What is menstruation?

Menstruation is the technical term

for getting your period. About once a month, females who have gone through puberty
will experience menstrual bleeding. This happens because the lining of the uterus has
prepared itself for a possible pregnancy by becoming thicker and richer in blood
vessels. If pregnancy does not occur, this thickened lining is shed, accompanied by
bleeding. Bleeding usually lasts for 3-8 days. For most women, menstruation happens
in a fairly regular, predictable pattern. The length of time from the first day of one period
to the first day of the next period normally ranges from 21-35 days.

How does the menstrual cycle work?

The menstrual cycle is controlled by a complex orchestra of hormones, produced by two

structures in the brain, the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus along with the ovaries.

If you just want a quick, general overview of the menstrual cycle, read this description.

For a more detailed review of the physical and hormonal changes that happen over the
menstrual cycle,

General overview of the menstrual cycle:

 The menstrual cycle includes several phases. The exact timing of the phases of the
cycle is a little bit different for every woman and can change over time.

Cycle days (approximate) Events of the menstrual cycle

The first day of menstrual bleeding is considered Day 1 of
the cycle.

Days 1-5 Your period can last anywhere from 3 to 8 days, but 5
days is average.

Bleeding is usually heaviest on the first 2 days.

Once the bleeding stops, the uterine lining (also called the
endometrium) begins to prepare for the possibility of
Days 6-14 a pregnancy.

The uterine lining becomes thicker and enriched in blood

and nutrients.
Somewhere around day 14, an egg is released from one of
the ovaries and begins its journey down the fallopian tubes
to the uterus.

Day 14-25 If sperm are present in the fallopian tube at this time,
fertilization can occur.

In this case the fertilized egg will travel to the uterus and
attempt to implant in the uterine wall.
If the egg was not fertilized or implantation does not
occur, hormonal changes signal the uterus to prepare to
Days 25-28 shed its lining, and the egg breaks down and is shed along
with lining.

The cycle begins again on Day 1 menstrual bleeding.

How can I figure out what is happening in my cycle? When am I ovulating?

Simply tracking your cycle on a calendar, along with some details of your bleeding and
symptoms can help you understand your cycle. Record when your period starts and
ends, what the flow was like, and describe any pain or other symptoms (bloating, breast
pain etc.), changes in mood or behaviour that you experienced. Over several cycles you
will be able to see patterns in your cycle, or identify irregularities that are occurring. Use
your own calendar or try this ‘menstrual diary’. There are also numerous apps available
to help you track your period. If your periods come regularly every 21-35 days, chances
are excellent that you are ovulating.

Beyond simple calendar tracking, there are a few ways to figure out the timing of your
own personal menstrual cycle. Separately or used together, these can be used to help
determine when and whether you are ovulating. Three methods you can try are cervical
mucus testing, basal body temperature monitoring, and ovulation prediction kits.
What does ‘basal body temperature’ mean?

Your basal body temperature is your lowest body temperature when you are at rest. It is
typically measured after several hours of sleep. As soon as you are up and about, your
temperature increases slightly.

How does the basal body temperature method of fertility tracking work?

This method takes a few months of daily tracking to establish the specific patterns
happening in your body. Your body temperature changes slightly in response to
hormonal changes related to ovulation. Before you ovulate, your body temperature is
usually between 36.2°C and 36.5°C. The day after you ovulate, your temperature will
increase by at least 0.5°C (36.7°C to 37.1°C for example) and stay at this temperature
until menstruation. To use this method, measure and record your body temperature as
soon as you wake up, after at least 6 hours of sleep/rest. This means taking your
temperature before you get out of bed and before eating or drinking anything. Take your
temperature at about the same time every day. If you like to sleep in on the weekend
you might have to set an alarm!

You will need a special “basal body temperature” thermometer, available at drug stores.
Some thermometers have a memory feature that records the previous reading so you
don’t have to record it immediately. You will see the half-degree increase in temperature
the day after you ovulate. This method will help you determine if you are ovulating, how
regular your cycle is, and how long your cycle is.

If your temperature doesn’t change over the course of your cycle, and your periods are
irregular, it is possible that you may not be ovulating. You may want to get in touch with
your health care provider.

Ovulation Prediction Kits

Ovulation prediction kits measure the concentration of the Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in
your urine. This hormone is always present in small amounts in your urine but increases
in the 24-48 hours before ovulation occurs. More advanced kits also measure estradiol,
a form of estrogen that peaks on the day of ovulation. Instructions vary from kit to kit, so
read the product insert carefully before using it.
 Menstrual Cycle Basics
 Menstruation Around the World
 Symptoms of Menstruation
 Your First Period
 Birth Control and Your Period
 Pregnancy and Your Period

 Menopause