Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

The word mahiz means menstruation or the menses, also called hayz – a monthly flow of blood from the uterus. The woman in this condition is called ha’iz or ha’izah. It is a natural monthly discharge of the lining of the uterus. The discharge consists of blood, degenerated cells of the lining, mucus and some bacteria. The menstruation flow normally lasts from four to six days with a variation of two to eight days. A period lasting more than eight days is abnormal. The amount of blood loss average 33 milliliters (ml) or about one ounce. Menstruation usually occurs between the ages of 10 and 16 years, with an average age of 13 years. The monthly cycles continue, unless interrupted by pregnancy or some disorder, until menopause, generally around age of 50 years. The cycles should be counted from the first day of one cycle to the first day of the next cycle. During the first year or two, the girls may have very irregular cycles, from 21 to 42 days or even longer. As the hormone system matures, periods gradually become more regular, dropping from 35 days to an average of 28 days.