Culture and menstruation the ideal of synchronised tidal, lunar, menstrual and seasonal periodicities whose overall harmony (it is believed) confers spiritual power and fertility. To many, such cultural associations appear persuasive in view of the fact that in humans, the menstrual cycle quite closely approximates the moon's 29.5-day synodic cycle, unlike in chimpanzees (~36 days) or bonobos (~40 days). Statistical information from hunter gatherers is lacking, but where large-scale western studies focus on women's peak reproductive years—removing outlier values—the cycle length gravitates around 29.1–29.5 days, while the figure for women in their thirties shortens toward 28 days. In no extant human population has
Menstrual disorder Menstrual disorder A menstrual disorder is an abnormal condition in a woman's menstrual cycle. Disorders of ovulation include oligoovulation and anovulation: "Polymenorrhea" is the medical term for cycles with intervals of 21 days or fewer. "Irregular menstruation" is where there is variation in menstrual cycle length of more than approximately eight days for a woman. The term "metrorrhagia" is often used for irregular menstruation that occurs between the expected menstrual periods. "Oligomenorrhea" is the medical term for infrequent, often light menstrual periods (intervals exceeding 35 days). "Amenorrhea" is the absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age.