Female Cycle: Understanding the female cycle
Whether for the purpose of contraception or if you want to have children: A woman should be well versed in the nature of the female cycle. Here you can find out the basics about your period.
Every woman’s cycle is different
There is no such thing as a typical menstrual cycle. Every woman has her personal menstrual cycle, which is sometimes subject to major fluctuations depending on age and external influences. It is therefore not possible to make any general statements about THE woman’s cycle. A period of four to seven days is most common, and cycle lengths of 23 to 35 days are considered normal. Usually, the first day of bleeding is counted as the start of the cycle. The last day before the next bleeding accordingly marks the end of the menstrual cycle.
The female cycle and its fluctuations
Often, however, the cycle is also subject to varying degrees of fluctuation. In about 60% of women, the cycle length fluctuates by more than a week over the course of a year, and in a third of women by as much as two weeks. Any changes in the length of your period should not unsettle you. You are completely normal. By keeping a cycle calendar you can get a better picture of your cycle. Simply use our free service for this.
1st cycle phase: egg maturation phase
The cycle can be divided into two phases. The first phase is called the maturation phase. It extends from the day of the first menstrual period to ovulation. During this time, an egg cell is produced in one of your ovaries and at the same time a new layer of mucous membrane is formed in the uterus so that the fertilized egg cell can nest and is well “cushioned”. The egg maturation phase is completed with ovulation. The matured egg is then released from the ovary and travels down your fallopian tube toward the uterus. The duration of this first phase of menstruation varies greatly and is unpredictable.
2nd cycle phase: When the egg cell has been fertilized…
After ovulation, it is only possible for about 24 hours for the egg cell to be fertilized. Since sperm can survive in a woman’s body for around three to five days, the maximum period during which a woman can conceive a child is six days. That is the five days before ovulation plus the day of ovulation itself. If the egg cell is fertilized, there is a 25-30% chance that it will implant itself in the uterus. Result: The woman is pregnant and her menstrual cycle is now interrupted until after the birth.
3rd cycle phase: If no fertilization takes place…
The second phase of the cycle, following ovulation, lasts until the start of the next menstrual cycle if fertilization has not taken place. This phase is relatively constant and is not subject to major fluctuations. It lasts about twelve to sixteen days and during this time the uterine lining is broken down and then shed with the menstrual period. The menstrual fluid consists of the shed lining of the uterus and the blood of the upper uterine tissue.