4 Menstrual phases that women must recognize every month

Women normally menstruate every month. However, the cycle range can vary. There is a routine menstruation every 21-35 days, some sooner or later than that. Throughout the cycle, not many know that there is a process that occurs gradually in the uterus. In fact, knowing it can help you predict when your period will again in the next month. For those of you who want to have children, knowing the stages of the menstrual phase is also very useful so you know when is the most fertile time to start planning a pregnancy.

What is the menstrual cycle?

The menstrual cycle is a monthly process characterized by a series of changes to the body and female reproductive organs. In this process, there are two main things that will happen, namely menstruation or pregnancy.

Each month, the ovaries release an egg during a process called ovulation. At the same time, hormonal changes will help prepare your uterus as a forerunner for the baby to grow and develop.

If the egg has fallen off and has not been fertilized, the lining of the uterus that was prepared for pregnancy will shed. This shedding of the uterine lining through the vagina is called menstruation.

In the menstrual cycle, there are four phases that occur, namely:

• Menstrual phase
• Follicular or pre-ovulatory phase
• Ovulation phase
• Luteal phase

The length of each phase can be different from one woman to another. The length of a phase in one person can also change over time.

Hormones that affect the menstrual cycle and phase

The menstrual cycle is very complex and controlled by many hormones that are produced by a number of glands in the body.

The following are the hormones that play a role in regulating the menstrual phase:

Estrogen

Estrogen is responsible for regulating the cycle and plays a role in the growth of the uterine lining. If the egg is not fertilized, estrogen levels will drop sharply and that's when menstruation begins.

However, if the egg is fertilized, estrogen works together with progesterone to stop ovulation during pregnancy.

Progesterone

Reporting from the Hormone Health Network, progesterone triggers the lining of the uterus to thicken to prepare it for pregnancy.

In addition, progesterone also prevents the uterine muscles from contracting which can prevent the egg from sticking.

When pregnant, progesterone will stimulate the body to create blood vessels in the lining of the uterus. The goal is to feed the fetus that will grow later.

If a woman is not pregnant, the attached corpus luteum (mass of mature follicles) will be damaged, reducing progesterone levels in the body.

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

This hormone helps stimulate the ovaries to produce estrogen.

In the menstrual phase, the luteinizing hormone surge causes the ovaries to release eggs during ovulation.

If fertilization occurs, the luteinizing hormone will stimulate the corpus luteum to produce progesterone to thicken the uterine wall.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

FSH is a hormone that helps the growth of follicles in the ovaries and releases eggs. The follicles produce estrogen and progesterone in the ovaries to keep the menstrual cycle regular.

When a woman doesn't have enough of this hormone, it will be more difficult for her to get pregnant.

Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRh)

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a hormone that controls and stimulates the release of LH and FSH. This hormone is released from the hypothalamus in the brain.

Menstrual phase that occurs in each cycle

Starting from the cooperation between the fertility hormones above, the menstrual phase is divided into four stages. Here's the order:

1. Menstrual phase

The menstrual phase is the first stage of the menstrual cycle every month. This phase begins when the egg that was released by the ovary from the previous cycle was not fertilized. This lowers estrogen and progesterone levels.

The lining of the uterus, which is thickened and prepared to support pregnancy, is no longer needed.

Finally, the uterine lining sheds and comes out in the form of blood which is called menstruation. Apart from blood, the vagina will also secrete mucus and uterine tissue.

In this phase, you will also experience various symptoms that can be felt differently by each person, such as:

• Stomach cramps
• Breasts feel tight and painful
• Bloated
• Mood or mood swings easily
• Getting angry easily
• Headache
• Feel tired and weak
• Back pain

In one cycle, the average menstrual period lasts 3-7 days. However, some women can also experience menstruation for more than 7 days.

2.Follicular phase (pre-ovulation)

The follicular or pre-ovulatory phase begins on the first day of menstruation. On the first day of your period, at that time the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) begins to increase.

This condition begins when the hypothalamus sends a signal to the pituitary gland and releases a chemical called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).

This hormone prompts the pituitary gland to produce increased levels of the hormones lutein (LH) and FSH. FSH is in charge of stimulating the ovaries to produce 5-20 small pockets called follicles.

Each follicle contains an immature egg. In the process, only the healthiest eggs will eventually ripen. Meanwhile, the rest of the follicle will be absorbed back into the body.

The mature follicles will trigger a surge of estrogen to thicken the lining of the uterus. The lining of the uterus is conditioned to thicken to create a nutrient-rich environment for the embryo (future fetus) to grow.

This phase lasts about 11-27 days, depending on your monthly cycle. However, generally women experience the follicular phase for 16 days.

3. Ovulation phase

Increasing estrogen levels during the follicular or pre-ovulation phase triggers the pituitary gland to release luteinizing hormone (LH). It is in this phase that the ovulation process begins. Ovulation usually occurs in the middle of the cycle, which is about 2 weeks or so before starting menstruation.

Ovulation is the process when the ovaries release a single mature egg. This egg then travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus to be fertilized by sperm. The life span of an egg is usually only about 24 hours to meet the sperm.

The ovulation phase is the single best chance during the menstrual cycle for you to get pregnant. After 24 hours, the egg that did not meet the sperm will die.

When ovulating, women usually experience thick, sticky vaginal discharge that is clear like egg white. Basal body temperature will also increase.

Basal body temperature is the lowest temperature reached during rest or in the sleep state. Normal body temperature is in the range 35.5 to 36º Celsius. However, during ovulation, the temperature will rise to 37 to 38º Celsius.

Basal temperature is measured with a thermometer that is placed in the mouth, vagina, or anus. If you are planning to become pregnant, be sure to take your temperature every day at the same location and time for 5 minutes.

Basal temperature measurement is best done in the morning after waking up and before starting any activity.

4. The luteal phase

When the follicle releases its egg, its shape changes to the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum releases the hormones progesterone and estrogen. This increase in hormones in the fourth phase of menstruation keeps the lining of the uterus thick and ready to implant a fertilized egg.

If you are pregnant, your body will produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone helps maintain the corpus luteum and keeps the uterine lining thick.

However, if you are not pregnant, the corpus luteum will shrink and be absorbed by the lining of the uterus. Then the levels of estrogen and progesterone will slowly decrease, making the uterine lining finally shed and shed.

If you are positive, you are not pregnant, in this phase you will experience a symptom known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The various symptoms that usually appear are:

• Bloated
• Swollen and sore breasts
• Moods are volatile
• Headache
• Weight gain
• Feeling like continuing to eat
• Hard to sleep

The luteal phase usually lasts 11 to 17 days. However, the average woman experiences it for 14 days.

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