UNDERSTANDING THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE; THE DIFFERENT PHASES.

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I remember the first few months leading up to a year after seeing my period for the first time, at first it started out really exciting, I never fully understood what fascinated me about it or perhaps It was just something all the other girls were experiencing and I couldn't wait to belong. However the excitement quickly dwindled down after about the first three months and was quickly replaced with a dent in my self esteem. I was constantly getting "stained" and couldn't keep track of my period, eventually I settled for carrying a cardigan or a scarf around peradventure I got stained -being someone that hates to wash I only succeeded in increasing my laundry-.

The menstrual cycle last for an average of 28 days - might be longer or shorter as it is individually tailored- and are divided into phases; menstrual phase, follicular phase, ovulation phase and luteal phase.

What no one told me was that the 28 day cycle rule didn't apply to everyone and that in fact during the first year - and sometimes second- your cycles might just be irregular which could have saved me a lot of embarrassment and laundry if I may add. It wasn't until later in life that I realized how the topic of the female reproductive system wasn't a topic our school curriculum sheds enough light on as it should. During biology classes the teachers seemed more interested in discussing the act of "baby making" that made the students giggle and shy rather than on the topic of the menstrual cycle and reproductive health would have been more educative and a great tool to have at an early age.

Perhaps if we had a better understanding on how our reproductive systems work many issues coming to light at these later days could have been curbed, as women would be more equipped with enough knowledge to point out what was wrong earlier rather than wait around until the situation got worse to visit a hospital and sometimes leaving with no solution.

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The first period seen is called the menarche -do not be like me going around pronouncing it "meh- naa- chee", its pronounced 'meh-naa- kee'-. While menopause is diagnosed after 12 months without a menstrual period.

The menstrual cycle last for an average of 28 days - might be longer or shorter as it is individually tailored- and are divided into phases; menstrual phase, follicular phase, ovulation phase and luteal phase.

PHASES OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

PHASE 1. Menstruation phase

This is characterized by bleeding as a result of uterine wall shedding and it contains blood, mucus and cells from the lining of the uterus. Period, as it is commonly called last for a period of 3- 7 days, it marks the beginning and end of a menstrual cycle and signifies that fertilization didn't take place (ie no babies). Although people have laid claims to having seen their periods while pregnant, this is not true as what they may be experiencing is implantation bleeding.

PHASE 2. Follicular phase

This starts from first day of your period and ends on the day of ovulation. The pituitary gland in the brain stimulates the release of a hormone -follicular stimulating hormone (FSH)-that causes production of follicles on the ovary which may further grow into a mature egg. During this period, Estrogen levels begin to rise causing the uterine wall to thicken in preparation of pregnancy and also inhibiting the production of FSH leading to the end of this phase and the beginning of the ovulation phase.

PHASE 3. Ovulation phase

The increase in production of estrogen triggers the release of leutinizing hormone (LH) which in turn causes the mature egg to be released from the follicle and travel through the fallopian tube, this takes up to 16 - 32 hours and it usually happens once in each cycle. The matured egg(s) can only survive up to 24 hours after ovulation and if a sperm reaches the egg during this period fertilization may occur, however after this 24 hours the egg dissolves closing all possible windows of fertilization.

PHASE 4. Luteal phase

After ovulation occurs, the corpus luteum (gotten from the follicle which releases the egg) in the ovary produces progesterone and small amount of estrogen to thicken the uterine wall and prepare for pregnancy, the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone is released and informs the corpus luteum to continue producing progesterone for longer than 16 days -usually the time it takes before the uterine lining begins to shed causing menstrual flow- until the placenta takes over. However in cases where there is no fertilization the corpus luteum dies, progesterone level drops and uterine wall sheds beginning a new cycle.

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In summary, understanding the menstrual cycle helps you to appreciate the complexity that makes a woman. Although some -if not most- of us had little to no knowledge of how our cycle works during our first cycles, we owe it to ourselves and future generations of women after us to embrace such knowledge with open arms. The topic of menstrual cycle, reproductive health and all studies pertaining to women's health is one worth discussing and exploring, and with a lot of phrases to express the strength of being woman, I would like to lend a few words from Dojo cat "she can grow it from her womb, a family".

Until next time, remain blessed.

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