THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE AND ITS PHASES

The menstrual cycle, also called the ovarian cycle, is the period of time that elapses between one menstruation and the next, in the period from the stage of puberty (between 8 and 12 years) to that of menopause (between 45 and 55 years).
The female genital apparatus undergoes regular modifications, which precisely trace the menstrual cycle, which lasts an average of 28 days, numbered starting from the first day of the menstrual flow. The menstrual cycle involves, by the action of hormones, important modifications of some structures Who can forget the pain caused by the variations that occur during menstruation? None, which is why small remedies for menstrual pain have been created, like this:

Menstrual cycle phase 1: menstruation

The first phase of the menstrual cycle, the follicular one, begins with menstruation, and lasts an average of 5 days (counted from the first day of menstrual flow). In this phase, the exfoliation of the endometrium occurs, due to necrosis (or cell death) and leaves veins and arteries exposed. Therefore there is a loss of about 40 milliliters of blood mixed with necrotic cellular residues of the endometrium, which vary in quantity and make the cycle abundant or scarce. At the same time, the growth of some follicles begins in the ovary, while the secretion of FSH, or Follicle-Stimulating hormone, produced by the pituitary gland, which in women determines the maturation of the follicle and stimulates the production of estrogen by the ovary, increases.

Follicular or proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle

The second part of the follicular or proliferative phase runs from the sixth to the fourteenth day of the cycle. In the uterus the superficial circulation of the endometrium is reconstituted and the layer of epithelial cells that lines the vagina thickens to create a favorable environment for spermatozoa. In the ovary only one follicle continues to mature, while the others undergo involution. Estrogen increases significantly until it reaches a peak just before ovulation and then decreases rapidly. Progesterone, another hormone secreted by the ovary, increases slowly.

Menstrual cycle phase 3: ovulation

Ovulation occurs on average on the fourteenth day. In the uterus, the endometrium reaches its maximum thickness; in the ovary there is the rupture of the follicle and the expulsion of the egg contained in it; estrogens decrease rapidly and progesterone continues to increase. The basal body temperature rises by about half a degree. The endometrium reaches its maximum of thickening, the follicle ruptures and the egg is expelled.
In the uterus, the endometrial epithelium remains at its maximum thickness; in the vagina, on the other hand, the epithelium thins; the corpus luteum is formed in the ovary; estrogen and progesterone increase, while FSH and LH decrease. Ovulation generally coincides with the fertile period and increases the chances of getting pregnant. If you want to better control your ovulation, we recommend the Femometer basal thermometer which connects to an app to check ovulation and the optimal temperature. for conception Buy it on offer at 29 € (22% discount).

In the ovary, moreover, the regression of the corpus luteum begins; estrogen and progesterone decrease while FSH and LH remain at low levels. In the premenstrual phase, if the egg has not been fertilized, the most superficial layer of the uterus, called the endometrium, returns to necrosis (cell death) and detaches into flaps, leaving exposed the veins and arteries that run through it and the cycle begins again.

Fertile period and menstrual cycle

Precisely because the menstrual cycle generally maintains its regularity, it is possible, knowing its phases, to understand the fertile period by calculating the days of ovulation. Therefore, if a menstrual cycle lasts 28 days and the luetic phase lasts 14, for to calculate ovulation, you have to subtract 14 days from the total duration of your average cycle. If, for example, your cycle lasts 24 days, ovulation will occur on the tenth day. To be more likely to get pregnant, the days before and after the assumed date must also be considered when calculating. This is because the egg has a lifespan of 24 hours while the spermatozoa live up to 4 days.

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