ALL ABOUT MENSTRUAL CYCLES

Jun 16

By Faith Mutua,

Introduction:

Did you know that May 28th is Menstrual hygiene day? Well if you didn’t know ,now you know 😎

Today, millions of women and girls around the world are stigmatized, excluded and discriminated against simply because they menstruate.

It’s not acceptable that because of a natural bodily function women and girls continue to be prevented from getting an education, earning an income and fully and equally participating in everyday life.

Today let’s learn about the menstrual cycle

What is a menstrual cycle

Each month during the years between puberty and menopause, a woman’s body goes through a number of changes to get it ready for a possible pregnancy. This series of hormone-driven events is called the menstrual cycle.

During each menstrual cycle, an egg develops and is released from the ovaries. The lining of the uterus builds up. If a pregnancy doesn’t happen, the uterine lining sheds during a menstrual period. Then the cycle starts again.

What causes a menstrual cycle and how do I calculate my menstrual cycle

The steps in the menstrual cycle are triggered by the rise and fall of chemicals in the body called hormones. The pituitary gland in the brain and the ovaries in the female reproductive tract manufacture and release certain hormones at certain times during the menstrual cycle that cause the organs of the reproductive tract to respond in certain ways. The specific events that occur during the menstrual cycle can be described as follows:

The menses phase: This phase, which typically lasts from day one to day five, is the time when the lining of the uterus is actually shed out through the vagina if pregnancy has not occurred. Most women bleed for three to five days, but a period lasting only two days to as many as seven days is still considered normal.
The follicular phase: This phase typically takes place from days six to 14. During this time, the level of the hormone estrogen rises, which causes the lining of the uterus (called the endometrium) to grow and thicken. In addition, another hormone—follicle-stimulating hormone—causes follicles in the ovaries to grow. During days 10 to 14, one of the developing follicles will form a fully mature egg (ovum).
Ovulation: This phase occurs roughly at about day 14 in a 28-day menstrual cycle. A sudden increase in another hormone—luteinizing hormone—causes the ovary to release its egg. This event is called ovulation.
The luteal phase: This phase lasts from about day 15 to day 28. After the egg is released from the ovary it begins to travel through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. The level of the hormone progesterone rises to help prepare the uterine lining for pregnancy. If the egg becomes fertilized by a sperm and attaches itself to the uterine wall, the woman becomes pregnant. If pregnancy does not occur, estrogen and progesterone levels drop and the thickened lining of the uterus is shed during the menstrual period.

What causes irregular periods and how do I deal with irregular periods

If your menstrual cycle is shorter than 24 days, more than 38 days long, or if the length varies significantly from month to month, or you lose more or less blood during a period than usual then you have irregular periods. This is called oligomenorrhea

Causes

Natural hormonal changes

Many things can cause irregular periods. Changes in your body's level of the hormones estrogen and progesterone can disrupt the normal pattern of your period. That's why young girls going through puberty and women approaching menopause commonly have irregular periods.

During puberty, the body undergoes significant changes. It can take several years for the hormones that regulate periods to fall into a reliable pattern. During this time, it is common to have irregular periods.

Oligomenorrhea can also occur after childbirth and while breastfeeding until the hormones return to normal after having a baby.
Breastfeeding, especially exclusive and frequent breastfeeding, can suppress ovulation, causing a person’s periods to stop. This is called lactational amenorrhoea
Periods also become irregular during perimenopause, which is the first stage of menopause. During this time, hormone levels begin to fall. Periods may get further and further apart until a person stops having them entirely

Starting and stopping birth control

Hormonal birth control works by stopping ovulation

This means a person does not have a true period while they are using it. Instead, some people have no period at all, while others will have withdrawal bleeds that can seem similar to a period.

When a person first starts the pill, patch, implant, or hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), they may experience irregular bleeding during the first few months. This may become more regular as time goes on or stop entirely.

Similarly, when a person stops using hormonal birth control, this can also lead to irregular periods. It takes time for the body’s hormonal cycle to begin working as usual again.

Typically, people have a withdrawal bleed 2-4 weeks after stopping birth control pills. The next bleed is a period. It can take up to 3 months for the cycle to settle into a regular pattern.

People who had irregular periods before they began hormonal birth control may return to having an irregular cycle after they stop using it.

Underlying health conditions

Irregular periods can sometimes indicate a health condition, such as:

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition where small, fluid-filled sacs, known as cysts, develop in the ovaries. PCOS causes high testosterone levels, which can prevent or delay ovulation and a person’s period.

Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, can cause absent or irregular periods. This is more likely to occur if someone has experienced severe weight loss.

People who exercise excessively may also experience irregular periods. When people find it hard to stop exercising, it is known as compulsive exercising

Endometriosis is a condition in which cells that usually grow inside the uterus grow outside of it. These cells make up the uterine lining, which thickens and sheds with each menstrual cycle.

Thyroid disease

The thyroid produces hormones that affect metabolism, heart rate, and other basic functions. It also helps control the timing of ovulation and periods.

People with hyperthyroidism produce too much thyroid hormone, while those with hypothyroidism do not produce enough.

Thyroid disease can make periods heavy or light and can make them more or less frequent. It can also cause ovulation to stop in some people.

Thyroid disease is treatable. An underactive thyroid may require thyroid hormone, while radioactive iodine may help with hyperthyroidism. Some types of thyroid dysfunction require the removal of the thyroid.

Other conditions

Other health conditions associated with irregular periods

Type 1 diabetes
Cushing’s syndrome
Primary ovarian insufficiency
congenital adrenal hyperplasia
hormone-secreting tumors

What causes period pains and how do I deal with period pains?

Menstruation usually happens approximately every 28 days between puberty and menopause, except during pregnancy. During menstruation, the muscles of the womb contract and relax in an irregular way. This motion helps the womb expel unwanted tissue and blood.

Everyone experiences these contractions, but some people do not notice them. For others, however, the discomfort can be severe. Some individuals may also experience nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms.

The hormone-like substances that trigger this process are called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins form in the lining of the uterus.

Risk factors

Factors that appear to reduce the risk of menstrual cramps include

Older age
Having given birth more often
The use of birth control pills

A person is more likely to have severe cramps if they:

Are experiencing stress
Are aged under 30 years — especially before the age of 20 years
Have heavy periods
Have a family history of menstrual cramps

Other factors that may increase the likelihood include:

Smoking
Diet
Obesity
Depression
Being a survivor of sexual abuse

Conditions that can worsen menstrual cramps

Several underlying medical conditions can also cause or worsen menstrual cramps:

Endometriosis
Uterine fibroids
Some forms of birth control
Adenomyosis
Pelvic inflammatory disease

If these cause severe symptoms, a person may need surgery.

At-home treatments can be helpful in relieving painful menstrual periods. Types of things to try at home include:

Using a hot water bottle on your pelvic area or back
Massaging your abdomen
Taking a warm bath
Doing regular physical exercise
Eating light, nutritious meals
Practicing relaxation techniques or yoga
Taking anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen several days before you expect your period
Raising your legs or lying with your knees bent
Reducing your intake of salt, alcohol, caffeine, and sugar to prevent bloating

Fertility days after menstrual period

You’re most fertile at the time of ovulation (when an egg is being released from your ovaries), which usually occurs 12 to 14 days before your next period starts. This is the time of the month you are most likely to get pregnant.

Conclusion

Every woman’s menstrual cycle is different. What’s normal for you might not be normal for someone else. It’s important to get familiar with your cycle — including when you get your periods and how long they last. Be alert for any changes, and report them to your healthcare provider.