This is how the menstrual cycle works

Sara

Leg. Doctor

The menstrual cycle is more than just bleeding once a month – it is a complex process that consists of several phases and is governed by hormonal changes in the body that affect both your physical and mental health. Understanding your menstrual cycle is therefore important not only for your reproductive health but also for your general well-being. Here we go through everything you need to know about the menstrual cycle, its phases and how they affect you.

How long is the menstrual cycle?

The average menstrual cycle is approximately 28 days, but the length can vary, both between different women and from one cycle to another. It is usually said that a normal menstrual cycle can be between 21 and 35 days.

The cycle length is counted from the first day of menstruation (the first day of the period) to the day before the first day of the next period. It is common for cycle length to vary and it can be affected by many different factors, such as stress, hormonal changes, health and lifestyle.

Which hormones control the menstrual cycle?

The menstrual cycle is controlled by several important hormones that together regulate the different phases of the cycle.

– Estrogen: Estrogen is a female sex hormone. It is mainly produced by the follicles in the ovaries. Estrogen builds up the lining of the uterus (endometrium) during the first half of the cycle and prepares it for possible pregnancy.

– Progesterone: Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum, that which remains after an egg has left the follicle, in the ovaries after ovulation. Progesterone helps make the uterine lining receptive to a fertilized egg and helps maintain a pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, progesterone production decreases, leading to menstruation.

– Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): FSH is produced by the pituitary gland, which is a gland in the brain. It stimulates the growth of follicles in the ovaries every month. The increase in FSH at the beginning of the menstrual cycle is crucial for the ovulation process to start. After ovulation, FSH levels drop again and remain low until the next menstrual cycle begins.

– Luteinizing hormone (LH): LH is also produced in the pituitary gland. It is LH that triggers ovulation and releases a mature egg from the ovary.

The phases of the menstrual cycle

The menstrual cycle consists of four main phases that are regulated by the different hormones and affect the body in different ways.

Menstrual phase: The menstrual cycle begins on the first day of menstruation. During the menstrual phase, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) breaks down, resulting in the bleeding known as menstruation. Bleeding lasts an average of 3-7 days.

The follicular phase: The follicular phase begins at the same time as the menstrual phase and lasts until ovulation. During the follicular phase, FSH from the pituitary gland stimulates the growth of several follicles in the ovaries. One of these follicles will become dominant and continue to grow, while the others regenerate. The growing follicle produces estrogen, which helps rebuild and thicken the lining of the uterus again after menstruation. During this phase, you may experience increased sex drive, which is your body's way of encouraging pregnancy.

Ovulation phase: Ovulation usually occurs around day 14 of a 28-day menstrual cycle. A sharp increase in LH leads to the release of the dominant egg from the follicle and ovary. This is the phase when a woman is most fertile.

Luteal phase: After ovulation, the body prepares for a possible pregnancy. The corpus luteum is formed from the remaining part of the follicle. The levels of progesterone and estrogen increase to strengthen the lining of the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum breaks down, progesterone levels drop and a new menstrual phase begins.

When in the menstrual cycle do you have PMS?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) usually occurs during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which is the time after ovulation and before menstruation begins. The luteal phase generally lasts from day 14 to 28 of an average 28-day cycle, but this can vary between women and from cycle to cycle.

The symptoms of PMS usually start one to two weeks before the period and subside when the period starts or shortly after. Symptoms can vary in intensity and may include physical, emotional and behavioral changes, such as mood swings, fatigue, breast tenderness, headaches, bloating and changes in appetite and sleep. All these symptoms are a normal part of the menstrual cycle and are caused by the hormonal changes in the body.

Postponing your period

Some women are greatly affected by PMS or experience discomfort such as cramps and nausea during menstruation. Then there may be situations when you want to postpone your period. It can be done in a few different ways, often using hormonal contraceptives or by taking synthetic corpus luteum hormone (progesterone).

If you use combined hormonal contraceptives, such as the pill, you can delay your period by simply skipping the sugar pill and starting the next chart straight away. This is called long cycle use and is a common method of postponing menstruation.

Another method is temporary tablet treatment. It suits you who do not use any contraceptive or have a contraceptive that cannot be used to postpone the period, such as a copper or hormonal coil. During temporary tablet treatment, synthetic corpus luteum hormone (progesterone) is taken, which means that the menstrual cycle is extended so that the endometrium is not expelled in the form of menstruation. When you stop taking the tablets, the progesterone levels drop and the period comes. Postponing your period is not dangerous and suits most people. With us at Recetas Medicas, you can get help to postpone your period. Fill out our health form for fast treatment.