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Guide to a Menstrual Cycle

Every month, the female body goes through a highly complex process to prepare itself for potential pregnancy. The intricate process of the menstrual cycle involves several hormones and includes different phases. Learning more about what happens during the menstrual cycle can increase your understanding of what a normal, healthy cycle means for your body.

  1. Day One

    • The first day of your period is considered day one of your cycle. Prior to the start of your period, your uterine wall is building up a protective layer of tissue and nutrients to prepare for the implantation of a fertilized egg. If pregnancy does not occur, this uterine lining begins to disintegrate. The resulting flow of blood is what causes your menstrual period.

    Follicle Stimulating Hormone

    • As your body is shedding the unnecessary uterine lining, it is also producing follicle stimulating hormone (FHS). This hormone causes about a dozen follicles in the ovaries to begin maturing and releasing estrogen. The eggs within the follicles begin to mature and prepare for potential fertilization. This process typically lasts about two weeks, and it ends when your body reaches an estrogen threshold.

    Estrogen

    • The hormone estrogen is essential for the maturation of eggs and the development of the uterine lining. As estrogen levels rise during the first two weeks of your cycle, you may experience breast swelling or tenderness, mood swings, headaches,and decreased sex drive, all common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Eventually, the high levels of estrogen trigger a surge of luteinizing hormone.

    Ovulation

    • The surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) causes an egg to burst from its follicle, a process known as ovulation. A woman can release two or more eggs in a 24-hour period, which accounts for fraternal twins or multiple births. The ruptured follicle begins to release another hormone called progesterone.

    Progesterone

    • The release of progesterone following ovulation prevents the release of other eggs and also aids in thickening the uterine lining. Increased progesterone levels also cause a spike in body temperature. Women who are attempting to get pregnant monitor their basal body temperature to watch for this change, which indicates conception is likely.

    The Luteal Phase

    • The time between ovulation and menstruation is known as the luteal phase. This phase typically lasts 12 to 16 days and marks the lifespan of the ruptured follicle, which is known as the corpus luteum. As LH levels begin to drop off, the corpus luteum starts to deteriorate, causing progesterone levels to plummet. This drop in progesterone causes the uterine lining to disintegrate, and your next period begins.

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