Our own Menstrual Cycle is the key to understanding when we are in our fertile window to conceive a baby. This is not only a great way to prevent or plan pregnancies, but also to understanding our body!
Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle consists of Four phases and differs in length for everyone.
On average, we will have 450 menstrual cycles in our lifetime. Understanding your own cycle can give you clues on your current state of health!
On average, it last 28 days, but can be different each cycle for one person or between many people.
The Four Steps are:
- Menstruation (Period)
- Follicular Phase (Proliferative Phase)
- Ovulation
- Luteal Phase (Secretory Phase)
Menstruation or "Menses"
This is the first day of our cycle, when bleeding begins. This can last anywhere from 1-8 days depending on the person and our hormones. On average this is 3-5 days in length. This is the beginning of the Follicular Phase.
When starting to track and learn your own cycle, this is the EASIEST phase to notice because of the bleeding. It is almost impossible to not notice when you start to have vaginal bleeding.
Follicular Phase
This phase lasts from the first day of the period to 14 days on average. This phase of the cycle will determine how long the actual menstrual cycle lasts for each individual!
The primary hormone involved with this phase is Estrogen.
Estrogen is increasing throughout this phase in order to:
- Prepare the endometrial lining of the uterus for a fertilized egg to implant into
- Create “channels” in the cervix for sperm to enter the uterus for fertilization
- Cervical mucus changes to more watery and abundant as ovulation gets closer to happening
During this phase, a Follicle matures in the ovary and will be released at ovulation.
At the end of this phase as estorgen rises higher and highter, FSH(Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and LH (Lutenizing Hormone) begins to rise as well. This is known as the “LH Surge” which transitions us into the next phase.
Ovulation
The release of the mature follicle, now knows as the “oocyte” or the “egg” occurs at the “LH surge.”
On average, this occurs at day 14 of the cycle, but this will vary between each cycle and person!
Vaginal discharge is watery and there is a lot of it. This is to create the “perfect” environment for sperm to be able to travel to the egg quickly for fertilization to occur.
Before Ovulation occurs, Progesterone will begin to rise as well as testosterone. This increases libido.
Once ovulation occurs, estrogen, FSH, and LH will decrease. Along with testosterone.
When starting to track your cycle, this is often the hardest one to notice!
Luteal Phase
This phase is 14 days post-ovulation. However long the follicular phase is, plus these 14 days, is the length of your cycle.
During this phase, Progesterone rises to prepare the body for a growing baby. It is produced by the corpus luteum, the follicle that held the oocyte. FSH and LH will continue to lower. Estrogen will still be present.
Progesterone will
- cause vaginal discharge to slow or stop because it changes to consistency of the mucous because fertilization is no longer possible.
- Prepare the uterine lining more for possible implantation
- Increase our body temperature
If fertilization occurs: progesterone and estrogen continue to increase
If fertilization does not occur: progesterone and estrogen rapidly decline and initiate the menstrual cycle to restart.
How to know you Ovulated
There are different tricks and way to learn if you ovulated, or if ovulation is near.
- Basal Body Temperature Tracking, when there is a rise in our temperature, this indicates Ovulation. This temperature needs to be taken immediately upon waking with minimal movement, with a special thermometer.
- Cervical mucus will be more egg white consistency and may have a mucus plug come out shortly before ovulation
- Cervical position will be higher and the cervix may feel open. This is so the sperm has to travel a shorter distance
- Increased libido
The five days prior to ovulation is known as the Fertile Window. This is when if you have intercourse, could lead to a pregnancy. This is the window because sperm can live for 5-6 days! The egg itself only lives for 12-24 hours.
Benefits of Tracking Your Cycle
There are many benefits of tracking and understanding your cycle. This can have positive impacts of your health, fertility, family planning, and even menopause!
- Understand your own body and hormones! Each of us respond to hormones differently, some are more sensitive to progesterone and some are more sensitive to estrogen. If you are prone to PMS symptoms, learning your cycle to determine when those symptoms may occur can benefit your life planning!
- Plan for pregnancy. Whether this is to prevent a pregnant or planning to get pregnant. This can be a reliable way to do it!
- It can give you a clue of your health. Tracking the length of your cycles, how long the bleeding occurs, sex drive, and ovulation signs, these can give you an idea of if things are working well or potentially there is a problem that needs to be investigated. If you are having frequent heavy long periods with no signs of ovulation. This could give your doctor a clue to investigate further and potentially identify PCOS or endometriosis, or even signs of infertility if you are not having signs of ovulation occur.
- Can help improve our fitness level by using our hormones to our benefit for recovery and gains.
In Conclusion
Tracking your menstrual cycle is a beneficial tool for all of us, even if we are not trying to get pregnant! It can help us understand our bodies and potentially identify any issues early on!