Do you understand the female fertility cycle and its effects on health? Most people are not fully aware of this. Females need to go through the menstrual cycle every month which affects them physically and mentally. This cycle ensures they are fertile and get pregnant. However, certain common problems in the cycle can affect their fertility and lead to complications. Here is a comprehensive guide on the menstrual cycle for you to understand. Schedule an appointment at Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center.
Importance of understanding the menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle is a natural process in women when their bodies prepare for pregnancy and the uterus lining is shed failing that. This cycle occurs throughout a woman’s reproductive life. It’s a monthly cycle, where endometrium prepares itself to nourish the fetus. To do that, it increases the levels of estrogen and progesterone which help to thicken the walls.
If fertilization doesn’t happen, the endometrium along with blood and mucus from the vagina and cervix leaves the body through menstrual flow during the period. The average length of the menstrual cycle lasts for 28 days; however, it can be different for everyone. For instance, teenagers may have cycles that last 45 days (about 1 and a half months), whereas people in their 20s and 30s might have cycles that last 21 to 38 days (about 1 month 1 week). However, anything outside this range may need medical attention.
Understanding the menstrual cycle is particularly important because it helps you know how it affects your body and emotions. The hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can significantly impact reproductive organs and organs like the brain, heart, skin, thyroid, and even hair. Additionally, it also affects body functions like digestion, pain tolerance, creativity, energy levels, mood, and mental well-being. When you become aware of these influences of the menstrual cycle on the body, you understand how to foster resilience, encourage self-compassion, and choose optimal timings for various activities that help improve your overall life quality.
Stages of the menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle involves different stages from egg development to release from the ovaries. The lining of the uterus builds up for fertility and if a pregnancy doesn’t happen, then the uterine lining sheds itself at the end of the period. Then the same cycle starts again. There are 4 stages of menstrual cycle women go through, including:
1. Menstrual stage:
This is the first menstrual stage of the period, where your uterus lining sheds and flows out of the vagina with a combination of blood and mucus. This stage starts when the egg is not fertilized, which means your estrogen and progesterone levels are still low. This stage lasts between 3 to 7 days. During this stage, you may experience symptoms like:
• Cramps
• Tender breasts
• Bloating
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Low back pain
2. Follicular stage:
This stage is considered the first day of your period which sometimes overlaps with the menstrual stage as well. In this stage, the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to produce follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) that stimulates your ovaries to produce around 5 to 20 small sacs called follicles.
Every follicle contains an immature egg and only the healthiest egg will mature over time. Rarely, a woman may have two eggs mature. The rest of the follicles get reabsorbed into the body and maturing follicles develop in the ovaries, your uterus triggers estrogen production to rebuild the endometrium that was shed off last time.
Your uterus is a 24/7 construction site where the body stores the fertilized egg during pregnancy due to its nutrient-rich environment. This stage is when you become the most extroverted, and researchers believe that this is the stage where your body seeks out a mate for ovulation. The average of this stage lasts around 16 days (about 2 and a half weeks), however, it can range from 11 to 27 days (about 4 weeks), depending on your cycle.
3. Ovulating stage:
This is the stage when your pituitary gland releases luteinizing hormone, which starts the process of ovulation. Ovulation is the process where the ovary releases a mature egg that travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus to get fertilized by sperm. This is the time when you get pregnant if you have unprotected sex. You can tell your body is ovulating by experiencing symptoms like:
• a little rise in basal body temperature.
• Thicker discharge (with a texture of egg whites).
Usually, this happens around day 14 if you have a 28-day cycle. It lasts about 24 hours, after the day, the egg dies or dissolves if not fertilized. As the estrogen levels are at peak at this stage, you feel more attractive during this phase. Your skin becomes clear and radiant, your social skills are flawless, and your confidence is on top. Additionally, a rise in testosterone also makes you more sensual. As your libido gets higher during ovulation, women are more likely to partake in social activities that allow them to have contact with men. Biologists call it the “mate-search effort” phase. Studies show that women are more prone to self-pleasure during this period.
4. Luteal stage:
After ovulation, the follicle turns into a corpus luteum and starts producing estrogen and progesterone. This rise of hormones keeps your uterine lining thick and ready for a fertilized egg to implant. If you get pregnant, your body produces human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone detects your pregnancy, helps to maintain the corpus luteum, and keeps the uterine lining thick. If you don’t get pregnant, the corpus luteum will fade away or get reabsorbed which lowers your estrogen and progesterone levels and causes the onset of your period. The uterine lining will shred during this period. And if you don’t get pregnant in this stage, you may experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, which include:
• Bloating
• Breast swelling, pain, or tenderness
• Mood changes
• Headache
• Weight gain
• Changes in sexual desire
• Difficulty sleeping
• Food cravings
• Acne
• Constipation
This stage lasts for 11 to 17 days, and the average length is 14 days (about 2 weeks).
Common issues
As every menstrual cycle is different, their timing is also different. Some people get their period at the same time each month, while others get them at irregular times. Some bleed more heavily or for more days than others. Your menstrual cycle can also change at certain times of your life. For instance, your cycle is irregular when you get close to menopause.
To find out issues of your menstrual cycle you can track your periods by writing down everything from the start to end. Additionally, record any changes in the number of days you bleed, or have spotting between periods.
Here are certain things that can alter your menstrual cycle, including:
• Birth control: This drug can make your periods shorter and lighter, while some pills can stop your periods permanently.
• Pregnancy: Your periods may stop during pregnancy. Missing periods are the most common first signs that you’re pregnant.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): This condition causes hormonal imbalance which prevents an egg from developing naturally in the ovaries. PCOS causes irregular cycles or missed periods.
• Uterine fibroids: These are noncancerous growths that occur in or outside the uterus wall, which make your periods longer and heavier than usual.
• Eating disorders: Anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders can disrupt your cycle and may stop your periods.
When to see a doctor?
You should see a doctor if you have any of these worries about your periods, like:
• Your period patterns change (like you skipped periods or irregular periods).
• Your periods are getting heavier (you need to change your pad or tampon more often than usual).
• Your period lasts more than 8 days.
• Your periods come less than 21 days (about 3 weeks) apart or more than 35 days (about 1 month 9 days) apart.
• Your symptoms cause severe pain which affects your quality of life.
• You bleed between periods which is heavier than spotting.
• You bleed after sex.
The menstrual cycle is a natural process that every woman needs to go through. It can be different for everyone. However, you need to get familiar with your cycle, so that you can manage your symptoms well and adjust accordingly. In case you notice any changes in your menstrual cycle, you should see a doctor.
Need help with your menstrual cycle, visit our gynecology clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!
At Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center, we have the best GYN doctor in Brooklyn, and we provide women with quality health care services. To schedule an appointment, you can visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call us on 1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at http://www.gynecologistbrooklyn.com/.