How Does A Period Cycle Work

What Happens If Fertilization Does Not Take Place

How menstruation works – Emma Bryce

In case fertilization does not take place or in the event that the egg does not implant on the walls of the uterus successfully, the egg begins to disintegrate. The corpus luteum also shrinks and the level of oestrogen and progesterone in your body will begin to drop.

Your uterus produces a chemical called prostaglandins, which will change the blood supply to the uterus, break the lining created on the uterine walls and contract your uterus. This is when the lining sheds along with the unfertilized egg and your periods start.

Anovulatory Cycles And Short Luteal Phases

Only two thirds of overtly normal menstrual cycles are ovulatory, that is, cycles in which ovulation occurs. The other third lack ovulation or have a short luteal phase in which progesterone production is insufficient for normal physiology and fertility. Cycles in which ovulation does not occur are common in girls who have just begun menstruating and in women around menopause. During the first two years following menarche, ovulation is absent in around half of cycles. Five years after menarche, ovulation occurs in around 75% of cycles and this reaches 80% in the following years. Anovulatory cycles are often overtly identical to normally ovulatory cycles. Any alteration to balance of hormones can lead to anovulation. Stress, anxiety and eating disorders can cause a fall in GnRH, and a disruption of the menstrual cycle. Chronic anovulation occurs in 615% of women during their reproductive years. Around menopause, hormone feedback dysregulation leads to anovulatory cycles. Although anovulation is not considered a disease, it can be a sign of an underlying condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Anovulatory cycles or short luteal phases are normal when women are under stress or athletes increasing the intensity of training. These changes are reversible as the stressors decrease or, in the case of the athlete, as she adapts to the training.

The Menstrual Cycle Overview

The menstrual cycle is a natural recurring cycle of changes in the ovaries, lining of the uterus and sex organs. The purpose of the menstrual cycle is to prepare the body for a possible pregnancy.

During the menstrual cycle, a mature egg is produced by the ovaries and the lining of the uterus thickens to support a possible pregnancy. When pregnancy does not occur, the egg and lining of the uterus are shed from the vagina during a menstrual bleed. This bleeding is called a menstrual period or menstruation.

The first menstrual bleed or period usually occurs between the ages of 12 14 years but can occur anytime between the ages of 9 15. Before a period starts, other sex characteristics have usually developed, such as pubic hair and budding breasts.

The last menstrual bleed or period usually occurs between the ages of 45 55. This is known as menopause.

Each persons experience of the menstrual cycle is different, with variations in cycle length, bleeding and symptoms.

Each persons experience of the menstrual cycle is different, with variations in cycle length, bleeding and symptoms.

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How To Plan Your Work Around Your Period

It’s no secret that the menstrual cycle affects your mood, concentration, appearance, and energy levels. Lets go into the exact strategies for adjusting your work for best performance throughout the menstrual cycle and look into why it has such an immense impact. By the end of the article, youll know what to do when you’re on your period

When Am I Most Fertile

How your menstrual cycle works

During ovulation. The timing of this varies, but its usually 14 days before the first day of your period, says Dr Rosén.

Getting to know your body throughout the menstrual cycle can be helpful, especially if youre trying to conceive. Pay attention to your vaginal discharge, have a feel of your cervix and notice if your breasts are starting to feel tender, Dr Rosén adds. Youll get to know the signs.

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About The Menstrual Cycle

Learn all about the menstrual cycle, what happens during a cycle, how long a menstrual cycle usually is and when you should seek help.

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The video below is a fantastic resource for girls and women of all ages and cultures, covering the changes that come with puberty and giving educational insight into why the period occurs and what they can expect when it does.

How Does My Menstrual Cycle Change As I Get Older

Your cycles may change in different ways as you get older. Often, periods are heavier when you are younger and usually get lighter in your 20s and 30s. This is normal.

  • For a few years after your first period, menstrual cycles longer than 38 days are common. Girls usually get more regular cycles within three years of starting their periods. If longer or irregular cycles last beyond that, see your doctor or nurse to rule out a health problem, such as polycystic ovary syndrome .5
  • In your 20s and 30s, your cycles are usually regular and can last anywhere from 24 to 38 days.
  • In your 40s, as your body starts the transition to menopause, your cycles might become irregular. Your menstrual periods might stop for a month or a few months and then start again. They also might be shorter or last longer than usual, or be lighter or heavier than normal.

Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have menstrual cycles that are longer than 38 days or shorter than 24 days, or if you are worried about your menstrual cycle.

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Adjust Clothing And Personal Style To Menstrual Cycle Changes

Your menstrual cycle affects your skin, but also your blood circulation and sensitivity. Lighter clothing during the first half of the cycle and more comfortable outfits during the second will most likely match your sensitivity.

Keep in mind that increased progesterone levels during the luteal phase can make you swell when planning your looks during that period.

Side Effects Of Hormonal Birth Control

Menstrual Cycle – How Does Your Period Work –

You may experience side effects when using any type of hormonal birth control. These vary a little depending on which type of birth control you are using. Tell your doctor about any side effects that are bothering you.

Although it is rare, hormonal birth control methods, especially those that contain estrogen, increase your risk of developing a blood clot in your leg . Seek medical help immediately if you have trouble breathing, which can happen if a clot moves into your lung . A pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency.

For more information on contraception options, including their advantages and disadvantages, .

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How To Work With Your Period Not Against It

Take your cycle in stride and go with the flow.

Most women learn pretty quick in adolescence that their menstrual cycle comes with both physical and emotional symptoms.

Many of us are familiar with PMS, usually associated with the telltale aches and pains of period cramps and the all too familiar mood changes that tend to come with them.

While many of us are aware of the changes in our bodies in the infamous PMS week, few of us pay much attention to the ways our cycles can affect us throughout the rest of the month.

Take productivity, for example.

Have you ever noticed that you get random bursts of motivation followed by stretches of lethargy and low energy?

It turns out these changes in productivity levels may have something to do with your menstrual cycle and the hormonal changes that come with it.

The menstrual cycle can affect your productivity levels, but there are plenty of ways to find a healthy productivity flow by working with your period rather than fighting against it.

Make The Most Of Your Menstrual Cycle

But dont take it too faryou wont need to rearrange your entire schedule to match your menstrual cycle. To begin with, some professional duties cant be adjusted. And just because ovulation is conducive to openness, that doesnt automatically mean youre unfit to communicate the rest of the time. Remember that you are never incapable, not at any point in time. Its just that there are certain periods when things come a little more easily, says Baldassari. As such, its really up to the individual. Deciding which tasks are easier or harder, depending on where you are in your cycle, can help you simplify your life.

Understanding your cycle can also help you let go of guilt. This is what Jeanne, a sales manager, discovered. Some days, I would beat myself up because I wasnt out prospecting for new clients. I just kept putting it off. Then, as if by magic, I had no problems doing it a few days later. When I looked at my menstrual cycle, I noticed that prospecting typically fell on the days during my period. Ive since lowered my prospecting goals on those days. I know that communicating is harder for me then and that Ill make up for it later when I have more energy. And thats OK, as long as my goals are met.

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When Will I Get My Period Back After Delivery

It is difficult to predict when your fertility will return. If you are breastfeeding you may not ovulate for months, but some breastfeeding women will ovulate as early as the fourth week following childbirth. Women who are not breastfeeding can ovulate even sooner. Ovulation is likely to occur 10-14 days before your menstrual period returns. With such unpredictability, it is very important to use contraception until you are ready to try for another baby. Plans for contraception should be made during your pregnancy and the method chosen may be started before the 6 week postpartum visit to your health care provider if it does not contain estrogen.

How To Use Period Underwear

How your menstrual cycle works

Period underwear fit and function just like normal underwear. Just put on a pair when youre menstruating. You can wear them alone or if youre using a tampon, they can be used as an extra form of protection.

If youve used tampons for much of your life, you may need to get used to the feeling of your menstrual flow.

How long you can wear period underwear depends on your flow. If youre having a light flow day, you can probably wear them longer, but if your flow is at its heaviest, you may need to change your period underwear more frequently.

Its recommended that you dont wear the same pair for more than 12 hours to avoid odor and leakage. You may need five to seven pairs of period underwear to wear throughout your cycle.

While intended for your menstrual flow, period underwear can also be used for urinary incontinence, discharge and postpartum bleeding.

If youre wanting them purely for urinary leakage, then you should focus on a product thats designed for that, notes Dr. James.

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Signs Or Symptoms Before Your Period

Premenstrual symptoms may occur in the one to two weeks before your period. Symptoms can include irritability, mood changes, bloating, pimples and tiredness. Normally these symptoms might be irritating, but would not interfere with your day-to-day activities. More commonly, around two out of three women experience some breast pain during their cycle. Symptoms appear to peak in adolescence and again in perimenopause, possibly because of fluctuating hormone levels.

If you are having regular periods, but have spotting of blood for a week or so before each period, see your doctor, as there can be several reasons for this.

Premenstrual symptoms usually settle when the period starts, or during the first two to three days of the period. Period pain that interferes with your everyday life is not normal. Around 15-20% of women who have periods experience symptoms so severe that their lifestyle is affected and they cannot function properly. If this occurs, seek help from your doctor.

Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle

Women’s cycle lengths vary, and the most common cycle length is somewhere between 23 and 35 days. Any variation in menstrual cycle length that does occur is more likely to be during the part of the cycle before you ovulate . For most women, the length of time between ovulation and their monthly period is between 12 to 16 days .

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What Should I Know About Menstruation What Is The Medical Definition It*

*Medical section written by: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Everyone who is about to enter puberty should be taught or know the basic medical definition of menstruation and that it is a normal process that females go through as their bodies prepare themselves for potential pregnancy. It is a part of the monthly menstrual cycle that occur in the female reproductive system that makes pregnancy possible.

Medically, menstruation is the process in a woman of discharging blood and other materials from the lining of the uterus at about one monthly interval from puberty until menopause , except during pregnancy. This discharging process lasts about 3-5 days.

What are the signs and symptoms of menstruation?

Beside the bleeding, other signs and symptoms of menstruation may include headache, acne, bloating, pains in the low abdomen, tiredness, mood changes, food cravings, breast soreness, and diarrhea.

Whan does menstruation begin? When does it end?

The menstrual cycle is the hormonal driven cycle Day 1 is the first day of your period while day 14 is the approximate day you ovulate and if an egg is not fertilized, hormone levels eventually drop and at about day 25 the egg begins to dissolve and the cycle begins again with the period at about day 30. Menstruation begins day 1 and normally ends days 3-5 of the menstrual cycle.

At what age do girls go through puberty and begin and start their period ?

How long does a period last?

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Why Do We Have Periods

How the menstrual cycle works?

Your menstrual cycle is the time between one period and the next. Every month there is a complex interaction between the pituitary gland in the brain, the ovaries and the uterus . Messages and hormones are being passed around the body to prepare it for a possible pregnancy. An egg is produced, the lining of the uterus thickens up, hormones prepare the vagina and the cervix to accept and support sperm. When pregnancy doesn’t occur, the egg is absorbed back into the body and the thick lining in the uterus is shed, this is your period. Then the cycle begins all over again.

  • Day one of your cycle is the first day of your period. This is when your uterus starts shedding the lining it has built up over the last 28 days.
  • After your period is over, the lining of your uterus starts to build up again to become a thick and spongy nest in preparation for a possible pregnancy.
  • On day 14 , one of your ovaries will release an egg, which will make its way through a fallopian tube and will eventually make its way to your uterus .
  • On day 28 , if you have not become pregnant, the lining of your uterus starts to shed. This is your period. The blood you lose during your period is the lining of your uterus.

The menstural cycle

If you have sex during a cycle, and your egg meets a sperm, you can become pregnant. When youre pregnant, you dont get your period.

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