Menstruation Period

Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle

You probably already know a lot about your menstrual cycle - the frequency of your periods and their abundance, for example. This page aims to examine in more detail the woman's menstrual cycle, ovulation, and menstruation. It goes without saying that no website will replace a discussion with a health professional, but this information can help you understand how your body works.

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Menstrual cycle

The length of a cycle varies from woman to woman but is usually between 23 and 35 days. Possible changes in cycle time occur most frequently during the part of the cycle that precedes ovulation (called the follicular phase). In most women, the time between ovulation (when an ovum is released from the ovary) and their period is between 12 and 16 days (this is called the luteal phase).

Your rules

The first day of your menstrual cycle is the first day of menstruation (day 1). The rules usually last from 3 to 7 days. If you have painful periods, you will probably find that the pain is more severe the first days of your period. In fact, the hormones in your body actively cause the elimination of the uterine lining, which was formed during the previous menstrual cycle.

Ovulation preparation

At the beginning of your cycle, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is made by the pituitary gland located in your brain. It is the main hormone involved in stimulating your ovaries so that they make mature eggs. The follicles are the cavities of the ovaries filled with fluid. Each follicle contains an undeveloped egg. FSH stimulates the development of a number of follicles and starts the secretion of the estrogen hormone. Your estrogen level is at its lowest level on the first day of your period; from this day, it begins to increase as the follicles develop.

Although a number of follicles initially began to develop, a follicle normally becomes "dominant"; the egg matures within the growing follicle. Meanwhile, increasing the amount of estrogen in your body ensures the thickening of the uterine lining by a supply of blood and nutrients. Thus, if you are pregnant, the fertilized egg will have all the nutrients and help it needs to grow. Elevated estrogen levels are also associated with a "receptive sperm" aspect of mucus (or, according to the technical term, "fertile cervical mucus"). You may notice a clear, viscous loss that may be slightly whitish. Sperm moves more easily within this mucus and can survive for several days.

Understanding the ovulation cycle

Ovulation

The level of estrogen in your body continues to increase, and eventually causes a sudden increase in luteinizing hormone (the so-called "LH peak"). This peak of LH causes the rupture of the dominant follicle and the release of the mature egg by the ovary; the egg then enters the fallopian tubes. This process is called ovulation.

Many women think of ovulation on day 14, but this is only average; most women will actually ovulate another day of their menstrual cycle. The day of your ovulation will vary between cycles. Some women say they feel slight pain at the time of ovulation, but many feel absolutely nothing; there is no other evidence of ovulation.

After ovulation

Once the egg (oocyte) is released, it travels through the fallopian tubes to your uterus. The egg can live up to 24 hours. The survival time of sperm is more variable but usually goes from three to five days, so the days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself are those during which you are most fertile ... days when you are most likely to become pregnant. After ovulation, the follicle begins to produce a new hormone, progesterone.

Progesterone can further strengthen the uterine lining to receive a fertilized egg. Meanwhile, the empty follicle begins to degenerate, but continues the production of progesterone; he also begins to secrete estrogen. You may then experience symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) such as breast pain, bloating, lethargy, depression, and irritability.

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