Scribd
Upload
103 views4 pages

Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is a monthly process in women that involves menstruation, the formation of an egg in the ovaries resulting in ovulation, and the shedding of the uterine lining if the egg is not fertilized, starting a new cycle. It is divided into four phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases, each involving changes in hormone levels and the uterine lining.

Uploaded by

mochidundun
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
103 views4 pages

Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is a monthly process in women that involves menstruation, the formation of an egg in the ovaries resulting in ovulation, and the shedding of the uterine lining if the egg is not fertilized, starting a new cycle. It is divided into four phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases, each involving changes in hormone levels and the uterine lining.

Uploaded by

mochidundun
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

MENSTRUAL CYCLE

The menstrual cycle is a monthly process that occurs in women, usually between the ages of 10
to 55 years. It begins with menstruation, the shedding of the uterine lining that prepares the
body for a potential pregnancy. This is followed by the formation of a new egg cell in the ovaries,
which results in ovulation. If the egg is not fertilized, then the lining of the uterus is shed again,
starting a new cycle.

The menstrual cycle is divided into four phases:

● menstrual phase
● follicular phase
● ovulation phase
● luteal phase

The length of each phase can vary and change over time.

Menstrual phase
The menstrual phase is the first stage of the menstrual cycle. It’s also when you get your period.

This phase starts when an egg from the previous cycle isn’t fertilized. Because pregnancy hasn’t
taken place, levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop.

The thickened lining of your uterus, which would support a pregnancy, is no longer needed, so it
sheds through your vagina. During your period, you release a combination of blood, mucus, and
tissue from your uterus.

The menstrual phase can last for 3–8 days and may vary in length and intensity for each
woman.

You may have period symptoms like these:


● cramps
● tender breasts
● bloating
● mood swings
● irritability
● headaches
● tiredness
● low back pain

Follicular Phase
The follicular phase starts on the first day of your period (so there is some overlap with the
menstrual phase) and ends when you ovulate.

It starts when the hypothalamus signals your pituitary gland to release follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH). This hormone stimulates your ovaries to produce around 5 to 20 small sacs
called follicles. Each follicle contains an immature egg.

Only the healthiest egg will eventually mature. (On rare occasions, a female may have two eggs
mature.) The rest of the follicles will be reabsorbed into your body.

The maturing follicle sets off a surge in estrogen that thickens the lining of your uterus. This
creates a nutrient-rich environment for an embryo to grow.

The average follicular phase lasts for about 16 days. It can range from 11 to 27 days, depending
on your cycle.

Ovulation Phase
Rising estrogen levels during the follicular phase trigger your pituitary gland to release
luteinizing hormone (LH). This is what starts the process of ovulation.

Ovulation is when your ovary releases a mature egg. The egg travels down the fallopian tube
toward the uterus to be fertilized by sperm.

The ovulation phase is the time during your menstrual cycle when you can get pregnant.

You can tell that you’re ovulating by symptoms like these:


● a slight rise in basal body temperature (Basal body temperature describes your
temperature when you’re resting. Your basal body temperature can increase minimally
when you’re ovulating. Women are at their most fertile in the two to three days prior to
this temperature increase.)
● thicker discharge that has the texture of egg whites

Ovulation happens around day 14 if you have a 28-day cycle — right in the middle of your
menstrual cycle. It lasts about 24 hours. After a day, the egg will die or dissolve if it isn’t
fertilized.
DID YOU KNOW?
Because sperm can live up to 5 days, pregnancy can occur as a result of sex 5 days before
ovulation.

Luteal Phase
After the follicle releases its egg, it changes into the corpus luteum. This structure releases
hormones, mainly progesterone and some estrogen. The rise in hormones keeps your uterine
lining thick and ready for a fertilized egg to implant.

If you do get pregnant, your body will produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is the
hormone pregnancy tests detect. It helps maintain the corpus luteum (The corpus luteum (Latin
for "yellow body"; pl.: corpora lutea) is a temporary endocrine structure in female ovaries
involved in the production of relatively high levels of progesterone and moderate levels of
estradiol, and inhibin A.) and keeps the uterine lining thick.

If you don’t get pregnant, the corpus luteum will shrink away and be resorbed. This leads to
decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone, which causes the onset of your period. The
uterine lining will shed during your period.

The luteal phase lasts for 11 to 17 days. The average length is 14 days.

During this phase, if you don’t get pregnant, you may experience symptoms of premenstrual
syndrome (PMS). These include:
● bloating
● breast swelling, pain, or tenderness
● mood changes
● headache
● weight gain
● changes in sexual desire
● food cravings
● trouble sleeping

CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, the menstrual cycle is an essential aspect of women's health and fertility. It is a
natural process that occurs on a monthly basis, divided into four phases: menstruation,
follicular phase, ovulation phase, and luteal phase. Understanding these phases and the
hormones involved is crucial for monitoring and managing any potential issues. Additionally, it
is important to keep track of one's menstrual cycle to anticipate changes, including possible
pregnancy and menopause. With proper knowledge and awareness, women can better manage
their menstrual health and lead a happy and healthy life.

You might also like