From adolescence until she reaches menopause, a woman’s body undergoes a number of cyclical changes aimed at preparing it for a possible pregnancy. This series of events is called the “monthly cycle”. During each such cycle, one egg is released from the ovaries and reaches maturity, and at the same time the uterine lining accumulates and thickens. When fertilization does not occur, the egg and lining of the uterus are ejected from the woman’s body during the menstrual process, and the entire cycle begins anew.
The menstrual cycle is divided into four stages:
1. The menstrual stage
2. The follicular stage
3. Ovulation stage
4. The luteal phase
The length of each stage varies from one woman to her friend, and it may also vary between different cycles in the same woman. In this article we will review the different stages and the symptoms that characterize them.
Menstrual phase
This is the stage called in the vernacular “receiving a cycle”. This stage begins when the egg released from the ovary in the previous cycle has not been fertilized. Estrogen and progesterone levels in the body drop, and monthly bleeding begins. This bleeding contains the unfertilized egg, along with remnants of blood, mucus and tissues that are secreted from the uterus. The menstrual phase is characterized by a number of symptoms that may be unpleasant, such as:
- Uterine cramps (“menstrual cramps”)
- Chest tenderness
- bloated stomach
- Mood swings
- Headaches
- tiredness
- Lower back pain
The amount, type and intensity of symptoms vary from woman to woman, and there are even those lucky enough to not experience any of them. On average, the menstrual phase lasts about 5 days, and usually ranges from 3-7 days.
The follicular stage (follicular stage)
There is some overlap between this stage and the menstrual stage, as the follicular stage begins on the first day of menstruation, and ends with ovulation. That is, by the time the body gets rid of the remnants of preparation for the previous pregnancy, it is already starting to prepare the body for another pregnancy.
The follicular phase begins when the hypothalamus sends a signal to the pituitary gland and instructs it to release a “follicle-stimulating hormone,” also called FSH. This hormone encourages the ovaries to produce about 5-10 tiny follicles called follicles. Each follicle contains an immature egg. Eventually, one egg reaches full maturity, and the rest of the follicles with the eggs in them dissolve and are absorbed back into the body.
Egg maturation causes an increase in estrogen levels and thickening of the uterine lining, in preparation for the possibility of fertilization and fetal rooting. This phase lasts between 11-27 days.
The ovulation stage
The increase in estrogen levels during the follicular stage causes the pituitary gland to release hormones that lead to the onset of the ovulation process. Ovulation is the process by which a mature egg is released from the ovary and begins its journey through the fallopian tubes towards the uterus, where it may undergo fertilization by sperm.
The ovulation stage is the only one during the entire menstrual cycle in which a woman may become pregnant. This stage is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Slight rise in body temperature (up to one degree)
- Discharges with a particularly thick texture
- Some women even experience ovulation pain to varying degrees.
The ovulation phase occurs right in the middle of the menstrual cycle, and lasts about 24 hours.
The luteal phase
Once the follicle releases the egg it contained, it changes and becomes a body called a “yellow body”. The corpus luteum releases hormones – mainly progesterone and estrogen – that keep the lining of the uterus thick and ready for the absorption of a fertilized egg. When pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum contracts and is absorbed by the body, which causes a decrease in the amount of hormones and heralds the arrival of the menstrual phase.
At this stage, many women experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which may be characterized by the following symptoms:
- bloated stomach
- Chest tenderness
- Mood swings
- Headache
- weight gain
- Changes in libido
- Changes in appetite
- Sleep problems
The luteal phase lasts between 11-17 days, at the end of which the entire menstrual cycle begins anew.
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