The different phases of the menstrual cycle

By: TATJANA MARKS

WHAT IS THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE?

The menstrual cycle is a monthly cycle in which a woman’s uterus prepares for a fertilized egg to settle. The uterus is also called the womb and is the part of a woman’s body in which babies grow. Most women start experiencing their menstrual cycle between the ages of 10 and 15 until they are in their 40s or 50s. The menstrual cycle has four phases and lasts around 28 days.

THE MENSTRUAL PHASE

The first phase is called the menstrual phase and is usually called the period. The period is the part of the cycle during which women experience blood flow out of their vagina. It usually lasts about three to seven days. Day 1 of the menstrual cycle is therefore the first day of bleeding a woman experiences during one of her cycles.

THE FOLLICULAR PHASE

The second phase is called the follicular phase and is the part of the cycle during which the female body prepares for pregnancy. The follicular phase includes the menstrual phase, so for a 28-day cycle, it would last from day 1 to day 13. Women have eggs inside their bodies which can grow into babies if they are fertilized by sperm. During each cycle, one egg becomes ready to be fertilized.

THE OVULATION PHASE

The third phase is the ovulation phase. This stage of the cycle is only around one day long and happens around halfway through the cycle, so for a 28-day cycle, it would happen on day 14 (14 days after the first blood flow). During this stage, the egg has finished being prepared and is ready to be fertilized. Women are most likely to become pregnant if they have sex before or during the ovulation phase. Sperm can survive inside the female body for up to a week, so if a woman has sex a few days before the egg is ready to be fertilized, the sperm can ‘wait’ inside her body for this to happen.

Because the length of a menstrual cycle varies between women, the time when they are most likely to become pregnant also varies between them. If on average you have a period every 28 days, you ovulate around day 14 and you have the highest chance of becoming pregnant if you have sex between days 11 and 14. If you have a short cycle of around 24 days between two periods, ovulation happens around day 10 and you are most likely to become pregnant if you have sex between days 7 and 10. If you have a longer cycle of around 35 days, ovulation happens around day 21 and you are most fertile between days 18 and 21. It is important to remember that these are just probabilities. You are not guaranteed to become pregnant if you have sex during these periods and you may also become pregnant if you have sex outside these periods, it is just less likely.

THE LUTEAL PHASE

The final stage is called the luteal phase. It lasts from day 15 to day 28. What happens during this stage depends on whether the egg was fertilized by a sperm. If it was fertilized, the egg moves into the uterus and eventually turns into a baby. If it was not fertilized, the lining of the uterus is shed through the vaginal opening, the period starts, and a new menstrual cycle begins.

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LADIES HEALTH

ADVICES TO LADIES

To maintain a healthy vagina you must know what to do to avoid infection and it is equally important to educate your sexual partner on some of them to also help you help the vagina.

Here are some few things you can do or avoid.

1. FINGERING

During foreplay or romance, as part of it some people insert their finger or fingers into the vagina. The question is, how many people wash their hands before sexual intercourse? Some people do not even keep their nails clean so it gathers a lot of germs and during the fingering, these germs are deposited in the vagina, thereby, leading to infection. Same thing apply to autopleasure acts or masturbation.

2. ANAL SEX

I am not here to tell anybody to have anal sex or not to but I simply want to draw the attention of those who engage in anal sex with the opposite sex that it is dangerous to have anal sex and continue having penovaginal sex. If this is done, the penis will pick bacteria from the anus and deliver them to the vagina even if you are using a condom....which will lead to infection.

3. Quest to make the vagina TIGHT

Some guys complain bitterly about the vagina of their sexual partners. They complain that it's too big and they no more feel any sensation during intercourse. Some ladies are therefore pushed to find a quick solution and in the process some use herbs or other substances in the vagina with the hope of making the vagina tight. Some of the substances cause infection or sepsis. Some of the herbs can cause the vagina to get tighter to the extent that penetration is no more possible. This will require treatment.

4. DOUCHING

Some parents, when bathing for their baby girls put warm water in a milk tin or dip a towel in the warm water and pour the water through a hole made beneath the tin or squeeze the water out of the towel into the vagina of the baby. This is so WRONG as it can damage the hymen.
Some parents also insert ginger or pepper or both into the vagina of adolescents as a form of punishment. This is so WRONG as it can lead to infection.
Some people are use to bathing by adding dettol or other detergents to the water and they put this solution inside the vagina with the help of sponge or towel or just the hand with soap to clean the vagina. This is so WRONG as it will change the normal flora in the vagina, leading to infection.

5. USE OF WATER CLOSET

Some people have the habit of not sitting on the seat of the WC when using it so they end up urinating on the seat. The possibility of picking infection when using it in that condition is high. Don't let your pant be at the thigh level when using the WC especially the public ones as the inner of the pant may rub the surface of the WC. Where the water is not running and people have used but have not flushed and you don't have any choice but to also use it, use enough toilet roll to cover before using the WC to avoid any splashes on the vulva.

6. WASHING AND DRYING

Develop the habit of disinfecting your panties frequently, depending on the number of pants you have. Keep exclusive panties to wear whenever you are menstruating and don't mix those panties with your regular panties. Pay particular attention to those panties when washing. Ensure that the panties are made of cotton and are dried in the sun or well ironed to kill germs.

7. CHANGE OF SANITARY PADS

Some people try to economize the use of their sanitary pads so during the period they tend to still wear the pad because there is little or no blood. This is so WRONG as it can lead to infection.

NB: If there is any bad scent from the vagina or there is a discharge coming from the vagina then it might be an infection which you have to have it treated.
Help save the vagina by ensuring that you get the message to as many friends as possible. Help save the vagina by getting the message to your sexual partner or sisters.
Your Good Health is My priority.