (NHS) | See a doctor if heavy periods are affecting your life or have gone on for some time (NHS) |
| Green, yellow or fishy-smelling discharge | This is discharge rather than period blood, and can be a sign of infection (NHS) | See a doctor; do not self-diagnose (NHS). See our guide to keputihan |
Many readers search for darah haid hitam (black period blood). The sources we used do not describe black blood separately: they say blood may be brown on lighter days. What matters more is the pattern, such as bleeding outside your period, very heavy bleeding or a sudden change. For heavy periods, see our guide to period berketul dan haid banyak.
Haid tak teratur: punca biasa
The NHS says irregular periods are not usually a sign of a problem. Common causes include:
- puberty, when periods first start;
- the start of menopause, usually between 45 and 55;
- pregnancy: a missed period is often an early sign (see our guide to tanda-tanda mengandung);
- hormonal contraception, such as the progestogen-only pill, the contraceptive injection and the hormonal coil (IUS); see our guide to pil perancang;
- losing or gaining a lot of weight;
- stress and anxiety;
- exercising too much;
- conditions such as PCOS (which the NHS now also calls polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, PMOS) or thyroid problems.
The NHS adds breastfeeding as a cause of missed periods. After taking an emergency contraceptive pill, your next period may also come up to a week earlier or later; see our guide to pil perancang kecemasan. For a period that has not come, see our guide to period lambat.
Kitaran haid mengikut umur
The Office on Women's Health says cycles change with age:
- first few years after periods start: cycles longer than 38 days are common, and most girls get more regular cycles within 3 years;
- 20s and 30s: cycles are usually regular and can last 24 to 38 days, and periods usually get lighter than in the teens;
- 40s: as the body moves towards menopause, cycles may become irregular, periods may stop for a month or a few months and start again, and they may be shorter, longer, lighter or heavier than usual. See our guide to menopaus.
Haid dan wanita bekerja di Malaysia
A study of 384 women working in IT, healthcare and education in Malaysia found that 87.8% had regular cycles and 60.7% described their flow as normal. More than half (52.9%) said their job performance dropped during their period. The authors called for workplace support such as flexible arrangements.
The Office on Women's Health says severe pain or bleeding that makes you miss work or regular activities is not normal and can be treated. See our guide to senggugut for period pain.
Bila perlu jumpa doktor
See a doctor (NHS, Office on Women's Health) if:
- your periods are irregular, or your normal pattern changes;
- your cycles are shorter than 21 to 24 days or longer than 35 to 38 days;
- your periods last longer than 7 days;
- heavy periods are affecting your life, or you have severe period pain;
- you bleed between periods, after sex or after the menopause;
- you have missed 3 periods in a row and are not pregnant, or your periods have not started by the age of 15;
- you have irregular or missed periods with weight gain or loss, tiredness, hair growth on your face, or dry or oily skin;
- your periods are irregular and you are struggling to get pregnant.
Very heavy periods can cause tiredness and shortness of breath, and a doctor may check your blood for iron deficiency anaemia (NHS). See our guide to kurang darah.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Berapa hari kitaran haid normal (how many days is a normal menstrual cycle)?
A menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of one period to the day before the next. The NHS says the average is about 28 days, and regular cycles from 21 to 35 days are normal. The US Office on Women's Health says periods are still regular if they usually come every 24 to 38 days. The length can also vary a little from month to month.
Bagaimana cara kira kitaran haid (how do I count my menstrual cycle)?
Mark the first day of bleeding as day 1. Your cycle ends on the day before your next period starts, so count the days from day 1 of one period to day 1 of the next. For example, if your period started on 1 March and the next one on 29 March, your cycle is 28 days. Tracking a few months in a calendar or app shows whether your cycle is regular.
Apa maksud warna darah haid (what does the colour of period blood mean)?
The NHS says that when your period is at its heaviest the blood will be red, and on lighter days it may be pink or brown. These colours are normal. See a doctor if you bleed between periods or after sex, if your periods suddenly change, or if you have unusual discharge that is green or yellow, smells fishy or comes with itching or pain.
Kenapa darah haid warna coklat atau gelap (why is my period blood brown or dark)?
The NHS says period blood is red when your period is at its heaviest and may be pink or brown on lighter days. See a doctor if dark or brown bleeding happens between periods, after sex or after the menopause, which the NHS says needs to be checked, or if your periods are very heavy, long or painful.
Kenapa haid tak teratur (why are my periods irregular)?
The NHS lists common causes such as puberty, the start of the menopause, pregnancy, some hormonal contraception, losing or gaining a lot of weight, stress, too much exercise, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid problems. Irregular periods are not usually a sign of a problem, but see a doctor if your pattern changes or you are trying to get pregnant.
Berapa lama haid normal (how long should a period last)?
The NHS says a period can last between 2 and 7 days, but usually lasts about 5 days, with the heaviest bleeding in the first 2 days. Most women lose about 20 to 90 ml of blood. See a doctor if your periods last longer than 7 days or are so heavy that you change a pad every 1 to 2 hours.
Bila perlu jumpa doktor tentang haid (when should I see a doctor about my period)?
See a doctor if your periods are irregular or your normal pattern changes, your periods last longer than 7 days, heavy periods (for example passing clots larger than about 2.5 cm) are affecting your life, you bleed between periods or after sex, you miss 3 periods in a row and are not pregnant, or your periods have not started by age 15.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References
- Periods — NHS
- Periods and fertility in the menstrual cycle — NHS
- Irregular periods — NHS
- Missed or late periods — NHS
- Heavy periods — NHS
- Vaginal discharge — NHS
- Your menstrual cycle — Office on Women's Health, US Department of Health and Human Services
- Chattopadhyay D, et al. Investigating the impact of menstrual health on female productivity at work: evidence from Malaysia. Afr J Reprod Health. 2025;29(12):76-86
