**Hello my steemit community,**

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In today's edition of IMPROVING HEALTH OF STEEMIANS, I want to talk to you about Menstrual cycle and ovulation.

A lot of my friends and patients ask me what exactly happens during menstrual cycle and how to count the days of it.


The reproductive system of women, unlike the male system, shows proper cyclical changes that can be considered as the periodic preparations for a fertilization and pregnancy. In humans and other primates that cycle is called  menstrual cycle, and the most obvious feature is vaginal bleeding that occurs with the uterus shedding its lining. Cycle length vary, and the most common cycle length is somewhere between 23 and 35 days and the average is 28 days. This means that the time from the first day of your last period up to the start of your next period is at least 23 days but not more than 35 days. The usual length of menstrual bleeding is 3-5 days. The amount of blood loss can vary from a few drops to 80 ml with the average of 30 mL. The loss of more than 80 ml is abnormal. The amount of blood loss can be influenced by various factors, including  drugs and diseases that affect the blood clotting system.

Knowing when ovulation occurs during the menstrual cycle is essential for increasing fertility and planning a family. Simple and pretty correct indicator of the ovulation is increased body temperature. It begins one to two days after ovulation. To get the correct body temperature, you should use a digital thermometer and measure the temperature (oral and rectal) in the morning, before getting out of bed.  Progesterone is the main cause of the body temperature changes because of its thermogenic effect.

**MENSTRUAL CYCLE**

<center><img src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/581b875f2994caadaa3f721e/58214843d482e98a7115aad7/590bb082ff7c502a0772b175/1493941026789/menstrual-cycle-phases.jpg?format=1000w" /><br/><em><a href="https://www.yonolabs.com/news/2017/5/4/what-are-the-menstrual-cycle-phases-and-how-can-i-chart-bbt"> source</a></em></center>


The first day of menstrual bleeding is the first day of menstrual cycle. It is divided into two parts: 

* the ovarian cycle- if we observe it at the level of the ovaries 

* the endometrial cycle- if we observe it at the uterine level

The ovarian cycle is further divided into three phases:

- the follicular phase-  follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain and it is involved in stimulating ovaries to produce mature eggs. This phase lasts from the beginning of the menstrual cycle to ovulation

* ovulation phase- LH surge causes follicle to rupture and the mature egg is released  from the ovary, from where it enters the Fallopian tube.  Many women think that they ovulate on day 14, but most women will actually ovulate on a different day of the menstrual cycle

- luteal phase-  It occurs after ovulation and before your period starts. After you ovulate, the corpus luteum (a structure inside the ovaries that holds a developing egg) begins to produce progesterone. Progesterone helps thicken your uterine so that if there is a fertilized egg, it can  implant itself. If no egg implants, the corpus luteum stops producing progesterone after about 10 – 16 days, and you shed your uterine lining in your period.

The endometrial cycle is also divided into three phases:

* a menstrual phase- which lasts from the beginning to the end of menstrual bleeding (about 4 days)

* the proliferation phase- characterized by proliferation of the endometrium under the influence of estrogen. It lasts from day 5 to day 14 of the menstrual cycle

* the secretory phase- during the secretory phase of the uterus, the hormone progesterone,produced by the ovaries,  stimulates the glands in the uterus to secrete substances that maintain the endometrium and keep it from breaking down. For this reason, this phase of the menstrual cycle is called the secretory phase. It lasts until the beginning of the next menstrual bleeding (about 14 days)


**CAUSES OF MENSTRUAL CYCLE IRREGULARITIES**

<div class="pull-right"><center><img src="https://www.todayhealthtips.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Causes-of-Irregular-Menstrual-Cycle.png" /><br/><em><a href="https://www.todayhealthtips.com/causes-of-irregular-periods/"> source</a></em></center></div>

* Pregnancy or breast-feeding

* Excessive weight loss or gain

* Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

* Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia

* Increased exercise

* Emotional stress

* Hyperthyroidism

 Tracking your menstrual cycle can help you find out what's normal for you and what isn't. Begin by tracking your start date every month for several months in a row to identify the regularity of your periods. There are lot of apps and calendars which will help you and I suggest that you install one and start tracking it now. Woman should always take care of their health.

<center><img src="https://ecofemme.org/wp-content/uploads/Period-Tracker-Apps-1024x473.png" /><br/><em><a href="https://ecofemme.org/eco-femmes-guide-period-tracking-apps/"> source</a></em></center>

**PREMENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS**

<div class="pull-left"><center><img src="https://www.std-gov.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/Vaginal-Pain-5.jpg" /><br/><em><a href="https://www.std-gov.org/blog/vaginal-pain/"> source</a></em></center></div>

Symptoms generally strike five to ten days before the period and dissipate with its start or soon after. Common symptoms include:

* Breast swelling and tenderness

* Bloating
* Acne breakouts
* Stomach cramping
* Headaches
* Moodiness

These are just some of the 150 known symptoms.

 **MY MESSAGE TO  MEN IS TO TAKE CARE OF WOMAN AND BUY THEM CHOCOLATE OR WHATEVER THEY WANT**




<hr>

**REFERENCE**

[1] Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology - 13th Edition

[2] Wilcox, A. J., Dunson, D., Baird, D. D. -The timing of the "fertile window" in the menstrual cycle: day specific estimates from a prospective study. British Medical Journal, 2000.




*Factual claims which are not sourced are from my own personal experience and med school.*

<center>*This advice is for general health and intended to supplement the information you receive from your treating doctor. It in no way replaces the advice of your doctor. Please see your doctor if you have specific concerns regarding your health.*</center>

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