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Menstrual cycle, ovulation and fertility

Understanding the great feminine mystery

First Things First

It all begins with the menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle takes place when an egg develops and your body prepares for a possible pregnancy. The cycle begins on the first day of your bleeding or period, and ends on the last day before your next period starts.

The usual length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days, although it can vary from 21 up to 42 days. Patterns, symptoms and lengths of cycles vary for each individual. Some women have very irregular or unpredictable periods, especially during adolescence and towards menopause. Even regular cycles can be disrupted by factors such as stress, weight loss, exercise and traveling, but there should be no cause for alarm.

Four Play

The menstrual cycle involves four phases, namely: menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation and the luteal phase.

Menstruation is the actual bleeding phase, or what is referred to as your period. It usually lasts from three to five, or even seven days. If an egg has not been fertilized by a sperm, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) comes away from the uterus wall and the blood and tissues pass out through the vagina.

Follicular Phase

During this phase, the pituitary gland releases the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The FSH causes between 10 to 20 follicles (immature eggs) to start developing in the ovary. As they develop, they in turn produce the hormone estrogen, which causes the lining of the uterus to thicken to in preparation for the possible fertilized egg (in other words, pregnancy). Of the 10 to 20 immature eggs, only about one or two will become fully mature; the rest simply die.

Just before day 14 in a regular 28-day cycle, there is a surge of luteinising hormone (LH). The surge of LH causes the egg to mature and weakens the wall of the ovary, which leads to ovulation—the release of the mature egg. The actual ovulation (release of the mature egg) may take place between day 11 to day 17 in a regular 28-day cycle. The egg is released from either the right or the left ovary at random. Some women may feel slight a pain at the side of their abdomen, known as "Mittelschmerz", or "middle pain" in German. The sudden change in hormones during this phase may cause light mid-cycle bleeding in some women. A clear and stringy mucus also develops at the cervix, ready to accept sperm from intercourse and guide it through the uterus. This is your most fertile period, when your chances of getting pregnant are highest.

The mature egg now travels through the fallopian tubes toward the uterus. If it is not fertilized by sperm, it disintegrates within the next 12 to 24 hours. If it is fertilized, it reaches the uterus in about seven days. When the egg successfully burrows into the lining of the uterus, a woman is officially pregnant.

This covers the remaining time from ovulation to the start of menstruation. Here, the remnants of the follicle that released the egg become the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum secretes large amounts of the hormone progesterone as well as some estrogen, which both contribute to the thickening of the lining of the uterus. Progesterone is responsible for symptoms such as lumpy breasts, mood swings, bloating and a slight rise in body temperature (darn you, progesterone!).

If at this phase the woman does not become pregnant, the corpus luteum starts to break down and progesterone levels fall. The thick lining of the uterus which is meant to nourish a pregnancy starts to break down. This lining, made up of blood and tissue, eventually flows out through the vagina as the menstrual period and so begins the next cycle.

Tracking Your Cycle

For women who want to get pregnant (as well as those who don't!), it is strongly recommended to keep track of your cycle. More than the menstruation phase, take note of your ovulation phase (about 14 days before your next period is due), because this is when you are most likely to get pregnant. If you don't have a regular 28-day cycle, there are a number of physical clues to tell you that ovulation has taken place.

Cervical Mucus

Notice how your feminine discharge changes color and consistency throughout the month? There's actually a point to it. During the first part of your cycle estrogen increases, producing thinner, clearer, wetter and more slippery mucus (think egg white). This helps sperm travel into the uterus, and indicates that this is your fertile period, or the period when you are most likely to fall pregnant.

When you're not in the fertile period of your cycle, the mucus is sticky and gummy, a consistency that makes it hard for the sperm to travel through. The mucus is usually white or yellow during this time.

Position of the Cervix

Amazingly enough, the position of the cervix and the shape of its opening also changes throughout your menstrual cycle. During ovulation, the cervix becomes softer and moves higher up in your vagina and the opening at the center widens.

Basal Body Temperature

Your body temperature usually rises about half a degree Farenheit after ovulation occurs, when your ovary starts producing progesterone to get the uterus ready for implantation. If you become pregnant, your temperature will remain high, but if the egg is not fertilized, your temperature drops when your next period begins. To predict your fertile times, monitor your basal temperature daily first thing in the morning before rising from bed, the time when your temperature is at its lowest.

It may take a month's practice to get the hang of it. You may only notice the difference in retrospect, once you have recorded temperatures for three days in a row that are higher than the previous six days—by which time you have already ovulated and are no longer fertile. Once you can see the temperature pattern in your cycle, the time for "babymaking" should begin about four days before your temperature is most likely to rise.

Note that temperature may fluctuate—especially when you fall ill or are taking medication—so this is not exactly the most reliable method if you are trying to get pregnant.

Whether you want to avoid accidental period stains or pregnancies, a good way to keep track of your menstrual cycle is to plot it on your personal planner, right here on ANew You.com.ph. A New You makes things even simpler by automatically tracking your period through the period calculator. Adding details like the kind of flow (heavy or light), or indicating the kind of discharge can help you be more aware of the changes in your body. If you have PMS symptoms, note those as well so you can see if there is a pattern that can help you predict when to expect (and try to prevent) period-related problems. Remember, keeping track of this information may be useful when you need to see your doctor or gynecologist.