Menstrual phase

This is the most painful phase of the menstrual cycle when bleeding occurs. Typically, this phase lasts 3-6 days. At this time, the uterus tears away the top layer of pavement with the unfertilized egg. The first day of full menstrual period (bleeding) is called the first day of the cycle, from him and are a further sample.

Proliferative (follicular) phase

What happens to the ovaries:

Even before the termination of menstruation starts sending signals to the brain, preparing the body for the next ovulation. With pulses in the ovaries comes hormone called FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone). It causes an increase in the size and development of multiple follicles contained in the ovaries. Gradually, one follicle grows in size more than others.

What happens to the uterus:

At this time, the body is also the release of another hormone - estrogen. Estrogen affects the lining of the uterus, stimulating its replacement and updating. In addition, estrogen acts on the cervical mucus, which then becomes hostile to sperm.

All this happens gradually over the first two weeks after the end of menstruation, when FSH stimulates the development of the egg, and estrogen promotes the replacement of the uterine lining. It should also be emphasized that the duration of this phase is limited to a certain number of days. Even in the regular women's malaise appears irregular, because stress and other factors can prolong this phase and delay ovulation.

However, at some point in the cycle comes into play two hormone that reduces the level of FSH leads to ovulation.

Ovulation Phase

What happens to the ovaries:

In this phase of the menstrual cycle The phases of the menstrual cycle failures unacceptable   produced by LG (luteinizing hormone). Sometimes this process is called luteinizing "explosion" because the levels of this hormone is rapidly growing, reach a peak and then subside. This hormone acts also on follicles and at the same time changes the cervical mucus, which becomes more susceptible to semen. So, against the backdrop of increasing levels of LH is a decrease FSH levels. This follicle bursts and releases an egg ready for fertilization. The egg moves smoothly into the fallopian tubes, where waiting for a meeting with the sperm.

The egg (or ovum) lives a very short time - only 12-48 hours, so to conceive the sexual act should be planned before ovulation, sperm (who lives five days) was already in the fallopian tubes, waiting for the egg.

What happens to the uterus:

Continue updating the uterine lining.

Luteal phase

This phase is not limited in time. Again, that every woman has a menstrual cycle runs strictly individual, but in general the luteal phase lasts approximately 10 - 16 days (no more!). When attempting conception Conception - as the emerging life   days of the luteal phase is considered as the days after ovulation (DPO).

What happens to the ovaries:

After the formation of the egg production of LH suddenly stops. At the same time receptive to sperm cervical mucus dries very quickly. The egg follicle already left, but his work is not finished. This follicle, now called the "yellow body", after the formation of the egg immediately begins to produce the hormone progesterone.

What happens to the uterus:

If estrogen is produced update uterine lining, the task of progesterone - to make the absorbent lining and dense. In other words, the lining becomes hypersensitive to any fertilized egg that falls into the uterus and implanted into her!

So, for about 16 days after ovulation, the body is in standby mode, the corpus luteum produces hormones that stimulate the thickening of the uterine lining and increase its susceptibility and predisposition to accept any of the fertilized egg.

The average time between fertilization yaytseletki and its implantation in the uterus is from 7 to 12 days.

As things are going, if there is no implantation of the egg? Well, the corpus luteum begins to degenerate and eventually die off. Sudden cessation of progesterone production leads to the destruction of the uterine lining, which leads us to the beginning of our journey, that is, menstruation, when the uterus lining necrotic rejects the egg.

Short life of the corpus luteum limits the duration of the luteal phase. For this reason, women who want to conceive, it is recommended to have sex allegedly for 14 days before the start of the next menstrual period, and not 14 days after the last menstrual period.

For example, take a woman whose menstrual cycle is 35 days. If it is to plan conception sex on day 14 after the last menstrual period, each time will miss ovulation for a whole week! This discrepancy is explained by the fact that if her luteal phase lasts standard time, ovulation she begins only on day 21 of the menstrual cycle, and not before, not 14 days. If the woman is well-versed in its cycle, it is easy to calculate the time of ovulation: 35 days - 14 = luteal phase ovulation occurs about 21 days.

Similarly, the time of ovulation can be calculated and a woman with a short 25-day cycle: 25 - 14 = ovulation occurs about 11.

Bearing in mind the peculiarities of the menstrual cycle, conception should be planned taking into account the data for the beginning of menstruation for several months to learn the average length of the cycle. Simple calculations will help you quite accurately determine the start of a particular phase of the cycle.

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