How is menstrual cycle

Estrogen peaks just beforehand, and then drops shortly afterwards. The luteal phase: The time between ovulation and before the start of menstruation, when the body prepares for a possible pregnancy. Progesterone is produced, peaks, and then drops. When: From the time bleeding starts to the time it ends.

What: Old blood and tissue from inside the uterus is shed through the vagina. Each menstrual cycle starts with menstruation the period. A period is the normal shedding of blood and endometrium the lining of the uterus through the cervix and vagina. A normal period may last up to 8 days 1 , but on average lasts about 5 or 6 4.

When: From the start of the period until ovulation. What: Signals from the brain tell the ovaries to prepare an egg that will be released. During the period, the pituitary gland a small area at the base of the brain that makes hormones produces a hormone called follicle stimulating hormone FSH.

FSH tells the ovaries to prepare an egg for ovulation release of an egg from the ovary. Throughout the menstrual cycle, there are multiple follicles fluid filled sacs containing eggs in each ovary at different stages of development 5,6. About halfway through the follicular phase just as the period is ending one follicle in one of the ovaries is the largest of all the follicles at about 1 cm 0. This follicle becomes the dominant follicle and is the one prepared to be released at ovulation.

The dominant follicle produces estrogen as it grows 8 , which peaks just before ovulation happens 7. For most people, the follicular phase lasts days, but this can vary from cycle-to-cycle 4. When: From the end of the period until ovulation. What: The uterus builds up a thick inner lining. While the ovaries are working on developing the egg-containing follicles, the uterus is responding to the estrogen produced by the follicles, rebuilding the lining that was just shed during the last period.

This is called the proliferative phase because the endometrium the lining of the uterus becomes thicker. The endometrium is thinnest during the period, and thickens throughout this phase until ovulation occurs 9. The uterus does this to create a place where a potential fertilized egg can implant and grow When: About midway through the cycle, but this can change cycle-to-cycle. Ovulation divides the two phases of the ovarian cycle the follicular phase and the luteal phase.

What: An egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube. The dominant follicle in the ovary produces more and more estrogen as it grows larger. The dominant follicle reaches about 2 cm 0. When estrogen levels are high enough, they signal to the brain causing a dramatic increase in luteinizing hormone LH Sanitary pads or tampons are used to absorb the menstrual flow.

Both pads and tampons need to be changed regularly at least every four hours. Using tampons has been associated with an increased risk of a rare illness called toxic shock syndrome TSS. The follicular phase starts on the first day of menstruation and ends with ovulation. Prompted by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland releases follicle stimulating hormone FSH. This hormone stimulates the ovary to produce around five to 20 follicles tiny nodules or cysts , which bead on the surface.

Each follicle houses an immature egg. Usually, only one follicle will mature into an egg, while the others die. This can occur around day 10 of a day cycle. The growth of the follicles stimulates the lining of the uterus to thicken in preparation for possible pregnancy.

Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from the surface of the ovary. This usually occurs mid-cycle, around two weeks or so before menstruation starts. During the follicular phase, the developing follicle causes a rise in the level of oestrogen. The hypothalamus in the brain recognises these rising levels and releases a chemical called gonadotrophin-releasing hormone GnRH.

Within two days, ovulation is triggered by the high levels of LH. The egg is funnelled into the fallopian tube and toward the uterus by waves of small, hair-like projections. The life span of the typical egg is only around 24 hours. Unless it meets a sperm during this time, it will die. Read more on ovulation and fertility window. During ovulation, the egg bursts from its follicle, but the ruptured follicle stays on the surface of the ovary.

For the next two weeks or so, the follicle transforms into a structure known as the corpus luteum. This structure starts releasing progesterone, along with small amounts of oestrogen. This combination of hormones maintains the thickened lining of the uterus, waiting for a fertilised egg to stick implant.

If a fertilised egg implants in the lining of the uterus, it produces the hormones that are necessary to maintain the corpus luteum. This includes human chorionic gonadotrophin HCG , the hormone that is detected in a urine test for pregnancy.

The corpus luteum keeps producing the raised levels of progesterone that are needed to maintain the thickened lining of the uterus. The average length is 14 days. Some women get their period at the same time each month. Others are more irregular. Some women bleed more heavily or for a longer number of days than others. Your menstrual cycle can also change during certain times of your life. For example, it can get more irregular as you get close to menopause.

Write down when they start and end. Also record any changes to the amount or number of days you bleed, and whether you have spotting between periods. If you have these or other problems with your menstrual cycle or periods, talk to your healthcare provider. Be alert for any changes, and report them to your healthcare provider. Worried about a late period, but know you aren't pregnant? Missed or late periods can happen for plenty of other reasons. Read on to learn about them. How late is too late for a period to come?

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This article details the process. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Stages of the Menstrual Cycle.