menstrual

American  

[men-stroo-uhl, -struhl] / ˈmɛn stru əl, -strəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to menstruation or to the menses.

2. Archaic. monthly.

---

ˈmenstrual British  

/ ˈmɛnstrʊəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to menstruation or the menses

---

Other Word Forms

• intermenstrual adjective
• postmenstrual adjective
• premenstrual adjective
• premenstrually adverb

Etymology

Origin of menstrual

1350–1400; Middle English menstruall < Latin mēnstruālis having monthly courses, equivalent to mēnstru ( a ) monthly courses (noun use of neuter plural of mēnstruus monthly; mēnstr- ( semester ) + -uus adj. suffix, probably on the model of annuus annual ) + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Seckin said women’s concerns about menstrual pain are often dismissed by doctors, leading to missed diagnoses.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

Freya Bowen says she has lived with intense menstrual pain since she was 14.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

The top court's comments came while hearing a petition filed by lawyer Shailendra Mani Tripathi, seeking a national menstrual leave policy, legal website LiveLaw reported.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Pediatricians should recognize that early menstrual periods may signal higher cardiovascular risk later in life, and menstrual history should be included in routine evaluations.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2026

Last year it was observed that young women living at close quarters in dormitories tended to undergo spontaneous synchronization of their menstrual cycles.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas