| The
Menstrual Cycle: Overview
What
is ovulation?
When
a young woman reaches puberty, she begins to ovulate -- a process in
which a mature egg cell (also called an ovum), ready for fertilization
by a sperm cell, is released from one of the ovaries (two female reproductive
organs located in the pelvis). If the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell
as it travels down the fallopian tube, then pregnancy occurs and it
becomes attached to the lining of the uterus until the placenta (an
organ, shaped like a flat cake, that only grows during pregnancy and
provides a metabolic interchange between the fetus and mother) develops.
If the egg does not become fertilized as it travels down the fallopian
tube on its way to the uterus, the endometrium (lining of the uterus)
is shed and passes through the vagina (the passageway through which
fluid passes out of the body during menstrual periods; also called the
birth canal), a process called menstruation.
As
the average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days (starting with the first day
of one period and ending with the first day of the next menstrual period),
most women ovulate on day 14. At this time, some women experience minor
discomfort in their lower abdomen, spotting, or bleeding, while others
do not experience any symptoms at all.
A woman
is generally most fertile (able to become pregnant) a few days before,
during, and after ovulation.
What
is menstruation?
Menstruation is one part of a woman's menstrual cycle which includes
the shedding of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) that occurs throughout
a woman's reproductive life. With each monthly (on average) menstrual
cycle, the endometrium prepares itself to nourish a fetus, as increased
levels of estrogen and progesterone help to thicken its walls. If fertilization
does not occur, the endometrium, coupled with blood and mucus from the
vagina and cervix (the lower, narrow part of the uterus located between
the bladder and the rectum) make up the menstrual flow (also called
menses) that leaves the body through the vagina.
When
does menstruation begin?
On
average, menarche (a young woman's first menstrual period) occurs between
the ages of 12 and 14 years old - generally two years after her breast
budding (average age 10 to 12 years old), and, in most cases, not long
after the onset of pubic hair (average age 12 years old) and underarm
hair. Stress, various types of strenuous exercise, and diet can affect
the onset of menstruation and the regularity of the menstrual cycle.
The
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that
a young woman consult her physician if she has not started to menstruate
by the age of 16, and/or if she has not begun to develop breast buds,
pubic hair, or underarm hair by the age of 13 or 14.
How
long is a menstrual cycle?
For
menstruating women, an average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days - starting
with the first day of the last period (which, on average, lasts six
days, with some women having a very light flow and others having a very
heavy flow) and ending with the first day of the next menstrual period.
However, the length of women's cycles varies, particularly for the first
one to two years after menarche (a young woman's first menstrual period).
Women may have cycles as short as 23 days, or as long as 35 days. However,
anything that deviates from this range is considered abnormal and may
require medical attention.
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