Whether you are trying to get pregnant or avoiding it, it’s important to make sure that your menstrual cycles fall within the realm of ‘normal’. Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are exactly 28 days long, with ovulation occurring on day 14 – most people fall somewhere within the range of 21 to 35 days.
In order to understand the health of our cycles, we need to know the four parts of the cycle, what’s normal, and when to talk to your health care provider.
Menstruation – This is the shedding of the lining of the uterus, and it happens any time an egg is released and not fertilized. It generally lasts 3-7 days, with varying flow. If you have extremely heavy or light flows, or they are accompanied by intense pain, you may want to talk to your HCP to rule out issues such as endometriosis.
Follicular Phase – During this phase, the lining of your uterus rebuilds, and the follicles on your ovaries grow and mature. It starts at the beginning of you period, and lasts for up to about 25 days. Having a long follicular phase isn’t usually a concern, so long as you do ovulate at the end. However, if your follicular phase is short, and you’re ovulating before day 10, you may want to check in with your HCP in case there is a hormonal imbalance.
Ovulation – This is the magical moment when your ovary releases a mature egg (or more, in rare cases). The only real concern with this phase is if it doesn’t happen regularly. If that’s the case, your HCP may want to do some tests to figure out why.
Luteal Phase – This is the time when conception can occur. Fertilization generally occurs in the fallopian tubes shortly after ovulation. The egg then makes its way to the uterus, where it may implant (if fertilized). If that happens, progesterone will support the embryo as it begins to grow. If there is no pregnancy, progesterone levels will drop off between 10 and 16 days after ovulation, bringing us back to menstruation. If you find that you have a short luteal phase (less than 10 days), you will want to talk to your HCP when trying to get pregnant, as your body may not have enough time for the embryo to implant and take hold.
