Ovulation

NORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Good Day Readers!!!! Okay, before I start to talk more on how much you know or you should about your ovulation, let us talk about a little bit on how your reproductive organs looks like and what are the functions each of them holds:

Source:Google Image

This is how a Female Reproductive System looks like 

Female reproductive system consists of  ovary, fallopian tube, uterus, endometrium, cervix and vagina. Each organ has its own unique function:

OVARY

     Shape -Paired and almond-shaped

Function -Produces eggs               
                -Produces hormones; Progesterone and Oestrogen, etc

FALLOPIAN TUBE

Function -Collects and transport the egg via fimbriae(finger-like projection)
                -Location in which fertilization takes place
UTERUS
     Shape-Pear-shaped, about 7.6 cm long, 4.5 cm broad and 3.0 cm thick
Function-Implantation of the fertilized egg - embryo - fetus
ENDOMETRIUM
Function -During menstrual cycle,endometrial lining grows to a thick-blood vessel-rich,glandular tissue layer
                -Assists in the preparation of possible implantation of fertilized egg
CERVIX
Function -Allows the flow of menstrual blood from the uterus into vagina
                -Directs sperms into uterus during intercourse

VAGINA
 Function -Distends to receive male's penis during sexual intercourse

                 - Passage way for menstrual blood and for fetus during childbirth
                 - Receptacle for sperm

So now readers, it's time to 

"UNDERSTAND YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE !"

What is menstruation?

Menstruation is when your body sheds the lining of the uterus and the blood flows from the uterus through the small opening in the cervix and clears out of the body through the vagina. Usually, most of the menstrual periods last from 3 days to 7 days.

When your period is regular without any discontinuation, this is called the menstrual cycle. Possessing a regular menstrual cycle is a vital sign indicating that important parts of your body are working normally. Menstrual cycle provides important hormones to keep you healthy and also prepares your body for possible pregnancy every month. 

Source:Google Image

There are three phases of menstrual cycle :

1. The Menstrual Phase (Day 1 - Day 5)    : Functional layer is shed
2. The Proliferative Phase (Day 6 - Day 14)  : Functional layer rebuilds
3. The Secretory Phase (Day 15 - Day 28) : The endometrium prepares for implantation of embryo

SO READER's IS YOUR PERIOD NORMAL??

Source:Google Image

ABNORMAL PERIOD ARE CATEGORIZED as follow:

• Amenorrhea – A condition in which a woman’s periods have stopped completely. The absence of period is for 90 days or more is considered abnormal unless a woman is pregnant, breastfeeding or going through menopause. Menopause begins in woman age ranging between 45 and 55
• Oligomenorrhea - A condition in which periods that occurs infrequently
• Dysmenorrhea - A condition refers to painful periods and severe menstrual cramps

DID YOU KNOW?????

Menorrhagia or also known as heavy menstruation are considered heavy if it soaks at least a minimum of 5 pads on the same day...

Source:Google Image

The importance of timing for concieve
Whether if you are just thinking or already planning about trying for a baby, or are actively trying, obtaining a better understanding about how your body works is very important. Don’t get me wrong, in fact one in two couples could be trying to conceive on the wrong days of woman’s menstrual cycle. There only few days (typically 6) each cycle when you can get pregnant, the days leading up to and including the day of ovulation.

Ovulation and the hormone changes

Ovulation is the process that occurs once in every menstrual cycle when hormones changes causes an ovary to release an egg. Usually this happens 12 to 16 days before your next period cycle starts. The color of the graph changes to purple indicates the changes in body temperature due to hormone fluctuations from the cool stage of the ovulatory cycle (day 1 to 14) to the warm stage of the luteal phase (day 15 to 28).

Source:Google Image

The cooler stages is controlled by the hormone called Estrogen (purple line), while the hot/warm stages is controlled by progesterone (green line). Estrogen hormone prepares the body for conception by thickening the endometrium with blood vessels and tissues and assists to create a sperm friendly environment. While the progesterone hormone helps to maintain pregnancy once the fertilized egg implants in the womb. Grey line represents your basal (resting) body temperature (bbt). Your bbt typically becomes measurable approximately 24 hours after you ovulate. Change in bbt correlates with changes in progesterone levels, as progesterone hormone is the cause of the bbt shift. By measuring your daily basal temperature, you can determine when you ovulate during your cycle.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (blue line) stimulates the ovarian follicles (eggs) to mature. As you can see it peaks around the first week of the cycle. High level of estrogen will trigger a sudden increase in another hormone called LH (luteinizing hormone). LH (red line) assists to initiate the ovulations. Ovulation normally occurs 24 – 36 hours after the LH surge, which why LH surge is a good predictor for fertility peak. LH hormone will shed off the wall of the ovarian follicle producing a hole through in which the ovum (egg) is released.

FSH and estrogen hormone are noticeable during the first weeks of the cycle, toning the uterus and assisting in the development of follicle and maturation of the ovum. Near to mid-cycle, LH hormone will be released to stimulate ovulation. On 14^th day (based on the graph above), ovulation will take place and the egg will burst into the fallopian tube and will be brought towards the uterus. At this point, the follicle coverts to corpus luteum – whose duty is to produce progesterone. With the peak of this hormone in your system, your body warms and you will be able to detect the thermal shift using a basal thermometer.

Source:Google Image

The egg only can be fertilized for up to 24 hours after ovulation. If it isn't fertilized the lining of the uterus will start to shed off and your period begins. This actions marks the start of your another menstrual cycle. While an egg survives for up to 24 hours, sperms can remain active for up to five days. It may surprise you, but there are couples that can conceive through sexual intercourse four to five days before the egg is released, due to the longer life span of the sperm. The total “FERTILITY WINDOW”, takes into account the life span of both the sperm and the egg is about 6 days.

For a better understanding on ovulation, watch this video

Source:Youtube

Just for fun (EMOTIONAL CHANGES DURING MENSTRUATION) ..

Source:Google Image

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