4 Phases of Menstrual cycle & how they work?

Menstrual cycle is a series of changes in a woman's body which prepares the body for possible pregnancy. Periods don't not define the whole menstrual cycle, periods are just one of the phases of the menstrual cycle where there’s a monthly bleeding from 2 to 7 days. During each menstrual cycle, your ovaries release an egg  and the lining of the uterus thickens to support the growth of the baby. But, if the pregnancy doesn’t happen, the lining breaks and sheds off along with the blood. This cycle repeats again each month.

Menstrual cycle is driven by hormones. These hormones which control the menstrual cycle are mostly released from the pituitary gland and the ovaries to release certain hormones responsible for carrying out the regular menstrual cycle.

Let’s learn about 4 phases of Menstrual cycle:

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Menstrual phase

The menstrual phase or the phase where you get periods is the first phase of the menstrual cycle. As the egg released by the ovaries isn’t fertilised, the hormone levels change and cause the endometrial lining of the uterus to shed. The thickened lining of your uterus is now no longer needed to support a pregnancy, so it breaks and sheds through the vagina along with the blood and mucus.

Follicular phase

This phase of the menstrual cycle ranges from the  starting of the periods until the ovulation.This phase typically marks the development of the follicles inside the ovaries and occurs generally from days 6 to 14. During this phase, the hormone estrogen rises, which helps the endometrium lining to thicken. Another hormone called — follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is released which helps the follicles in your ovaries to mature.

Ovulation phase

The rising estrogen levels during the follicular phase bring the ovulation phase. The rising level of estrogen triggers the pituitary gland to release the luteinizing hormone (LH). A surge in this hormone causes ovulation, which means one matured egg gets released into the fallopian tube to get fertilized by a sperm.

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If you will pay attention to certain physical changes, like a little rise in basal body temperature or egg white like discharge. By looking at these changes you might be able to tell that you’re going through an ovulatory phase. The ovulation phase is also important as during this phase you have the most chances of getting pregnant.

Luteal phase

After the egg is released out of the follicle, it changes into the corpus luteum. Corpus luteum releases progesterone and some estrogen. This helps in the maintenance of the thickening of the uterine lining. If you get pregnant, the corpus luteum remains and maintains the uterine lining but If you don’t get pregnant, the corpus luteum would be degraded and resorbed. This will lead to decrease in progesterone levels and will prepare the uterus to shed the lining.