Your menstrual cycle is the result of
the cyclic changes that occur in your body due to the fluctuations in the
levels of various hormones. A normal cycle is generally around 27-32 days long and
can vary from woman to woman, or cycle to cycle. The length of the cycle is
measured from the first day of bleeding (spotting doesn’t count), which is
called day 1, to the first day of bleeding of the next menstrual period.
Your
cycle is composed of the following 4 phases:
Menses: This is your period (from the first day
of bleeding] and a normal period would last 3-5 days.In a healthy cycle there should be no
pain, flooding or clotting & the blood should be bright & start &
stop cleanly [no spotting].
Follicular
phase: The
follicular phase, or the pre-ovulatory phase, extends from the beginning
of the cycle to ovulation. During this phase, the ovarian follicles (which
eventually give rise to the egg which is expelled at ovulation) develop and
mature, and your body prepares for ovulation. Between 10-20 follicles begin to
develop, but usually only one will become dominant, ripen & release the egg
[ovum] at ovulation.
While the follicles are developing, they
produce & release increasing levels of oestrogen which stimulates the
growth of the lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium. Increasing
oestrogen levels also support the production of increasing amounts of ‘fertile
mucous’ & cause the cervix to soften & open to allow in the sperm.
The follicular phase should be no less
than 13 days or greater than 16 days & for optimal fertility ideally
between 13-15 days.
Ovulation: AS oestrogen levels continue to rise this triggers the
release of luteinising hormone [LH] & follicle stimulating hormone[FSH], triggering
the release of the egg [ovulation]. Ideally for optimal fertility ovulation
should occur between day 13-14, day 15-16 is suboptimal. If ovulation occurs
from day 17 onwards & the egg is fertilized there is a high risk of
miscarriage occurring.
Luteal
phase:
This is the post-ovulatory phase, the time from ovulation until the end
of the cycle, and is generally 14 days long. The length of this phase is fairly
constant for most women & variations are more likely to occur in the
follicular phase. The luteal phase should be no less than 13 days with no
spotting, pain or PMS symptoms. Less than 10 days would be an infertile cycle.
In the post-ovulatory/luteal phase of
the cycle, the corpus luteum (the remains of the ovarian follicle) starts to
secrete increasing amounts of progesterone, which causes:
The lining of the uterus to continue thickening & ensure it is fully supplied with blood and nutrients so that it is ready for the egg
The body’s temperature at rest (basal body temperature, or BBT) to rise after ovulation (measurable with a BBT thermometer)
The cervical mucus to lessen and thicken and become ‘infertile’
The ovary to stop releasing eggs
Progesterone is also the dominant
hormone during pregnancy should conception occur
If pregnancy doesn’t occur, the corpus luteum
shrivels up and stops producing hormones, the uterine lining breaks down and,
with blood, leaves the uterus during menstruation.
The Fertility
Window
Studies show that there is essentially a 6-day window of fertility, ending with the day of ovulation. The most fertile day is generally a day or two before ovulation, with the chance of conception highest in the presence of the most fertile type of cervical mucus. According to the World Health Organization the probability of pregnancy is greatest (66.7%) on the day of peak mucus but decreases to 8.9% three days after the peak mucus day.Although the egg is viable for (at most) 24 hours after ovulation, sperm can live in the woman’s reproductive tract for approximately 3 days, which means intercourse 3 or more days before, and up to the day of ovulation, could result in pregnancy. Studies suggest that conception on the day after ovulation rarely occurs.
Studies show that there is essentially a 6-day window of fertility, ending with the day of ovulation. The most fertile day is generally a day or two before ovulation, with the chance of conception highest in the presence of the most fertile type of cervical mucus. According to the World Health Organization the probability of pregnancy is greatest (66.7%) on the day of peak mucus but decreases to 8.9% three days after the peak mucus day.Although the egg is viable for (at most) 24 hours after ovulation, sperm can live in the woman’s reproductive tract for approximately 3 days, which means intercourse 3 or more days before, and up to the day of ovulation, could result in pregnancy. Studies suggest that conception on the day after ovulation rarely occurs.
Achieving Hormonal Balance
The causes of hormonal balance are multi-factorial, therefore any form of treatment has the best chance of success if the following are assessed & addressed:
·
Good nutrition
& lifestyle habits
·
Liver function & detoxification
pathways
·
Pituitary gland
function
·
Ovarian function
·
Thyroid function
·
Adrenal &
nervous system support/ stress management
Sympto-Thermal Charting
This is a chart that enables temperature, mucus & symptomatic changes [ie. pain, mood changes, breast tenderness & bowel changes] to be plotted & tracked daily. It provides a visual of important cyclic patterns that occur each month, which is not possible by simply jotting things in a diary or calendar.
This is an indispensable tool for assessing hormone balance &/or developing your awareness of optimal timing for conception attempts for those wishing to conceive.
