11-03-2010, 10:51
Phases of the Menstrual Cycle
March 5 2008 at 7:17 PM waxingmoon (Login waxingmoon)
SENIOR MEMBER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are the phases of the menstrual cycle. The days cited are of course in general and your cycle may vary.
-------
menstrual phase ----[days 1 - 4]
follicular phase (also known as proliferative phase) ----[days 5 - 13]
ovulation (not a phase, but an event dividing phases)----[day 14]
luteal phase (also known as secretory phase)----[days 15 - 26]
ischemic phase (some sources group this with secretory phase)----[days 27 - 28]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Days 5 - 13
During the follicular phase the lining of the uterus thickens, stimulated by gradually increasing amounts of estrogen. Follicles in the ovary begin developing under the influence of a complex interplay of hormones, and after several days one or occasionally two follicles become dominant (non-dominant follicles atrophy and die).
Day 14
The dominant follicle releases an ovum or egg in an event called ovulation. (An egg that is fertilized by a spermatozoon will become a zygote, taking one to two weeks to travel down the fallopian tubes to the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized within about a day of ovulation, it will die and be absorbed by the woman's body.[2])
Days 15 - 26
After ovulation the remains of the dominant follicle in the ovary become a corpus luteum; this body has a primary function of producing large amounts of progesterone. Under the influence of progesterone, the endometrium (uterine lining) changes to prepare for potential implantation of an embryo to establish a pregnancy.
Days 26 - 28
If implantation does not occur within approximately two weeks, the corpus luteum will die, causing sharp drops in levels of both progesterone and estrogen.
Days 1 - 4
These hormone drops cause the uterus to shed its lining in a process termed menstruation.
------------------------------------------------ source Wikipedia -----------------
During days 5 - 14 your estrogen would be building to its peak on Day 14 (ovulation)
During days 15 - 26 your progesterone would be building (if you ovulated)
During days 26 - 28 and days 1 - 4 your estrogen and progesterone levels would be at their lowest.
Author Reply
waxingmoon
(Login waxingmoon)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Phases of the Menstrual Cycle May 2 2008, 9:49 PM
I just thought I would add that these are the phases of the menstrual cycle only when a woman is NOT using birth control pills.
Birth control pills simulate pregnancy in the body and there is no ovulation (most of the time) and no luteal phase (the phase that occurs after ovulation).
The lining of the uterus builds up and when a woman stops taking the pills for a week (or takes the inactive pills) her body thinks the pregnancy has ended and sheds the uterine lining. The next pack of pills causes the body to believe it is pregnant again... no true menstrual cycle exists.
When a woman stops taking birth control pills it will probably take several cycles for her to come back into a normal menstrual cycle. Some women never again ovulate after birth control pill use. Some women go back to a normal cycle so quickly they can become pregnant within a few weeks of stopping birth control pills.
waxingmoon
March 5 2008 at 7:17 PM waxingmoon (Login waxingmoon)
SENIOR MEMBER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are the phases of the menstrual cycle. The days cited are of course in general and your cycle may vary.
-------
menstrual phase ----[days 1 - 4]
follicular phase (also known as proliferative phase) ----[days 5 - 13]
ovulation (not a phase, but an event dividing phases)----[day 14]
luteal phase (also known as secretory phase)----[days 15 - 26]
ischemic phase (some sources group this with secretory phase)----[days 27 - 28]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Days 5 - 13
During the follicular phase the lining of the uterus thickens, stimulated by gradually increasing amounts of estrogen. Follicles in the ovary begin developing under the influence of a complex interplay of hormones, and after several days one or occasionally two follicles become dominant (non-dominant follicles atrophy and die).
Day 14
The dominant follicle releases an ovum or egg in an event called ovulation. (An egg that is fertilized by a spermatozoon will become a zygote, taking one to two weeks to travel down the fallopian tubes to the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized within about a day of ovulation, it will die and be absorbed by the woman's body.[2])
Days 15 - 26
After ovulation the remains of the dominant follicle in the ovary become a corpus luteum; this body has a primary function of producing large amounts of progesterone. Under the influence of progesterone, the endometrium (uterine lining) changes to prepare for potential implantation of an embryo to establish a pregnancy.
Days 26 - 28
If implantation does not occur within approximately two weeks, the corpus luteum will die, causing sharp drops in levels of both progesterone and estrogen.
Days 1 - 4
These hormone drops cause the uterus to shed its lining in a process termed menstruation.
------------------------------------------------ source Wikipedia -----------------
During days 5 - 14 your estrogen would be building to its peak on Day 14 (ovulation)
During days 15 - 26 your progesterone would be building (if you ovulated)
During days 26 - 28 and days 1 - 4 your estrogen and progesterone levels would be at their lowest.
Author Reply
waxingmoon
(Login waxingmoon)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Phases of the Menstrual Cycle May 2 2008, 9:49 PM
I just thought I would add that these are the phases of the menstrual cycle only when a woman is NOT using birth control pills.
Birth control pills simulate pregnancy in the body and there is no ovulation (most of the time) and no luteal phase (the phase that occurs after ovulation).
The lining of the uterus builds up and when a woman stops taking the pills for a week (or takes the inactive pills) her body thinks the pregnancy has ended and sheds the uterine lining. The next pack of pills causes the body to believe it is pregnant again... no true menstrual cycle exists.
When a woman stops taking birth control pills it will probably take several cycles for her to come back into a normal menstrual cycle. Some women never again ovulate after birth control pill use. Some women go back to a normal cycle so quickly they can become pregnant within a few weeks of stopping birth control pills.
waxingmoon