How Much Do You Really Know About Your Menstrual Cycle?
It turns out most people aren’t quite sure what menstruating is, you know, exactly…
What’s the big deal?
Most girls, and some boys, receive some sort of basic introduction to menstruation in school. As it turns out, this information rarely truly sticks (or it was simply inadequate in the first place). What it all boils down to is that most of us know what the word “menstruating” itself implies, and that’s about it. All the other information we’re exposed to is focused on different ways to hide our periods better, and the dozens of products we should buy to “manage those special days”.
The problem with that is the fact that the menstrual cycle isn’t just your period — it’s a complex monthly cycle that every biological female goes through from her first period until menopause (450 times in a lifetime on average). It just seems reasonable that we should know what our bodies are busy doing every day, especially when it’s something that affects our mood, bowel movements, hair, skin, bodily aches, sex lives and fertility.
On top of all that, understanding your menstrual cycle holds the key to understanding so much more about your body. The cycle reflects your overall health, and irregularities can often point to other problems (i.e. disturbances in your cycle can reveal problems with your endocrine system or certain STDs, cause migraines, PMDD, or point to illnesses such as PCOS, endometriosis or cancer).
What is the menstrual cycle?
The menstrual cycle is a cycle on a continuous loop: it starts on the first day of your period and ends the day before your next period.
The menstrual cycle has three major phases: pre-ovulation, ovulation, and post-ovulation. During this time, the uterus and the ovaries are each undergoing their own cyclical phases — meaning, the ovaries and the uterus are each doing their own different thing but in parallel.
Here’s a cute graphic representation to make it a bit clearer:
Pre-ovulation
The uterus: The menstrual cycle starts with menstruation. The uterus is shedding the unused endometrium (the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus and which is used to “house” a baby if one is created). The tissue is exiting the body through the vagina together with blood.
After menstruating is finished, the uterus goes into the proliferative phase. This phase lasts from the last day of menstruation until ovulation. The uterus is responding to production of estrogen and starting to rebuild the endometrium.
The ovaries: The follicular phase lasts from the start of the period until ovulation. The pituitary gland (in the brain) releases the Follicular Stimulating Hormone which tells the ovaries to start preparing an egg. The ovaries grow eggs in follicles (liquid-filled sacs). By the end of menstruating, it becomes clear which of the eggs is the strongest and biggest — this is the one that will be released during ovulation. The sac that holds this egg starts releasing estrogen to help the egg grow (this estrogen then helps the uterus do its thing in the proliferative phase).
Ovulation
Ovulation happens midway through the menstrual cycle. This is the process of releasing the prepared egg from its follicle. The follicle bursts open and the egg travels through the fallopian tubes into the uterus. The sac that used to house the egg transforms into the corpus luteum: this now starts producing progesterone and estrogen.
Post-ovulation
The uterus: Starting with ovulation and lasting up until the first day of menstruation is the secretory phase. During his phase, the uterus produces many chemicals which prepare it for two different scenarios: growing a baby or menstruating. Progesterone thickens the endometrium and prepares it for a fertilized egg. Prostaglandins are there to break down the endometrium and push it out through contractions if menstruation comes instead of pregnancy.
The ovaries: From ovulation until menstruation the ovaries are in the luteal phase. The sac now empty and transformed into what we call the corpus luteum is producing high levels of progesterone. Progesterone is helping the uterus prepare for potential pregnancy. High levels of progesterone are also what we experience as PMS — it can cause mood swings, fatigue, headaches, increased breast sensitivity or bloating. If the egg isn’t fertilized, the production of estrogen and progesterone drops, which causes menstruation.
Phew, that’s a lot!
This information is probably a lot to take in. If it’s difficult to read, imagine how difficult it is to maintain all this activity on a non-stop flawless loop! If you’re female, you’re actually doing it while you’re reading this, without even knowing.
Knowing the basics about your menstrual cycle is important. As stated before, irregularities or “bugs in your system” can be indicators of bigger issues going on in your body. In case you’re healthy, it’s helpful to know what stage the cycle you’re at: being aware of this will help you understand your body, your needs, the experiences you’re going through, as well as your fertility.
Menstruating is part of the lives of all healthy biological females. It shouldn’t be a taboo topic — in fact, it should be the center of education when it comes to learning about our bodies!
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