lovesouthernsocial.com

Menstruation is a natural process that most women of reproductive age go through every month.

Resized image of Annie Spratt, is available on Unsplash

Menstruation is the first phase of the menstrual cycle, a natural process that most women of reproductive age (after puberty and before menopause) go through each month. It appears when an egg from the previous cycle does not fertilize any sperm.

• Menopause: symptoms, effects and causes

The menstrual cycle lasts, on average, 28 days, and is divided into four phases: menstruation, follicular phase, ovulatory phase and luteal phase. These biological changes occur through natural hormonal variation.

Every 28 days, an egg is developed and released by the ovaries, the uterus builds up a lining called the endometrium, and if the egg fertilizes any sperm (to start a pregnancy), the uterine lining is expelled during menstruation in the form of blood . Then the cycle starts again. Understand better "What is the menstrual cycle?".

Menstruation and the menstrual cycle

Menstruation

During menstruation, the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone fall.

If the egg does not fertilize any sperm (which enters the vaginal canal through contact with the semen that exits the penis during ejaculation), the thick blood lining of the uterus, which would serve to support a pregnancy, is no longer needed, then it it is expelled by uterine contractions, exiting through the vagina. During menstruation, a combination of blood, mucus and tissue from the uterus is expelled.

This period is usually accompanied by symptoms such as:

• Cramps;
• Swelling and pain in the breasts;
• Abdominal swelling;
• Mood change;
• Irritability;
• Headache;
• Tiredness;
• Low back pain (low back pain).

On average, women are menstruating for between three and seven days. Some have a longer period than others.

follicular phase

The follicular phase starts on the first day of the period (therefore there is some overlap with menstruation) and ends when the ovulatory period arrives.

This phase begins when the hypothalamus sends a signal to the pituitary gland to release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This hormone stimulates the ovaries to make about five to 20 small sacs called follicles. Each follicle contains an immature egg.

Only the healthiest egg will eventually mature. On rare occasions, a woman can have two mature eggs. The rest of the follicles will be reabsorbed by the body.

The maturing follicle triggers a surge of estrogen that thickens the lining of the uterus. This creates a nutrient-rich environment for an embryo to grow. The average follicular phase lasts about 16 days. It can vary from 11 to 27 days, depending on the cycle, and has a slightly pasty vaginal mucus, without much consistency and elasticity.

ovulatory phase

The increase in estrogen levels during the follicular phase triggers the pituitary gland to release luteinizing hormone (LH). This is what starts the ovulation process.

Ovulation occurs when the ovary releases a mature egg. The egg travels through the fallopian tubes towards the uterus to fertilize the sperm.

The ovulation phase is the only time in the entire cycle when a woman is fertile. It only lasts about 24 hours and has symptoms such as:

• Slight increase in basal body temperature;
• Transparent vaginal mucus similar to egg white.

Ovulation happens around the 14th day if the woman has a 28-day cycle - that is, right in the middle of the menstrual cycle. This phase lasts about 24 hours. After a day, the egg dies or dissolves if it is not fertilized.

luteal phase

After the follicle releases the egg, it becomes the corpus luteum. This structure releases hormones, mainly progesterone and some estrogen. Increased hormones keep the uterine lining thick and ready for a fertilized egg to implant.

If a woman becomes pregnant, the body will produce human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). This hormone is easily detected in a pregnancy test and confirms the diagnosis. It helps maintain the corpus luteum and keeps the uterine lining thick.

If the woman does not become pregnant, the corpus luteum will shrink and be reabsorbed. This leads to decreased estrogen and progesterone levels, which causes menstruation to start. Thus, the lining of the uterus is released in the form of menstruation during the menstrual period.

During this phase, if the woman does not become pregnant, she may experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). These include:

• Swelling;
• Breast swelling, pain or tenderness;
• Mood change;
• Headache;
• Weight gain;
• Changes in sexual desire;
• Cravings caused by food or aromas;
• Difficulty sleeping.

To learn more about PMS, check out the article: "What does PMS mean, what are its symptoms and treatment".

The luteal phase lasts from 11 to 17 days. The average duration is 14 days and at this stage the female body releases a white, pasty vaginal mucus, similar to an ointment (different from vaginal discharge).

Identifying Common Problems

Every woman's menstrual cycle is different. Periods for some women may appear every 28 days every month. Others have a more irregular menstrual cycle. Some women bleed more heavily or for more days than others.

Menstruation can also change during certain times in life, and it can become more irregular as you approach menopause, for example. Learn more about this topic in the article: "Menopause: symptoms, effects and causes".

One way to find out if you are having a problem with your menstrual cycle, or menstruation, is to record and analyze your menstrual periods. Note when menstruation starts and ends. Also record any changes in sensation and the number of days you bled.

Any of these factors can alter menstruation:

• Birth control pill: can make periods shorter and lighter;
• Pregnancy: menstruation ceases - this is one of the first symptoms of pregnancy;
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): hormonal imbalance that prevents an egg from developing normally in the ovaries, causing irregular menstruation;
• Uterine fibroids: non-cancerous, can make periods longer and more difficult than usual;
• Eating Disorders: Anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders can disrupt the menstrual cycle and interrupt menstruation.

• How to get pregnant: 16 natural tips

Some signs that there may be a problem with your period:

• Did you skip periods or your periods stopped completely;
• Your periods are irregular;
• You bleed for more than seven days;
• Your periods are less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart;
• You bleed between periods.

If you have problems with the menstrual cycle, seek medical help. To find out how to calculate your fertile period, take a look at the article: "What is fertile period and how to calculate".

---