the menstrual cycle is the period between the start of your period and the arrival of the next period. Each cycle is influenced by the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary) and ovaries. From the first to the fifth day, the drop in the level ofestrogen and of progesterone causes atrophy and detachment of the endometrium that was ready to receive a embryo : Those are the rules, more or less abundant, more or less painful according to the women.
Three distinct stages after your period
Three stages occur at the end of the period: the follicular phase (on average the first fifteen days), theovulation and the luteal phase which lasts until the arrival of the following periods.
During the follicular phase, thepituitary (gland located in the brain) secretes the hormone FSH (follicular stimulation hormone) which will stimulate the growth of several ovarian follicles (future oocytes). Usually, only one follicle matures. Its cells start to produce estrogen which promotes thickening of the endometrium. When the estrogen level is at its maximum, this time the pituitary gland secretes luteinizing hormones (LH) which trigger the expulsion of a mature oocyte from one of the two ovaries. It’s that called ovulation.
During the third phase, called the luteal phase, the follicle that released the oocyte heals and becomes the corpus luteum. This fat-like material mainly secretes progesterone. This prepares the endometrium in particular for a possible pregnancy. Captured by the pinna of the fallopian tube, the oocyte awaits the possible arrival of sperm. If there is a sexual relation, sperm (contained in the sperm) go back vagina towards the cervix which they pass through and then towards one of the fallopian tubes. If one of these sperm succeeds in fertilizing an oocyte, the two cells will multiply to form an embryo. This will start to move again to reach the interior of the uterus, implant itself there and develop there. The corpus luteum then produces hormones that will regulate the development of the placenta, the suppression of the rules, the increase of the mammary glands and finally the production of more eggs.
On the other hand, if the oocyte is not fertilized, the corpus luteum, which secreted progesterone, is degraded. Many women suffer fromedema (swelling), breast pain,acne and of mood swings. It’s the premenstrual syndrome. Within days, estrogen and progesterone levels drop, causing endometrial atrophy and evacuation, leading to new periods. It is the start of a new cycle. Some women then perceive more or less intense symptoms, especially the first three days: lower abdomen pain, nausea, diarrhea, back pain, etc.
What causes the arrival of the rules?
The female child is born with a stock of follicles which will mature over time to produce oocytes. Around the age of 11, estrogen secretion increases dramatically, causing the breast to form, then the arrival of menstruation (rules) two or three years later. Now, each month, under the impulse of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, the ovaries secrete estrogen in the first part of the cycle to promote the thickening of the mucous uterine.
After ovulation (around the fourteenth day of the cycle), they produce progesterone to prepare the uterus for possible pregnancy. At the end of the cycle, if the oocyte has not been fertilized, the secretions of estrogen and progesterone drop, the uterine lining and the unfertilized egg are shed during menstruation, a discharge of blood and tissue debris. The uterine lining then regains its minimum thickness.
Menstrual cycle abnormalities
The length of the cycles can vary from 21 to 40 days depending on the woman. Moreover, only 10 to 15% of women without hormonal treatment have a cycle that lasts precisely twenty-eight days. The intervals between cycles are often more irregular in the first few years after puberty and before menopause.
The amount of blood shed varies from cycle to cycle and from woman to woman; on average it is about 60 ml. As for the duration of the rules, it also varies from one day to eight days. In case of excessively heavy menstrual bleeding or on the contrary too weak, too frequent or irregular, it is advisable to consult your doctor. As with bleeding outside of the menstrual cycle or after menopause. Only an interrogation and a clinical examination will make it possible to find the cause: inflammation, infection, hormonal changes … Thus, 50% of women over 45 years suffer from abnormal bleeding caused by abnormalities in the hormonal control of the rules.
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