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The woman’s menstrual cycle is where the whole cycle of life begins. When a girl menstruates ( menarche ), it means that one life can begin to generate another life . Does a pregnancy depend on ovulation to happen and this in turn on sexual intercourse for the pregnancy to happen right?
But how does the menstrual cycle work and how do you use cycle dates to get pregnant or prevent pregnancy? We can begin to analyze how the menstrual cycle works through the length of the woman’s cycle , if there are any problems that prevent it from happening normally and other factors. However most of the time the menstrual cycle has 3 phases:
Phases of the Menstrual Cycle
- Follicular
- Ovulatory
- Luteal phase
All phases of the menstrual cycle are stimulated by hormones and these make all the “magic” happen. All of these hormones are stimulated by different parts of the reproductive system, but are actually released into the body by the pituitary gland (a gland in the brain) . The pituitary gland is responsible for almost all hormones in the body for both men and women.
But How Does the Menstrual Cycle in Practice Work?
The menstrual cycle begins with the release of a hormone called GnRh that is secreted by the pituitary gland. This hormone in turn stimulates the production of another hormone called FSH (follicle stimulating hormone).
This hormone FSH causes the follicles to be induced to grow and then gives rise to another hormone to continue the ovulatory process. In addition to this hormone, another one is necessary for the uterus to be suitable for pregnancy, so estrogen comes into play, which in turn is produced by the ovaries and gives the air of grace. Estrogen helps the follicle to mature for ovulation and also makes the endometrium “thick” enough for the pregnancy to be viable. Without an appropriate endometrium, pregnancy does not happen , even if the egg is fertilized.
Mucus Characteristics
Estrogen is also responsible for the elastic mucus that appears in the ovulatory period. This mucus has a different aspect because it is more elastic and slippery, similar to egg white, or it can be slippery just like a drool. So it is very important to know how the menstrual cycle works, identifying the fertile mucus of the period is essential for anyone who wants to get pregnant.
Ovulatory Phase
In the ovulatory phase, FSh makes room for estrogen and this in turn can let LH rise with mature dominant follicles and thus with a drop in estrogen levels and a rise in the LH hormone, which is a luteinizing hormone, does so with that the mature eggs (1, 2 or 3 if they are mature) are released then ovulation itself takes place .
After the ovulatory phase, progesterone enters the scene, it is responsible for maintaining the endometrium, and if there was fertilization, this thicker endometrium may allow a pregnancy. High p rogesterone is responsible for the symptoms of pregnancy and with the increase in levels after ovulation may be responsible for the symptoms that may appear with or without pregnancy. The progesterone produced by the corpus luteum is also responsible for whitish mucus, with the consistency of ointment or milky appearance.
How to Calculate the Menstrual Cycle and Identify Ovulation?
Knowing how to calculate the menstrual cycle and identify ovulation may not be such an easy task, there are women that menstruation always comes on the same date and others who have an irregular menstrual cycle with changes between them, a month can be 30 days another of 21 or another of 40 days and there, you never know which day the menstruation will appear.
However, it is enough to learn to know yourself to be able to identify ovulation to become pregnant or not to be taken by surprise by menstruation. Note whether menstruation comes from how many on how many days to have an average of the cycle.
Normally ovulation happens 11 to 14 days before the next menstruation . So, if the woman’s menstrual cycle is regular it is very easy. If it is a 28-day menstrual cycle, the most fertile day will be on the 14th day of the cycle. If it is a 30-day cycle, the most fertile day will be the 16th day of the cycle, in a 21-day cycle, the 8th day is the most fertile day. Remembering that the fertile period is one week, you should date 3 days before and 3 days after the most fertile day. But how to calculate the irregular menstrual cycle then?
For women who have difficulty in identifying their fertile period, even due to the lack of signs, we recommend the use of ovulation tests. It is a great way to give extra strength to anyone who wants to get pregnant. Using a cellphone APP for monitoring the cycle like the APP Paula and using ovulation tests that will indicate if ovulation is approaching, if it is happening or if it is over, indicating when is the right time to date and get your positive faster . You can buy your ovulation test here in our online store .
Irregular Menstrual Cycle Calculation
There are two ways to calculate a woman’s irregular menstrual cycle and the first is the Billings method , which is to check the appearance of cervical mucus during the cycle. The other way is the basal temperature . These two ways are very effective and can help women to more easily detect their ovulatory period and then manage to get pregnant.
See also: What is the corpus luteum and what is its importance in early pregnancy?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
