Every woman's monthly cycle has its own individual characteristics. But there are common features of a normal menstrual cycle. If a woman has violated these basic features, it suffers from its reproductive function. Most of these changes involve a violation of hormonal background.

The normal menstrual cycle

The menstrual cycle is a normal physiological process with cyclic changes in a woman's body. In the menstrual cycle are the following steps:

• oocyte maturation in the ovary, confined to a particular vial (follicle); This process occurs in the first half of the cycle on the first day (the first day of menstruation) and at 14-16 days; follicular maturation occurs under the influence of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), the pituitary gland (the main endocrine glands in the body, which has a direct impact on the production of sex hormones) and female sex hormones estrogen; in the same period, under the influence of estrogen loosened and expands the internal lining of the uterus, preparing to accept a fertilized egg;
• ovulation - rupture of the follicle and release of an egg in the fallopian tube or abdominal cavity, where it joins with the sperm (fertilized); ovulation occurs on day 14-16 of the menstrual cycle under the influence of follicle-stimulating hormone and estrogen;
• education in the ground breaking of the follicle temporary endocrine gland - the corpus luteum, which releases the female sex hormone - progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology ; corpus luteum formation is influenced by other pituitary hormone - luteinizing hormone (LH), which together with the estrogen a woman's body prepares for pregnancy; If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum is reduced in size and in its place there is only a small scar; This period lasts for 28-30 days 14-16 of the menstrual cycle; as the hormonal support for the preparation of the body for pregnancy is terminated, there comes the rejection uterine lining that is menstruating, and simultaneously begins a new menstrual cycle.

A woman should not just know about your menstrual cycle, it must maintain a permanent record that would allow it to continue to use features of the cycle for protection from unwanted pregnancy or, conversely, to be more likely to conceive a child.

Ovulation - the best time for conception

The most optimal time for conception - the day of ovulation and a day after it. Some gynecologists are added by this time another day as an error in the calculations. Sexual contact, which occurs as a result of fertilization of the egg, it is possible for a few days before ovulation, because sperm remain viable for about 5 days, and it can "wait" release of the egg. In order to properly calculate the time of conception, it is necessary to know the signs of ovulation.

Signs of ovulation are pain in the abdomen in the middle of the menstrual cycle, increased libido, mucous discharge from the vagina. Confirm ovulation Ovulation - How to determine as accurately as possible?   You can with the help of ultrasound, using a home test lab (in a drugstore special test strips are sold for this purpose), and the basal body temperature in the rectum (the woman can teach a gynecologist).

If a woman really wants a baby, she should know that smoking, drinking coffee and inhibits follicular maturation at first, and then the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for the first days and weeks of pregnancy. It has the meaning and the nature of power: women should eat more plant foods and some cut meat intake.

Safe sex - is also very important

If the woman is well studied your menstrual cycle, it can use its features to practice safer sex Safe Sex - Myth or Reality? . Time for safe sex is divided into two periods:

• a period of relative sterility - this is the first half of the menstrual cycle, before ovulation, at this time in a woman's body is not the egg, and therefore have nothing to fertilize; period is called a relatively sterile because of sexual intercourse that occurred during this period, yet can lead to fertility: the sperm, "wait in the wings";
• the period of absolute sterility - this time from 3 days after ovulation and before the end of the menstrual cycle; in this period, the egg is absent and will not be soon, so there is no chance of the sperm of her "wait."

Calculation of menstrual periods

It's complicated. First, you must carefully record all the details of the menstrual cycle for at least six months. After that choose the shortest and longest menstrual cycle, short-consuming number 18 - the day of the turns dangerous period, for example, 28 - 18 = 10 (the 10th day of the menstrual cycle). From a long time-consuming number 11: 30-11 = 19 (the 19th day of the menstrual cycle). It turns out that a dangerous period will be from the 10th to the 19th day of the menstrual cycle The days of the menstrual cycle: Four phases .

This method is good only in the case where the length of the menstrual cycle has no marked differences, otherwise it becomes fragile.

Know the features of the menstrual cycle should be every woman.

Galina Romanenko

It turns out the woman who is well-versed in the peculiarities of their menstrual cycle, feels more secure than women who do not delve into the process. After all, in life there are all sorts, including extreme situations (for example, forgot to take the pill hormonal contraceptive) and the menstrual calendar helps make the right decision.

The periods of the menstrual cycle

In the menstrual cycle there are two periods:

• the first period - the first day of menstruation to ovulation (usually mid-cycle); this time in the ovary under the influence of female hormones estrogen and pituitary hormones ripen a follicle, which contains the egg; at the time of ovulation, the egg follicle breaks and released from the ovary into the abdominal cavity or fallopian tube;
• Second period - from the moment of ovulation Ovulation - How to determine as accurately as possible?   before the first day of the next menstruation; this time on the site of the ruptured follicle forms a temporary endocrine gland - the corpus luteum that produces the female sex hormone progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology Which prepares internal genital organs of women in pregnancy, to help in this process and pituitary hormones; If pregnancy does not occur, then it rejected overgrown under the influence of hormones the mucous membrane of the uterus and bleeding starts (menstruation).

How and why you need to keep a calendar of menstruation

To learn to determine what day of the menstrual cycle The days of the menstrual cycle: Four phases A woman should know the signs of ovulation. Every woman's ovulation is manifested in different ways. Most often, women do not feel the time of ovulation, but sometimes she has a slight momentary pain in the lower abdomen on one side. At this time, women may receive an increased sex drive and vaginal mucus. If ovulation takes place without any sensation, its presence can be determined by measuring the temperature in the rectum (basal temperature, it is measured using special techniques) or simply calculated.

The fact that a normal woman's menstrual cycle usually lasts for a certain time. In most cases the 28-day cycle, with ovulation occurs in the middle of the cycle, at day 14-15. There are cycles lasting 21 days and 35 days - this is very individual. Sometimes, during normal fertility menstruation in women occur at different time intervals. It is also a variant of the norm, but it is difficult to establish the day of menstruation.

Calendar of menstruation is conducted in order to calculate the time for safe sex or, conversely, to conceive. In extreme situations (for example, if the condom broke) the woman who keeps a calendar of menstruation, do not panic, but calmly calculates what day it is, how big is the probability of getting pregnant, and only then take immediate action.

In addition, at different menstrual cycle doctor must know exactly timing the onset of menstruation and her character, that is, the duration, the degree of blood loss, pain. With proper and orderly conduct of the calendar menstruation immediately visible deviation from the normal menstrual cycle: menstrual irregularities, too large or small volume of lost blood, the duration and intensity of pain.

If the calendar is being menstruation in order to prevent an unwanted pregnancy or conception, the calendar marked all the days of menstruation and ovulation day. If a woman has a menstrual problems, apart from that in the days of menstruation should be celebrated and nature of menstruation. Generally note the intensity of bleeding (very weak, weak, medium, strong, very strong), and painful menstruation. All the marks made with the help of special icons (circles, squares, dashes) - every woman can think of them for themselves.

How do I use the calendar to calculate the time of menstruation safe sex and conception

To do this, keep a calendar of menstruation for at least six months and sometimes a year. The calculation will be true only when the regular menstrual cycle with small deviations. The required time is calculated based on the fact that the egg from the ovary after living day (another day taken as a correction of a possible mistake), the sperm in the genital tract of women live mainly in three days, but in some cases they may live, and six days.

The calculation of the best time for conception is carried out by a special formula. Take two menstrual period - the shortest and the longest for six months or a year. From a short period of consuming the number 18 (the first day it will be the best time for conception), from the long - 11 (the last day of the period). For example: 26 - 18 = 8 (the 8th day); 30 - 11 = 19 (19th day). That is, the probability of conception will be from 8 to 19 day menstrual cycle.

Time for safer sex Safe Sex - Myth or Reality?   divided by the time relative and absolute sterility. Time relative sterility - this time, only when the egg matures (before ovulation) and sperm may well wait for the time of its maturity. Thus, the further the time of sexual contact is from the time of ovulation, the safer. Time two days after ovulation and before the first day of the next period of time is considered an absolute sterility, as there is no egg, and she will mature soon.

Calendar of menstruation should lead every woman with the appearance of her first menstrual bleeding.

Galina Romanenko