Darrick Robles The menstrual cycle is about more than the period. Your cycle can also affect your energy levels, mental health, libido, and skin.
“The menstrual cycle is a fascinating process controlled by hormones that communicate with the brain and other organs,” explains Dr. Elisabeth Rosen. The main function of your cycle is to get to pregnancy. However, it affects your entire body in different ways.
How long does the cycle usually last?
The average menstrual cycle is 28 days. But that varies from person to person. In some women it lasts as little as 21 days, in others as much as 45 days.
Irregular cycles are also not uncommon, especially if you are under physical or mental stress , or if you have gained or lost a lot of weight. “The body is clever – it won’t ovulate unless it’s ready for pregnancy,” explains Dr. roses
However, sometimes irregularities also indicate that something else is afoot. ” If the cycle suddenly lasts less than 21 days , it can be intermenstrual bleeding, for example caused by stress. The bleeding could also indicate an infection in the uterus or changes in the cervix,” explains Dr. roses
A cyst in the ovaries can disrupt hormone balance, and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause your cycle to last longer than 35 days.
“Later in life, irregular cycles are also the first sign of declining fertility and the onset of perimenopause, the phase before menopause.”
What hormones control the menstrual cycle?
Estrogen
Estrogen is a female sex hormone produced by the follicles in the ovaries. Estrogen’s most important job is to regulate the menstrual cycle. It makes the lining of the womb – the endometrium – thicker and more receptive to a fertilized egg. Estrogen levels peak just before ovulation.
Progesterone
Progesterone is the other major female sex hormone. It is made by the corpus luteum (yellow body) – the follicle left over after an egg is released during ovulation. Its main job is to hold the lining of the uterus in place and prepare it for implantation. Progesterone levels peak around day 21 of the menstrual cycle.
FSH
FSH, the follicle-stimulating hormone, is produced in the pituitary gland in the brain. Its job is to help the follicles (egg sacs) to mature and it also plays an important role in the onset of puberty.
FSH levels increase during menstruation. The value drops again a few days before ovulation. During this period, the body will select an egg cell for further maturation. It then rises again, helping to facilitate ovulation before dropping to its lowest level just before menstruation.
LH
The luteinizing hormone or luteinizing hormone (LH) is formed in the brain, more precisely in the pituitary gland (hypophysis). Its job is to allow ovulation and release the most mature egg. The production of LH is triggered when estrogen levels peak. The LH spike triggers ovulation.
The main phases of the menstrual cycle
1. Follicular phase or egg maturation phase
When? The period between the onset of menstruation and the next ovulation
What happens at this stage? “The eggs in your ovaries are always there trying to grow, but they’re only ‘released’ for fertilization when the hormonal balance is just right,” says Dr. roses
In this phase, the pituitary gland begins to produce FSH in response to low levels of estrogen and progesterone.
The FSH grows the follicles and produces estrogen. The lining of the uterus thickens to prepare for implantation of a fertilized egg, and eventually when estrogen reaches a certain level, FSH levels drop again.
How does it make me feel?
You may get migraines – Estrogen levels are low early in the follicular phase. So if you’re prone to hormonal migraines , this is when you’re likely to get them.
Increased libido – “Estrogen stimulates libido, so sex drive may increase during the follicular phase,” explains Dr. roses This is your body’s way of supporting a potential pregnancy. This is also the reason why the vulva can feel more taut and the discharge provides more lubricity.
Fuller Breasts – Towards the end of the follicular phase, your breasts may also feel fuller.
2. Ovulation
When? Ovulation (Ovulation occurs around day 14 of a 28 day cycle).
What happens at this stage? At the end of the follicular phase (follicular maturation phase), an egg cell – or, in rare cases, an egg cell from each ovary – becomes particularly large, fully mature and ready to be released (ovulation).
“The mature egg produces so much estrogen that it triggers the pituitary gland to release LH, which in turn causes the egg to be released into the fallopian tube,” explains Dr. roses It takes the egg about 24 hours to travel down the fallopian tube, where it needs to be fertilized for pregnancy to occur. The ovum survives 24 hours while the sperm can survive up to 5 days.
How does it make me feel?
Elevated Body Temperature – “Your body temperature goes up about half a degree Celsius just after ovulation because sperm like it,” explains Dr. roses
Softer, dilated cervix – “The blood flow to the uterus peaks and the cervix opens to accommodate the sperm.” You can feel the cervix (end of the cervix) yourself – it’s usually quite hard and tilted back, but short before and during ovulation, it becomes soft and open, and you get a stringy discharge that can help transport sperm.
3. Lutealphase
When? The luteal phase (luteal phase) begins when the egg is released during ovulation, about 14 days before your period starts.
What happens at this stage? The egg leaves behind its covering – the corpus luteum – which begins to produce progesterone to help the lining of the uterus mature.
“The body waits for a fertilized egg to travel down the fallopian tube and grow big enough to attach itself to the wall of the uterus, which takes a few days,” explains Dr. roses
“Around the 21st day, the corpus luteum is overwhelmed and less and less progesterone is produced. Eventually, progesterone and estrogen levels are so low that the lining of the uterus breaks down, which triggers menstrual bleeding.”
How does it make me feel?
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) – If you’re among the 80% of women who suffer from some type of PMS, this is the stage when the symptoms are likely to appear.
What is Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)? “Research has various explanations for what causes PMS. More research is needed in this area, but in any case, the symptoms are related to our progesterone levels,” says Dr. roses This hormone has a calming effect on the body and its levels are low during this phase – so you may be feeling the exact opposite: excited, irritable and depressed.
- Hormonal Acne – “Hormonal acne usually gets worse during the luteal phase. Again, the reason for this is the lack of progesterone.”
4. Menstruation
When? The first day of your period is called day 1 of your cycle and is also the first day of your follicular phase. The average cycle is 28 days, but this varies from woman to woman.
What happens at this stage? If you don’t get pregnant, you’ll get your period because the lining of the uterus is shedding. dr Rosén: “During the luteal phase, when progesterone levels are high, the production of FSH and LH in the pituitary gland is at a minimum. When progesterone levels are low again, the cycle starts over and the follicular phase begins again.”
How does it make me feel?
Bleeding – Most women bleed for 3-5 days, but this can vary.
Cramps and abdominal pain are possible – Many women experience mild cramps , abdominal pain and discomfort during menstruation. However, if your pain is severe or you have an unusually heavy period, there could be a medical cause. In this case, talk to your doctor.
When am I most fertile?
“During ovulation. The timing of this varies, but typically ovulation occurs 14 days before the first day of your period,” says Dr. roses
“Getting to know the menstrual cycle can be helpful, especially when trying to conceive. This includes checking for vaginal discharge, palpating the cervix, and checking for breast tenderness,” adds Dr. roses added. “That’s how you learn to recognize the signs.”
In principle, it is also possible to get pregnant during the period. The reasons for this: Early ovulation can also take place during menstruation. In addition, sperm survive in the female body for several days – possibly until ovulation, which occurs a few days after the period.
How will my menstrual cycle change over the course of my life?
The first period
Young girls usually get their first period between the ages of 9-15. The average age is just over 12 years old. “It takes a while for the body to adjust and the hormones to balance, but after about a year your periods should be regular,” says Dr. roses
Possible pregnancy and later life
With the exception of pregnancy and breastfeeding and the occasional missed period when you’re very stressed, your periods should be regular until your mid-40s.
“ With increasing age, the quality of the oocytes decreases , which is why the risk of complications increases. The corpus luteum also becomes less effective at producing progesterone, so the menstrual cycle can become shorter,” says Dr. roses This is usually the very first sign of perimenopause.
perimenopause and menopause
After a while, the eggs will run out and you won’t have your cycle every month. Despite the lack of ovulation, your ovaries continue to produce estrogen, causing your uterine lining to grow. But since you’re not ovulating, you’re not producing progesterone either – and eventually the mucous membrane becomes so heavy that it just falls out.
“That’s why around age 51, very irregular but heavy and prolonged bleeding can occur.” If you haven’t had a period for a year after that time, you’re officially in menopause .
