Yourmenstrualcycle takes your body on a wild ride, all to achieve a single goal.
The entire menstrual cycle is set up to prepare your body for possible pregnancy.
Either way, its a good idea to know exactly what happens at each point in your menstrual cycle.
Neil Godwin/Future Publishing/Getty Images. Graphic by Cristina Cianci
This will usually be around 28 days, but theres a lot of room for variation here.
A menstrual cycle that lasts anywhere between 21 and 35 days is normal, according to theMayo Clinic.
Your period actually kicks off the half of your menstrual cycle known as theproliferative or follicular phase.
Your ovaries also start producing more estrogen to make your uterine lining thicker.
Progestin also thickens your cervical mucus so its harder for sperm to get through.
Its like the mucus is saying, Dont even think about it, Dr. Minkin says.
Ovulation suppression is a bit dicier.
Between days 5 and 7, yourperiodshould be packing up shop.
At the same time, only one follicle keeps growing while the others are absorbed back into the ovaries.
(Again, taking estrogen-containing birth controlprevents your pituitary gland from releasing LH.)
Its fitting, then, that your testosterone is also rising in this time.
Testosterone helps to boost libido, Dr. Streicher says.
Ovulation typically occurs on day 14 of your cyclebut thats not a guarantee for everyone.
Things like hormonal issues and stress can influence ovulation, Dr. Streicher explains.
In reality, it can be earlier or later than that.
After the follicle releases the egg, the follicle shrinks into a mass called the corpus luteum.
(Hence why this half of your menstrual cycle is called the luteal or secretory phase.)
It sounds very fancy, but it just means yellow body, Dr. Minkin says.
(Also, FYI, though you are less likely to get pregnant during your period,itispossible).
The egg doesnt travel all the way to the uterus so that find the sperm, though.
Instead, the egg hangs out in the fallopian tube after ovulation.
If all that happensboom, you’re pregnant.
But, of course, not every month results in a pregnancy.
Instead, your discharge will likely become stickier and cloudier.
In combination, these result in your uterine lining sloughing off and you getting your period.
If pregnancy has not occurred, the uterine lining says, Bummer, and sheds, Dr. Streicher says.
Thats essentially your body saying, Were not pregnant, were going to loop back and try.
With that, the cycle begins anew.
They can also create periods that are way too heavy and painful to be normal.
Here are a few of the biggest culprits.
If you have one of these conditions, seeing a specialist is your best bet for finding relief.)
If your menstrual cycle is disrupting your life in any major way, chances are doctors can help.
Additional medical information was sourced from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Womens Health.
