What Does A Normal Cycle Look Like?
Let's chat about the menstrual cycle!
What is it? What's normal? Why do we have hormone imbalances? Why PMS?
We'll be covering these questions in this mini-series I'm going to do, but today let's start off by reviewing the basics of what a normal cycle should look like.
A normal cycle is 21-35 days long and includes a follicular phase and a luteal phase. Day 1 is the first day of menstruation, the follicular phase is day up to ovulation, the luteal phase starts after ovulation, and is all the days following ovulation up to the next cycle day 1. During menstruation FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) from the anterior pituitary gland stimulates the follicles which are growing to choose the secondary oocyte (egg) that will be released at ovulation. The growing follicle produces estrogen and we see an estrogen rise. The high estrogen levels and low progesterone levels continue to stimulate GnRH (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone, FSH, and LH (luteinizing hormone). As LH rises it stimulates ovulation from the matured secondary oocyte (mature egg). After ovulation, the luteal phase begins and continues for the remainder of the cycle. The follicle that is left after ovulation occurs is renamed the corpus luteum and this produces increased progesterone levels in preparation for fertilization. Here there will be a rise in progesterone and estrogen which stimulates and maintains the buildup of the endometrial lining. If fertilization doesn’t take place and implantation doesn’t occur, estrogen and progesterone levels drop and stimulate the endometrial lining to shed and this begins day 1 of the next cycle.
As we move forward with this mini-series what questions do you want me to answer about the menstrual cycle?