HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE

The Menstrual cycle is as a result of  Hormonal changes a female's body undergo for reproduction, it's a signal sent by the brain to the body to prepare itself for pregnancy. And this is easier to understand when you track the very first day you see your period in a month down to the first day the next period begins.

I'd love to share two facts about the number of eggs in the ovary and the menstrual period/bleeding. This series promises to be so interesting fam, follow me.

DID YOU KNOW?

That around 20 weeks into gestation (while in the womb) some 7 million immature eggs have already been formed in your ovary as a female & this decreases to around 2 million by the time you are born, and 300,000 by the time you have your first period. On average, one egg matures and is released during ovulation each month after menarche. 

Secondly, the total blood loss over the course of the period of menstruation is around 2-3 tablespoons but secretions of other fluids can make it seem more..

WHAT THEN IS MENSTRUAL CYCLE?

The MENSTRUAL CYCLE is a series of natural changes in hormone production and the structure of your Uterus and Ovaries that makes pregnancy possible. The menstrual cycle is made up of distinct phases. The exact timing when each distinct phase begins is quite different for every woman and can change over time as they grow older.

Menstrual cycles normally range from about 21 to 38 days. 

According to Wikipedia, Only 10-15% of women have cycles that are exactly 28 days. Also, in at least 20% of women, their cycles are irregular. This means that, they are longer or shorter than the normal range. Usually, the cycles may be different the most and the intervals between each periods are longest in the years immediately after menstruation starts (menarche) and before menopause.

The menstrual Cycle will not be possible or complete when the required hormones are not been secreted properly and at the needed time.

The hormones responsible are: The Luteinizing hormone and Follicle-stimulating hormone, which are produced by the pituitary gland, promote ovulation and stimulate the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone stimulate the uterus and breasts to prepare for possible fertilization.

THREE THINGS THAT BRING ABOUT THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

1. The Brain: There are two structures in the brain. The pituitary gland and the hypothalamus & they are solely responsible for triggering the hormones involved for reproduction.

2. Structure Of The Ovaries: Each month, one of the ovaries releases an egg— this is a phase in the menstrual cycle called ovulation. 

3. Structure Of The Uterus

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE(LENGTH):

So for you to practice your menstrual tracking successfully, you will need a calendar or a phone Menstrual tracker.

To begin calculate accurately, mark the very first day you see your period on the calendar or tracker, the first day is the Start of Your Menstrual Cycle, then you will keep marking the following days up to when the next period starts. 

NOTE: The day before your next marked period is the end of the previous months Menstrual cycle. In between those days, another phase of your menstrual cycle surges out.

If you've done this marking as explained, you've successfully learnt how to calculate your menstrual cycle.

PS: I wouldn't want you to think that the menstrual cycle is just all about your menstruation (the phase when you bleed each month). No, it's much more than that believe me. 

SIMPLIFIED PHASES OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE:

Aside, your menstrual period/bleeding, there are still some things that occurs beginning from the brain, to the ovaries and then the uterus.

Alright, let's say you have a 5days flow of period and a 28days menstrual cycle:

-1st-5th DAY

The first day of menstrual bleeding is considered Day 1 of the cycle.

Anyways, your period/bleeding may last 3-8days, "Anything below 3days  and anything above 8days is Abnormal".

-6th-14th DAY

Once the bleeding stops, the uterine lining becomes thicker and enriched in blood and nutrients, it begins to prepare for the possibility of a pregnancy. This can be seen as your FERTILE WINDOW.

-14th-25th DAY

Around this 14th as your mark your calendar, an egg is released (Ovulation) from one of the ovaries and it begins to journey down the fallopian tubes, and if the Father sperms are present in the fallopian tube at this time, fertilization can occur. Thereafter, the fertilized egg will travel to the uterus and attempt to implant in the uterine wall.

-25th-28th DAY

Here if the egg that journey to the fallopian tube didn't find any sperm, no fertilized or implantation does not take place, then hormones will signal the uterus to prepare to shed its lining, and the egg breaks down and is shed along with lining a your MENSES.

The next cycle begins again  the 1st of your next menstrual bleeding.

THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE:

1. Your menstrual cycle can say a lot about your health so it's important you know how your Menstrual Cycle works so you can pin point any irregularities.

2. Tracking your menstrual cycles can help you understand what's normal for you.

3. It helps you know the time you are ovulating.

4. Understanding how to calculate your cycles will help you determine an average length of your cycle so you can approximate your most fertile days and also know your safe period.

In conclusion: Knowing how to calculate your cycle will help you recognize if there be any changes such as a missed period or unpredictable menstrual bleeding and irregular cycles. Understanding your cycle will build your confidence as a lady when asked related questions.

Menstrual cycle irregularities usually aren't serious, sometimes they can signal a very serious health problems. To understand  about menstrual irregularities see my post on Why you keep having an irregular menstrual cycle

Thank you for checking in. Please don't forget to leave a comment, share and check out my other posts for  highly informative content.

Stay Blessed

FNF