Deciphering the Stages of the Menstrual Cycle

 Have you ever wondered what is happening inside your body before your periods begin?

What leads to the outpouring of blood?

How does it happen?

Curiosity doesn’t kill the cat; in fact, the cat flourishes. Let us indulge your curiosity today and answer all of your questions related to your menstrual cycle days.

Every woman’s body during her prime or reproductive years, meaning between puberty and menopause, goes through a lot of changes to make itself ready for a potential pregnancy that might happen. These changes are called a menstrual cycle or an ovarian cycle.

A number of phases are involved in this process. Let’s go through these period phases together.

WHAT ARE THE PHASES OF MENSTRUAL CYCLE?

There are four phases of the menstrual cycle that a woman experiences. The duration of all of these menstrual cycle phases may differ from woman to woman. They are as follows:

• Menstrual phase
• Follicular phase
• Ovulation phase
• Luteal phase

MENSTRUAL PHASE

The menstruation stage is the first phase of the entire process. The menstrual phase of the menstrual cycle is also when you get your periods. It generally lasts between 3-7 days an average.

In this stage, because you don’t get pregnant, an egg from the earlier cycle is not fertilised. The uterus had a comfortable place prepared for the baby that it was expecting, with its inner walls lined with blood tissues. Since this lining is no longer needed, it sheds itself through your vagina in the form of liquid blood and blood tissues.

You might experience symptoms of a menstrual period a few days before it arrives. Some of them are:

• Menstrual cramps
• Fatigue
• Sensitive breasts
• Bloating
• Backaches
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Food cravings, etc.

You can take some over-the-counter pills for most of these symptoms. If the pain still remains or becomes too hard for you to handle or interrupts your daily life and routine, consult a doctor as there might be an underlying issue that is causing you to experience these extreme symptoms.

When your periods do get around, here is what to do. Pamper and indulge yourself; make sure your periods are as comfortable as they can get. Or leave this up to us! RIO Pads ensure you are thoroughly spoiled during your periods.  All RIO Pads are cottony soft, absorb all the wetness to give a dry feel, and fit you perfectly. They are also 100% sulphur, paraben, and chemical fragrance-free.

Choose the best pads for periods; choose RIO!

FOLLICULAR PHASE

The follicular phase begins as soon as you start your periods, and it ends when you start ovulating. There is a little overlap with the previous stage of the menstrual cycle, the menstrual phase. It lasts for about 16 days on average.

The production of oestrogen, a female reproductive hormone in your body, increases during this stage. The follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) makes your ovaries produce small sacs, also known as follicles. These follicles contain immature eggs from your ovaries. The lining of your uterus thickens due to the increase in the levels of oestrogen. This creates a safe and nutrient-rich place for a baby to grow. This is where the follicular phase also ends.

OVULATION PHASE

The ovulation phase begins with the release of luteinizing hormone (LH). This is because the increased levels of oestrogen from the follicular phase set off your pituitary gland to produce LH.

Your ovaries release a mature egg, which has travelled down from the fallopian tubes to be fertilised by the sperm. This is where the ovulation phase actually begins. If you’re trying to get pregnant, this is your perfect opportunity!

The ovulation phase happens in the middle of your menstrual cycle. If your cycle is 28 days long, it is around day 14. If the egg is not fertilised on the day of ovulation, it might die or dissolve itself.

You can keep track of your ovulation phase and when it arrives by using apps available freely on the internet or just go the old-fashioned way and write it down in your diary or journal. It is not too hard to predict your ovulation day based on your menstrual cycle.

LUTEAL PHASE

The luteal phase is the post-ovulation phase of your menstrual cycle. It lasts for 12-14 days. The follicle from which the egg is released remains put on the surface of the ovary. It transforms itself into a structure called corpus luteum. The corpus luteum releases hormones that further prepare the uterus for pregnancy. If the egg does not get fertilised by the sperm, this structure disintegrates.

After completion of the luteal phase, the menstrual cycle begins all over again.  This keeps happening till you reach menopause, the time in your menstrual journey when your periods completely stop.

We hope your curiosity is sufficiently indulged. Women must know what goes on in their bodies to make the best decisions for themselves. Whether you’re trying to avoid pregnancy, trying to get pregnant, or want to make informed decisions that are important for your body and you, this blog will be of use to you.