Periodic Menstruation (Menstruation)
The phases of your menstrual cycle play a significant role in your life. Learn what’s happening at each phase of your cycle so you can prepare.
Each month, phases of your menstrual cycle take place as your reproductive system repeats a predictable series of actions that are all regulated by hormones. There are four recurring components, or phases. What you need to know about each is listed below.
The Menstrual Phase (Menstruation)
The phase that is frequently referred to as “your period” is the menstrual phase. The first day of your menstrual phase, or the first day of your period, marks the beginning of your cycle.
Where is this material coming from, you might wonder? The lining of your uterus sheds blood during your menstrual cycle. It exits through the vaginal aperture after passing through the uterus, cervix, and vaginal wall.
Typically, a period lasts between three and seven days. The usual menstrual flow for your entire period is roughly a quarter of a cup, however it may seem like more.
The Phase of Follicles
Your body is preparing for pregnancy each month throughout this time. Your uterine lining begins to thicken and develop in order to prepare for a fertilized egg, thanks to the estrogen hormone. The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), another hormone, also encourages the development of ovarian follicles at the same time. An egg is located inside each follicle. Each month, typically, one egg will be completely prepared for fertilization.
Ovulation typically happens on day 14 of a conventional 28-day menstrual cycle.
Typically, a period lasts between three and seven days. The usual menstrual flow for your entire period is roughly a quarter of a cup, however it may seem like more.
The Luteal Phase
The luteal phase starts after ovulation. The follicle’s empty space develops into a corpus luteum. Large levels of progesterone and estrogen are produced by the corpus luteum cells. Your uterine lining is stimulated by progesterone to get ready for a fertilized egg.
Here are the two possible outcomes. The egg enters your uterus and attaches to the lining if you get pregnant. The uterine lining sheds through the vaginal opening if you are not pregnant. A fresh menstrual cycle starts with the onset of your period.
The Ovulation Phase
The luteinizing hormone, often known as LH, increases in response to this increase in estrogen. An egg is released from a follicle when a follicle bursts due to LH. Ovulation typically happens on day 14 of a conventional 28-day menstrual cycle. However, the menstrual cycles of most women vary in length. Ovulation typically occurs 11 to 16 days prior to your next period.
When a mature egg is released from one of the ovaries, the process is known as ovulation. The egg exits the ovary, travels through the nearby fallopian tube, and then enters your uterus. The lining of the uterus keeps getting thicker over the course of several days as the egg travels down the fallopian tube.
It takes about three to four days for the egg to travel toward the uterus. From there, an egg waits for about 24 hours in hopes of being fertilized before it starts degenerating.
Sources:
- ACOG Patient Brochure 049.
- Acog Patient brochure: midlife transition and menopause
- ACOG Medical Student Education Module 2008
- Comprehensive Gynecology. Mishell, Stenchever, Droegemueller, and Herbst. 3rd Edition.
- Textbook of Histology. Bloom and Fawcett 11th edition.
- Emans Laufer and Goldstein Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
- ACOG by American congress of obstetricians and gynecologists
