Hormones and Fertility in Female Menstrual Cycle

When you feel it’s time to conceive a baby, you need to pay closer attention to the menstrual cycle and fertility. To start, the menstrual cycle starts by preparing your body as it releases the egg monthly, to achieve pregnancy. Hormonal functions facilitate the transitions from one phase to the next.

Understanding the Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle has four phases. The length of each phase can vary from person to person, and can also change over time and with age.

1. Menstrual phase – The first part when a woman has her period. This begins when the egg does not get fertilized in the previous cycle. The uterine lining, along with the unfertilized egg, breaks down and exits through the vagina in the combination of blood, mucus, and uterus tissue. We call this the menstrual period, which usually lasts for 3 to 8 days.
2. The follicular phase – This phase happens simultaneously with the menstrual phase. The pituitary gland releases the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). which prompts the ovaries to produce about 15 to 20 mature eggs, encased in its own follicle. These follicles then produce estrogen and stimulate the uterine lining to thicken, thus providing the nutrients needed by the fertilized egg. This phase typically takes 10-14 days. It ends when ovulation takes place.
3. The ovulation phase – When the ovary releases a mature egg, the ovulation phase begins. The egg journeys from the ovary, down to the fallopian tube, then into the uterus. At any time, the egg can meet its partner sperm and get fertilized. The egg can only survive for 24 hours and if it does not get fertilized, it will disintegrate.
4. The luteal phase – This is the last phase when implantation takes place. Progesterone is released and keeps the uterine wall thick for the fertilized egg to implant and develop into an embryo. Typically, the luteal phase lasts about two weeks.

Which Phase of the Menstrual Cycle is Associated with Fertility?

Let’s find out the connection between the menstrual cycle and fertility. Your fertility window is during the ovulation phase, but since it’s difficult to predict exactly when ovulation happens, it usually occurs 10 to 16 days before your next menstrual period. This means getting pregnant is not far away. But to find out exactly when you are fertile, you need to know the number of days your menstrual cycle entails. The whole menstrual cycle takes about 28 days. When the egg is not fertilized, the estrogen and progesterone levels drop, repeating the menstrual phase. However, you can still track your ovulation if you have an irregular cycle. There are tools that allow you to do that.

The Ovulation Calculator

The ovulation calculator helps you estimate your most fertile days. The information you provide needs to be accurate to come out with dependable results. You just need to enter the first day of your period and the average length of your menstrual cycle. The days highlighted shows the best time to get pregnant. Having sex often especially within the 3 days before ovulation and on the day you ovulate optimizes your chances to conceive.

The Menstrual Cycle Fertility Chart

Remember, your menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your menstrual period (full bleeding). Charting your menstrual cycle every day of your cycle is foundational to your fertility awareness- getting more in touch with your body and your cycle. One method of employing the menstrual cycle fertility chart is the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) wherein it assesses your gynecological health by charting your cervical mucus and the color, size, and shape of your cervix. It also tracks your basal body temperature to determine your menstrual cycle fertility days, thus allowing conception to be easy.

What are Menstrual Cycle Hormones?

There are three major menstrual cycle hormones that are directly responsible for fertility: estrogen, progesterone, and luteinizing hormones. Your body shows daily signs of hormonal levels.

• Estrogen – During the menstrual cycle, estrogen levels rise and fall twice. The first rise is during the mid-follicular phase and then drops after ovulation. This is followed by a secondary rise during the mid-luteal phase and a decrease at the end of the menstrual cycle. Estrogen dominates the first part of the menstrual cycle;
• Progesterone – Progesterone helps prepare your body for pregnancy by stimulating the glands and forming new blood vessels. This gives way for implantation by a fertilized egg. Progesterone dominates the latter part of the menstrual cycle.
• Luteinizing Hormones (LH) – The luteinizing hormone (LH), is the catalyst that moves the ovary to release the egg. LH is largely produced during the mid-menstrual cycle and is responsible for ovulation. Ovulation prediction kits measure the LH level.

What is Hormone Balancing Cream?

Progesterone and estrogen hormone ratio are very important. If you feel you are experiencing symptoms of hormonal imbalance, have yourself tested to find out, because there will be chances they’re not. There is a natural way to help create hormonal balance, the hormone balancing cream. The natural progesterone cream comes to the rescue by restoring your body’s progesterone to estrogen ratio.

What’s the Best Natural Progesterone Cream?

The best natural progesterone cream should be one that assists your body’s natural progesterone levels. It also aids to maintain a healthy lining of your uterus. Make sure that the product is safe, containing scientifically validated and organic ingredients. There should be no artificial colors, fragrances, paraben, and gluten. Natural is best!