What Does Your Menstrual Cycle Say About Your Fertility
Your menstrual cycle is much more than a monthly occurrence; it is an essential aspect of your reproductive wellbeing. Knowing what your menstrual cycle reveals about your fertility might help in understanding your chances of conception. This article discusses the various phases of the menstrual cycle and their effect on your fertility and explains why tracking your cycle is vital to planning or avoiding pregnancy.
Menstrual Cycle Overview
Typically lasting 28 days, the menstrual cycle is a women specific phenomenon that can be split into multiple stages that encompass an important aspect of biological health which enables pregnancy.
Menstrual Phase
Most women will experience this phase between 3 to 7 days and during this time the body will shed the unfertilized egg as the uterine lining thins out in preparation for the next cycle. If there is no pregnancy, then the woman will menstruate in this phase and get rid of the unfertilized egg.
Follicular Phase
The start of every woman’s period marks the onset of this phase and along with ovulation comes its finish. As a result of the stimulation from the pituitary gland, follicles in the ovaries start to grow in response to the respective hormones released. Out of those growing follicles, one will eventually go through the stages to become a fertilizable egg.
Ovulation Phase
Ovulation is the phase where an ovary releases an egg, which then moves through the fallopian tube. This is during most fertile period of the cycle. The chances of getting pregnant during this phase gets easier by having intercourse at this period.
Luteal Phase
The luteal phase is the phase that begins after ovulation has occurred. The corpus luteum is formed by the ruptured follicle which produces progesterone responsible for preparing the uterine lining in case a pregnancy takes place. If fertilisation fails to take place, the breakdown of the corpus luteum leads to the onset of your period.
Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation: The Key to Fertility
Having a regular menstrual cycle is healthy. Considerably impacts ovulation is the menstrual cycle which is dependent upon age. The ovulation window happens inbetween day 12 to day 16 of a 28 day cycle. Tracking your period can make getting pregnant much easier.
How Irregular Menstruation Impacts Fertility
Predicting ovulation may be difficult with an irregular menstrual cycle, which can make conception more challenging. An irregular cycle caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid issues, significant weight changes, and other factors might make it more difficult to determine the precise timing of ovulation.
What Happens with Longer Cycles
Having long cycles can limit ovulation, making regularly scheduled periods more difficult to achieve. Conceiving may be more challenging if ovulation is unpredictable or delayed. Irregular and longer cycles are often associated with PCOS.
What Happens with Shorter Cycles
Especially to those cycles shorter than 21 days, it is possible that the thinning out and shedding of the uterine lining is occurring too rapidly, precluding successful implantation of a fertilized egg. Consistently observing short cycles may suggest some hormonal imbalance.
Monitoring Menstrual Cycles to Enhance Fertility
Menstrual tracking is one of the most reliable ways of understanding and exploring one’s fertility. By monitoring certain rhythms, one can recognize the fertile window within the cycle. There are many ways to track the rhythm.
Calendar Method
This is the easiest method for tracking your menstrual cycle. You can estimate when you ovulate by marking the first day of your period and counting the days until the next one. This method is most effective for people with consistent cycles.
Basal Body Temperature
This method involves taking your temperature immediately after waking up every single day. This method helps identify the fertile window as a small rise in temperature occurs after ovulation.
Ovulation Prediction Kits
Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) are designed to detect the surge in luteinising hormone (LH) which occurs just prior to ovulation. These kits will aid in determining the best time for conception.
What Do Changes in Your Menstrual Cycle Mean for Your Fertiility
Your menstrual cycle holds a lot of information relative to your fertility health. Changing these variables helps a person identify when there are potential issues.
late or Missed Periods
Consistently experiencing late or missed periods could suggest hormonal imbalance or a more serious issue such as an anovulation disorder. If these symptoms persist, you should seek medical attention.
Light or Heavy Periods
Experiencing very light or heavy menstrual periods may suggest underlying hormonal and uterine concerns. If you notice any changes in the flow of your periods, it’s advisable to reach out to a medical professional.
Painful Periods
Heightened menstrual cramps or discomfort may result from Endometriosis or Fibroids and may pose a risk to one’s fertility. Seek medical attention if you feel your menstrual pain is significantly worse than it used to be.
Hormonal Changes Affecting Fertility
An imbalance in menstruation-related hormones like estrogen and progesterone could hinder ovulation and significantly lower fertility levels. Elevated prolactin and irregular thyroid levels are other common hormonal issues that could hinder childbearing abilities. Consider seeking medical attention for these changes if cycles become irregular, acne is experienced, or unexplained weight changes occur.
How Age Impacts the Menstrual Cycle and Fertility
Aging normally causes an alteration in the menstrual cycle frequency. Typically, women notice a decline in the total number of available fertilizable eggs, thus lowering fertility rates. During the late thirties and the early forties, many women report observing irregular cycles coinciding with a reduced likelihood of conception as older age begins to deteriorate egg quality.
Steps to Take When You Have Concerns Regarding Fertility
Reach out to a healthcare professional if you suspect there may be an issue concerning your fertility or menstrual cycle as they are equipped with the right tools to carry out hormone levels tests and ultrasounds to fetch potential underlying problems.
Final Thoughts
Every woman knows their reproductive system, and therefore the phases of the their menstrual cycle with proper tracking alongside awareness of any changes equips a woman to monitor and manage her fertility health. As discussed above, if any worrying signs are presented, a woman should seek professional help when addressing fertility issues.