What Causes Period Pains But No Period?

If you’re suffering from period pains but no period, you would probably like to know what creates them. More importantly, you would probably like to know how to get rid of those unwanted aches and pains. In order to do that, though, you need to understand the causes of the problem.

The Two Biggest Causes:

There are two big causes of period-like pains, such as bloating and cramping, without actually having any bleeding. One of those possible causes is that you could be pregnant. The early stages of pregnancy can often feel similar to having your period. You could experience bloating, muscle aches, cramps, headaches, nausea and more. You also might experience some bleeding, but not all pregnant women do.

The other big cause of having pain without the actual bleeding of a period is that you could simply have PMS, or Premenstrual Syndrome. Almost all women experience bloating, nausea, headaches or other symptoms just prior to their period. However, the exact symptoms can vary in type and severity from month to month.

What You Can Do About It:

If you could potentially be pregnant, you should definitely get confirmation from a doctor. Also, if you have a family history of any sort of reproductive disorder, such as uterine cancer or ovarian cysts, you should consult your doctor. It’s important to rule those causes out.

If you determine that you are just having problems with PMS, you have a lot of things that you can do to fight those problems. The best option, however, is to use all natural treatment methods. Many medications don’t treat the whole problem or only treat it temporarily. Natural treatments, on the other hand, can help you to build up your body’s defenses and regulate your hormone levels, eliminating most of your PMS symptoms.

Mineral, Vitamin and Herb Treatments:

As far as vitamins and minerals go, calcium, magnesium, iron and folic acid are all important for your health, especially around period times. Together, they have the ability to regulate hormones, regulate blood flow, replace lost nutrients, relieve cramping and prevent mood swings. Not only that, but they don’t have harsh side effects, generally.

Herbs are just as important for a balanced body. Chasteberry and evening primrose are two of the best. They can really help you to retake control of your own body. That way, you can get rid of your period and PMS pain.

There are many supplements that contain these components. One of the best is Period Vitamin, which contains each of the elements above. It also contains white willow bark, which is a natural pain relief herb, and a lot of other natural components designed to support a woman’s health.

Other Steps:

Although you can get a great supplement like Period Vitamin, you also need to take other simple steps to relieve PMS and period pain. For example, reducing your stress levels and getting plenty of sleep can make a huge difference in a positive way. Eating a balanced diet can also help you to control hormone levels, reduce water weight gain and control other symptoms. So, you don’t just have to live with having period pains but no period.

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Ovulation Calendar - Predicting Fertile Period

Ovulation calendar helps women determine the most fertile period of their monthly cycle. This is determined in order to plan or avoid pregnancy. To make use of this calendar, a woman must understand the process of ovulation.

Phases of a Woman’s Cycle

It is important to understand what happens during the cycle. There are three phases that constitute a complete menstrual cycle. They are: pre-ovulation phase, ovulation phase and luteal or post-ovulation phase.

The period or the cycle starts with shedding of the lining of the womb. This is the first day of the period and the first day of bleeding. At this time, the eggs present in the woman’s ovaries start developing or maturing. In preparation to receive a fertilized egg, the lining of the uterus starts thickening. This is the follicular or pre-ovulation phase. This phase is not very fertile but there are chances of conception taking place. This phase lasts for an average of 10-12 days.

During the ovulation phase, ovulation is most likely to occur and hence it is the most fertile period in a cycle. In this phase, the developed egg or follicle bursts open and is released into the fallopian tube. This usually happens mid-cycle, say on the 14th day of a normal 28-days cycle. 2-3 days before and after ovulation are the most fertile days.

In the post-ovulation phase, the egg is either planted in the uterus after being fertilized with a sperm or it is not fertilized. If it is not fertilized, the follicle breaks down and again sheds the lining of the uterus, which has gone unused. Thus the cycle begins again.

Usage of Ovulation Calculator

To use an online ovulation calculator, simply enter the first day of your last period, the average total duration of your cycle and click on ‘view Calendar.’ This will give you your personal dates of ovulation and the most fertile days.

Changes during Ovulation

Besides being aware of your fertility with the help of an ovulation calendar, a woman can know about the same, through some less obvious but significant changes in her body during the cycle. These are:

Basal Body temperature charting: The body temperature of a woman increases at the time of ovulation. The woman should chart her body temperature at the same time of the day for about two months. She will notice a pattern, where the temperature will be higher by 0.4 to 0.6 degrees, around mid-cycle. This indicates the ovulation phase of her cycle.

Cervical mucus analysis: A woman can predict ovulation by observing the color, consistency and volume of cervical mucus. At ovulation, cervical mucus or fluid, will increase in volume, will be more sticky and stretchy, and will look white or creamy in color.

Cervical position: Just before and during ovulation, the cervix is very high up. It feels wet and is wide open. At other times, the position changes to low and it feels dry and closed.

So, if a woman is aware of her fertility period, she can plan sexual intercourse at such a time to conceive. On the other hand, if a woman wishes to use this knowledge as a natural birth control method, she can avoid sexual activity during this time to avoid getting pregnant.

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Most Common Causes Of An Irregular Period

Periods can sometimes be a real pain. Headache, stomachache and general fatigue can be possibly acquired when having your period. These periodic menstrual bleeding can cause major discomforts; and things can only get worse once it becomes an irregular cycle. Having an irregular period is one of the most common menstrual complaints heard from women all over the world. Women generally have 11 to 13 menstrual periods in a year. You may have observed a different pattern with the occurrence of more or fewer menstrual cycles; and it is possible that what you are experiencing is an irregular menstrual cycle. If you want to overcome repetitive episodes of irregular period, this article will be quite useful.

What Are The Most Common Causes Of An Irregular Period?

The most common stages for women to experience an irregular menstrual cycle is at the onset of puberty, during the teenage years, and at the initial phases of menopause. At these times, your body is adjusting to the changes in hormones that control your menstruation. The irregular period is simply considered the result of the body’s transition reaction to the new hormone fluctuation.

Stress is another common cause of having an irregular period. When there is stress, whether physical, mental or emotional, the body’s response would be to produce a hormone called cortisol. This hormone, in turn, may affect estrogen, progesterone and DHEA production, all of which play a role in preventing irregular menstrual cycle.

Other common causes of irregular period episodes are excessive exercise, eating disorders and illness. Though most causes are not harmful, eating disorders and illness are alarming causes of irregular menstrual cycle that require immediate medical attention. Two health issues associated with irregular period occurrences are polycystic ovarian syndrome and uterine abnormalities, such as endometriosis. Polycystic ovarian disorder is also a leading cause of infertility. Endometriosis can affect fertility; it can also cause very painful periods. You should track your cycles and let your doctor know when large variances of irregular menstrual cycle occur so you can be certain that an illness is not the main cause.

What Can You Do About An Irregular Period Or Irregular Menstruation Cycle?

Depending on the cause of your irregular period, there may or may not be much you can do about this. Irregular menstrual cycle can be normal to newly menstruating girls because their menstrual cycles still fluctuate. Over the first two years, periods tend to adjust and gradually become more regular each succeeding month. Also, menstrual cycles are expected to become abnormal again during the pre-menopausal stage, which may occur as early as the late thirties, until menopause.

However, if there is an underlying medical condition that is causing your irregular period, then receiving adequate treatment for the condition should help get your periods back on track. If you find your irregular menstruation cycle becoming more annoying, there are some helpful alternatives you can do to regulate your hormones, such as the following: 

• Reduce your stress levels. Take time to meditate, relax or just hang out. This may help change your period into a normal cycle.


• Avoid excessive exercise. Although regular exercise can keep you fit, exercising too much can also pose a risk to your health. If you are an active athlete, try to lessen or cut back a little bit of your level of exercise.

There are also a few medical treatments that may be helpful in regulating your period. Here are some of those:

• Hormonal Contraceptives: They are often used for managing irregular period episodes. These contraceptives are usually available by prescription and come in oral, patch, ring and injectable forms.


• Hormonal Supplements: If you have specific hormonal problems that cause menstrual irregular period episodes, hormonal supplements is the right aid to regulate your periods.

Therefore, continuous episodes of a menstrual irregular period are conditions that need full attention. Although the following alternatives are helpful to regulate your hormones, asking help from your doctor is highly recommended.

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First Period After Pregnancy - Helping You Understand It And Deal With It

The experience of first period after pregnancy is not the same in every woman. Some women will have their first period four to six weeks after delivery, while other women will have their first period four to six months after delivery. There are a number of factors that affect the return of the ovulation cycle. Your understanding of these factors will help you deal with your first period after pregnancy.

Breastfeeding And Periods

Every woman who is breastfeeding or is going to breastfeed her child must understand that breastfeeding is going to affect her ovulation cycle. Some women who are breastfeeding will not experience any period while they are nursing their child. On the other hand, some women will start bleeding after four to six months of delivering.

Breastfeeding can cause irregular periods in nursing mothers. When your body is producing milk, your pituitary glands will produce more prolactin, a substance known to suppress ovarian functions. However, some women will not experience irregular periods while breastfeeding, while some will find that they are ovulating in some months and not in others. So there is no need to worry if you are having irregular period after pregnancy. If you are still confused you can always consult your doctor for more information.

Your First Period After Pregnancy

While the first period after pregnancy varies in women, most women will find their first period weird. You have not been ovulating during your pregnancy period, so when you start bleeding vaginally you might feel a little strange. Your first period is likely to be heavy and painful. Remember that your body has not been ovulating for the past nine or more months; therefore the first period is going to be heavy on your body.

However, you must not confuse your vaginal bleeding after delivery with your first period. After delivery your body will discharge the blood, tissue and mucus that had formed the lining of your uterus. Bleeding would start heavy and red in color. You might even see few small clots on your pads or in the toilet. There is nothing to worry; however, if you see large clots you must consult your doctor.

Your first period after pregnancy might signal the return of your fertility, but is not always the case. However, if you do not wish to get pregnant during this period you should use start using contraception.

Life after pregnancy is going to be different for sure. You have your bundle of joy and you also have to think about other factors in your life, like caring for your body, the right time to resume work after pregnancy, etc. Read as much as you can on life during and after pregnancy as this will help you a great deal in dealing with various issues. The more information that you have the better you will be in dealing with your first period after pregnancy and other post pregnancy issues.

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3 Ways to Slow Down Bleeding Caused by Menstrual Cycle

Every month, many women suffer with heavy bleeding from their monthly menstrual period. Sometimes the heavy bleeding can be because of fibroids. Although fibroids are quite common, many times, the doctors won’t remove them. The consequence is that many women will suffer each month with excessive bleeding.

Heavy bleeding can be somewhat manageable when a woman doesn’t have any children but adding children to the equation makes it even more difficult to deal with this each month. Every bit of energy is needed to take care of the kids and dealing with heavy bleeding is something every woman can do without.

Here are 3 tips that can help slow down heavy bleeding and also give women more energy when they need it most.

The first tip is to cut back on sugar. If sugar is cut out completely … at least during the first three days of the menstrual cycle… this should help to slow down the bleeding and not sap so much energy from the body.

The second tip is to exercise. Exercise for some reason slows down the bleeding… plus, it will increase oxygen to the brain and provide the body with more energy. The problem with this is that when kids are involved, there is not much time to exercise… so tip number three might be the best solution.

Tip number three is to drink raw apple cider vinegar. This is a solution that is proven to work to slow down the bleeding associated with menstrual cycles. It is especially great when a woman has to be out in public and it is her 2nd or 3rd day of her period… when most women bleed the most… and she just doesn’t want to be embarrassed by being in the bathroom the whole time.

Add one tablespoon of vinegar to about 16 to 20 ounces of water and drink it throughout the day. If the bleeding is extra heavy, drink two glasses of water with 1 tablespoon of raw (must be “raw”. Braggs raw apple cider vinegar is awesome) apple cider vinegar a day.

Some people can’t stomach the taste of the vinegar, so instead, put it in a glass of apple juice (preferably sugar-free) or grape juice and drink it that way… to hide the strong taste.

The amount of pads or tampons should increase a great deal after drinking the vinegar for only one or two days… and it is not uncommon to go through only a pad or two after the 3rd day of the period. When vinegar is first used, don’t be surprised if more clots are discharged as the body might experience some detoxification. This is normal. This is a good thing as it is cleaning things out… detoxifying the system.

An added bonus? Taking apple cider vinegar on a daily basis is proven to increase ones energy.

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What to Expect When Going Through Menopause

Menopause, also known as the “change of life,” presents itself differently in each woman. While your sister may experience hot flashes and sleep problems, for example, you may be feeling a new sense of freedom and energy, and your good friend may be hardly aware of her own change. Menopause is a normal, natural part of life and aging. Technically, it is the time of your last menstrual period, but symptoms may begin several years before that point with certain symptoms lingering for months to years after. These symptoms may be caused by changing levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

This period of change is called the “menopausal transition” or “perimenopause.” As mentioned above, it may begin several years before you experience your final menstrual period. Perimenopause lasts for about one year after your last period, so after one full year has passed since your last period, you can say that you have been “through menopause.” Postmenopause follows and continues through the rest of your life. The average age at which women go through menopause is 51, but some women may have their last period in their 40s while others have it later into their 50s.

Smoking and certain types of surgery can lead to early menopause. Having a hysterectomy (surgery to remove your uterus) will stop you from having any future periods, which is the definition of menopause. The difference is that, after a hysterectomy, you may not experience the symptoms of menopause since your ovaries are still producing estrogen and progesterone. When your ovaries start to make less estrogen, symptoms may appear. In some cases, your ovaries may be removed with your uterus. This is called an oophorectomy, and you will have menopausal symptoms afterward-regardless of your age-since you will have had your main supply of estrogen removed.

Signs

Since estrogen plays a role in many areas of the body and menopause decreases the amount of estrogen produced, a broad range of symptoms can occur due to menopause. Here are some areas in which symptoms may appear as a result of menopause, aging, or a combination of the two:

• Changes in your period. Your period may be shorter or longer than usual, and it may not come as regularly as you’re used to.


• Hot flashes. This is a sudden rush of heat in the upper part or all of your body that may wake you up from sleep and last for about 30 seconds to 10 minutes.


• Problems with your bladder and vagina. Your genital area may become dryer and thinner, making sexual intercourse somewhat uncomfortable, and you may find it harder to hold in urine as long as you used to.


• Sleep. It may become more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night.


• Sex. You may feel more or less interested in sex, and you cannot get pregnant after one full year after your last period. You can still contract STDs, so be safe and smart about sexual partners and experiences.


• ood changes. You may become more irritable due to stress, family changes, depression, or feeling tired.


• Your body seems different. You may gain weight, develop memory problems and stiff muscles and joints, and your skin may get thinner.

Other factors

Two main problems that may not be as obvious may develop as you go through menopause:

• Osteoporosis. Since estrogen has a role in controlling bone loss, the loss of estrogen during menopause causes more bone loss than can be replaced. After some time, bones can become weak and break more easily-a condition known as osteoporosis. You can talk to your doctor about getting a bone density test as well as learning about ways to prevent or treat osteoporosis.


• Heart disease. Aging and losing estrogen due to menopause contribute to a higher risk of heart disease. You may gain weight and develop high blood pressure, which increase the risk of heart disease. Have your blood pressure and levels of triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, and LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol checked regularly by your doctor. Talk to your doctor about ways to protect your heart during this time.

Staying Healthy

Staying healthy after menopause may require some changes in lifestyle, including the following:

• Do not use tobacco. If you do smoke, it is never too late to reap the benefits of quitting.


• Eat a diet low in fat and high in fiber with a lot of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods, as well as all the important vitamins and minerals.


• Get enough calcium and vitamin D to maintain healthy bones. If you do not get these through your diet, take supplements.


• Figure out what a healthy weight is for you, and make an effort to maintain that weight.


• Do weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, or dancing on at least 3 days of the week to maintain healthy bones, and be physically active in other ways to maintain your overall health.

Other tips:

• If your doctor prescribes medication, be sure to take it as directed.


• If you experience vaginal discomfort, use a water-based lubricant (not petroleum jelly) or a vaginal estrogen cream or tablet.


• Get regular check-ups that include pelvic and breast exams, Pap tests, and mammograms. It is also a good idea to get screened for colon, rectal, and skin cancer. If you notice that you have a lump in your breast or a mole that has changed, contact your doctor immediately.

Coping 

Although menopause is not a disease and should not be treated, certain symptoms like hot flashes may bother you. Some ideas for coping with such symptoms may include:

• Keep track of when you get hot flashes using a diary. This will help you figure out whether they are brought on by a specific trigger that you can begin to avoid.


• If possible, go somewhere cool when you feel a hot flash begin.


• If you have noticed that night sweats wake you, keep your room cooler and use a fan.


• Dress in layers that are easily removable if you get too warm.


• Using sheets and clothes that allow your skin to “breathe” can make you more comfortable.


• When a flash begins, drink something cold such as water or juice.  

Hormone Changes

You may have heard varying opinions as to whether you should get hormone therapy to relieve some of your symptoms. There is information to help you decide, but it may still be a difficult decision to make. While you go through perimenopause, some doctors will suggest that you take birth control pills to help with heavy, frequent, or unpredictable menstrual periods. The pill can also help alleviate hot flashes and, of course, prevent pregnancy.

If your symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, or vaginal dryness are bothering you and interfering with your lifestyle, your doctor may recommend taking estrogen and possibly progesterone, which is referred to as “menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).” You may hear people call it hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as well. Taking these hormones can help with your symptoms and prevent bone loss due to menopause.

Although taking hormones may seem like the perfect solution, it does come with certain risks. Because of this, the FDA suggests that women use the lowest dose that works for the shortest amount of time necessary. Unfortunately, your symptoms may return as soon as you stop taking hormones. Talk to your doctor or health care provider if your symptoms have been bothering you. He or she can help you decide how to best manage menopause with the options and treatments available. You can see a gynecologist, geriatrician, general practitioner, or internist to help you, but make sure that whomever you choose is supplied with your medical history and your family medical history, which includes your risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, and breast cancer.

Remember that your decision is never final. You can and should review your choices with your doctor during your yearly checkup. You may develop different needs over time, and since the medical field is always growing, our knowledge about menopause and its treatments can change as well.

Phytoestrogens 

Phytoestrogens are estrogen-like substances found in some cereals, vegetables, legumes (including soy), and herbs. They might work in the body like a weak form of estrogen. Researchers are trying to discover whether phytoestrogens relieve some symptoms of menopause and if they might also carry some risks. Be sure to tell your doctor if you decide to try eating a lot more foods that contain phytoestrogens or to try using an herbal supplement. Any food or over-the-counter product that you use for its drug-like effects could change how other prescribed drugs work or cause an overdose.

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Your Period in Your 30s, 40s, and Beyond - What You Need to Know Between Puberty and Menopause

For many women, the only times we receive much education about our periods are at puberty and menopause. You might assume that after the teenage years, your period should be on a regular cycle, unchanged until menopause, but this isn’t true. Along with the menstrual cycle disruptions of pregnancy, birth control pills, and illnesses, you may have very different periods through the different decades of your reproductive years.

The 20s: Typically, by the time you reach your 20s, the hormonal chaos that accompanies puberty has mostly subsided, and your hormone levels are as balanced as they will ever be. There is no one “right” menstrual cycle, but the average time between one period and the next for a woman in her 20s is 32 days. Periods may be very predictable-like clockwork, even-especially if you are using birth control pills.

This doesn’t mean, however, that you should necessarily be concerned if your periods are irregular. A woman’s menstrual cycle is a complex interaction between her reproductive system; hormones produced in the pituitary glands, hypothalamus and thyroid; and the environment. Stress, diet, and the amount of sleep and exercise you get all influence your cycle, too.

When should you be concerned? Generally, these are signs that you should see a health care provider:

Severe PMS: If you are bothered by physical changes or changes in your mood consistently each month, see a health care provider to rule out underlying causes, such as clinical depression, uterine fibroids, or endometriosis.

Painful periods: Some discomfort is normal, but if the pain is severe, consistent, and not relieved by an over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen, see a health care provider to rule out an infection, scar tissue, or another underlying cause.

Missed, or infrequent, periods: If you are sexually active, have a pregnancy test done first. An occasional missed period, even if you aren’t pregnant, shouldn’t be a concern. They can be caused by too much exercise, stress, and certain medications. If you have gone more than 3 months without a period and are not pregnant, see a health care provider to rule out a hormone imbalance, ovarian cysts, or certain hypothalamus or pituitary conditions.

Unusually heavy periods: If a pregnancy is possible, an unusually heavy period could be a sign of miscarriage. If you consistently have heavy periods, your health care provider may want to rule out endometrial cancer or an underlying thyroid or blood-clotting disorder.

These conditions are all treatable. Don’t be afraid to see your health care provider if you feel there is something unusual or wrong about the way your body functions.

The 30s: As you transition from your 20s to your 30s, and especially by the age of 35, your body begins to produce less estrogen. You may find that your menstrual cycle has shortened, from an average of 32 to 28 days. You may also notice shorter or irregular periods, increased symptoms of PMS, a heavier menstrual flow, or a combination of these changes. These hormone fluctuations are sometimes referred to as perimenopause, which simply means “the time around menopause.”

As our estrogen levels begin to decline, our fertility begins to decline as well. We may experience some of the changes associated with menopause, including the thinning and drying of vaginal tissue, breast tenderness, an increased buildup of body fat around the waistline, hot flashes, and night sweats. A woman may experience these changes for up to fifteen years before her last menstrual period. For some women, these body changes will be more severe during perimenopause than during menopause itself. In fact, seven to eleven percent of women in their late 30s will stop having periods.

If you are severely bothered by the hormone fluctuations and the body changes associated with them, you might first consider lifestyle changes to ease the symptoms. Eating well, getting moderate exercise, reducing your stress level, and getting adequate rest may make the symptoms more manageable. If lifestyle changes don’t solve the problem, you may want to see your health care provider and find out whether hormone therapy, either in the form of birth control pills to help regulate hormones or estrogen replacement therapy, is appropriate for you.

For some women, the perimenopausal years may mean changes in heart health. If you experience any heart symptoms, including skipped beats or moments of rapid heart fluttering, see your health care provider immediately to rule out an underlying heart problem. After you have had these heart symptoms checked out by your doctor, you may find that some heart symptoms become a consistent part of your cycle. Know your own body and what is normal for you.

The 40s: Women typically experience the body changes of perimenopause six to ten years before our menstrual periods stop. For most of us, this means we’ll experience perimenopause by our late 40s. Depending on family history and other factors, you may also stop having periods in your 40s. The average woman will experience shorter cycles. In contrast to what many of us experience in our 30s, you may also have lighter menstrual flows. Ovulation occurs less frequently than it did in your 20s and 30s, and fertility continues to decline.

If you haven’t already learned what to expect from your body during and after menopause, now is the time to educate yourself. If possible, talk to your mother, grandmother, and aunts about their experiences. Even if lifestyle changes worked well for you in your thirties, you may now want to talk to your health care provider about hormone replacement therapy.

Remember, too, that for many women, the transition from the menstrual to the post-menopausal years is a relief and has many positive aspects. Our bodies will change; this is inevitable. Suffering, physically or emotionally, because of these changes is not inevitable.

Women of any age should keep track of when our periods begin and end each month, and be aware of changes in our bodies’ rhythms. This way, when we do notice something unusual or bothersome, we’ll be better prepared to discuss the changes with our health care providers.

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Vaginal Discharge: Normal And Abnormal Types - Reasons Why Discharge Changes Colour and Smells

Vaginal discharge: Discharge is normal. What’s not normal is when it changes colour, increases in quantity, or turns smelly. How can you tell when vaginal discharge is not as it should be? As pointed out above, colour, quantity and possibly smell are sure signs that indicate abnormality. If you experience any of these symptoms you’re not likely to die from them, so not to panic. Symptoms as such are usually a result of infection, but there could be an even simpler explanation such like poor hygiene for instance being another cause. Either way both are common matters that are easily treatable, that is, if the unusual discharge is caused by improper cleansing of the vagina, and, the infection is a known one.

If infection has been determined as a sexually transmitted disease, it’s still curable, but likely to take longer to clear up than your common yeast infection. Length of time to treat an STD will depend on which STD it is and the stage it’s at. Infection of this sort left too long without treatment will worsen, so now, that one visit to a GUM clinic becomes one of many visits before you get the all clear.

Vaginal discharge serves a purpose – a sort of maintenance function in the female reproductive system if you like. Fluid created by glands inside the vagina and cervix flows out taking dead cells and bacteria with it. While bacteria and other is dealt with in this way, the vagina stays clean and protected from infection to a degree.

What does normal vaginal discharge look like? It’s usually an odourless milky whitish fluid, but it can appear a pale yellow too.

Not every woman’s discharge is the same; it varies from woman to woman. The normal colour can range from clear to a milky whitish, depending on the time in your menstrual cycle. When ovulating, breastfeeding, or sexually aroused, discharge can be plentiful and with slight changes, so allow for this before you go pulling your hair out with worry.

You know your own body, so if things turn different to what you are familiar with (colour, smell, or consistency) get it checked out. But before you go jumping the gun because you have an itchy vagina, or have vaginal burning, look towards hygiene first. Poor hygiene is popular for causing smell and for you to scratch. Bad hygiene doesn’t imply you are a dirty person – you can wash your vagina as many times in a day as you like (although not needed), but if not cleaned properly it can lead to odd things happening, even forming. For example: vaginal pimples, boils, or full on acne.

Causes of abnormal discharge

If normal bacteria inside the vagina which “all” women have become unsettled for whatever reason, it messes with normality thus causing abnormality.

Known causes which upset that balance:

Particular medications/drugs such like antibiotic or steroids can do this.

Bacterial Vaginosis: BV is a bacterial infection common in pregnant women or those who have multiple sexual partners, and is also the infection linked with a fishy smell.

Contraceptive pills

Cervical cancer

Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea

Diabetes

Scented soaps

Pelvic infection after surgery

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Trichomoniasis – Trich is a parasitic infection usually caused by having unprotected sex

Vaginal atrophy, which is thinning and drying out of the vaginal walls during the change of life (menopause.)

Vaginitis

Yeast infections

Types of abnormal discharge and possible causes

Bloody or brown discharge– Likely cause – Irregular menstrual cycles, or less common, cervical or endometrial cancer – Other Symptoms – Vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain.

Cloudy or yellow discharge– Likely cause – Gonorrhoea – Other Symptoms – Bleeding between monthly periods, painful when urinating.

Foamy, yellow or greenish discharge with a bad odour– Likely cause – Trichomoniasis – Other Symptoms – Pain when urinating with itch.

Pink discharge– Likely cause – Shedding of the uterine lining after childbirth (lochia.)

Thick, white, cheesy discharge– Likely cause – Yeast Infection – Other Symptoms – Inflammation, pain around the vulva, itching, and painful sex.

White, grey, or yellow discharge with fishy smell– Likely cause – Bacterial Vaginosis – Other symptoms – Itchiness, burning, redness and inflammation of the vagina or vulva. If you have reason to be concerned speak with your “doctor.” Going off advice from someone who means well may not be a healthy move.

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Menstrual Blood Clots - Should You Be Worried

Menstrual blood clots are a part of menstruation that rarely gets talked about. When menstruation gets talked about at all, other menstrual and premenstrual symptoms, like menstrual cramps and mood swings, are much more likely to get a mention.

Maybe that’s because menstrual blood clots don’t cause as much disruption or discomfort as a backache or bloating can.

Still, menstrual blood clots can be alarming, especially for young women who have just started menstruating.

So let’s take a look at this often ignored menstrual symptom.

Should You Worry About Menstrual Blood Clots?

No necessarily. Menstrual blood clots are usually nothing to worry about. In fact, in most cases, they are perfectly normal. A few quarter-sized, or smaller, blood clots in your menstrual flow just mean your body’s natural coagulation system is doing its job.

But, while menstrual blood clots aren’t usually cause for concern, there are certain times when you might want to talk to your doctor about them.

When Should You Be Concerned About Menstrual Blood Clots

These are some of the signs that you should talk with your doctor about menstrual blood clots.

* You have been passing blood clots for more than a day.

* The blood clots are large, bigger than a quarter.

* You’ve never passed menstrual blood clots before, so having blood clots in your menstrual flow is an unusual occurrence for you. Such changes in your menstrual cycle could be a sign of a more serious medical condition.

So, menstrual blood clots are usually a normal part of some women’s menstrual cycle. But it’s important to know when menstrual blood clots are a cause for concern, and to talk to your doctor if you believe menstrual blood clots are a sign that you have a more serious condition.

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Effective Herbal Remedies for Irregular Menstruation, Menstrual Cycle

Irregular menstruation can rise from a number of causes. Normally, the menstrual cycle of a woman occurs within an interval of 25-31 days. The period can be extended or shortened occasionally due to minor hormonal imbalances. In case of frequent irregularity in the cycle, like missing periods for months (other than pregnancy), periods occurring within very short intervals or extending for more than a week and heavy bleeding, one should seek proper medical consultation. It is commonly observed in women approaching menopause, and the condition is attributed to severe hormonal fluctuations of the body. Other physiological disorders may also result in irregular menstrual cycles.

Symptoms

1. Frequent alterations in the time period of menstruation.
2. Missing periods for months.
3. Heavy bleeding continuing for more than a week.

Causes

1. Hormonal imbalances in the body.
2. Cysts or tumors in the ovary
3. Approaching menopause
4. Over exercise
5. Taking contraceptive pills or hormonal tablets.

Herbal Remedies for Irregular Menstrual Cycle

Herbs are very useful in treating irregular menstrual cycles. One can regularize the cycle by following the simple and effective herbal remedies.

1. The herb Parsley is very effective in treating irregular menstrual cycles. Consuming a mixture of juices from parsley, carrot, beet and cucumber helps in normalizing the menses.

2. Tea made from fresh or dried Parsley leaves is equally beneficial in treating irregular menstrual cycles. Add 2 teaspoonfuls of parsley leaves in boiled water and keep it for half an hour. Strain the mixture and it is ready for drinking.

3. Asafetida is another popular herbal ingredient used to treat this disorder. A small amount of asafetida is fried in ghee and taken along with goat milk adding little honey. This is a very effective remedy to treat irregular periods.

4. Extract from the bark of Ashoka tree is very effective in controlling the menses. It stimulates the uterine walls and helps in normalizing the menstrual cycle.

5. Leaves of bamboo are often prescribed to regularize the menstruation flow.

6. The Chinese herb “Dong Quai”, popularly known as “female ginseng” is very effective in regularizing the menstrual flow. The herb is also beneficial in treating various symptoms of menopause.

7. Drinking Aloe Vera juice is another effective herbal remedy for irregular menstrual cycles. It controls heavy bleeding and regularizes the missed periods.

8. Drinking a decoction of ginger adding little honey is also beneficial in normalizing cycles.

9. Decoction of chicory seeds is very effective in normalizing menstrual flow in case of missed periods.

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Menstruation - Late Period and Missed Period

Whether you are sexually active or not, it is possible to miss a period or have one show up late. During your childbearing years, pregnancy is going to be the first thought, and it has a good chance of being right. However, there are other reasons.

Perimenopause: The time period leading up to menopause is going to have a strong effect on your menstrual cycle. You will miss periods, the time between them will fluctuate, and there will be times when you wonder if your period is ever going to stop. If you are in your late forties to early fifties, this could be the cause.

Polycystic Ovaries: Small cysts on your ovaries can throw off your hormone balance just enough to affect ovulation. Women with this problem may have as few as nine menstrual cycles per year. Most of the time, this is treated by diet and exercise, though surgery may eventually be required.

Pregnancy: If you’re sexually active and not in menopause, this is most likely the cause. In fact, even if you have no other symptoms, it’s a good idea to treat your body as if you are pregnant until you find out that you are definitely not. Don’t rely on a negative “at home” test, as the pregnancy hormones may not be enough in evidence to trigger those devices in the first few weeks.

Stress: There is not a system in your body that doesn’t have problems when stress levels are high. Stress hormones could negate reproductive levels. Any time there is a failure to ovulate for any reason, the uterus doesn’t know that it’s time to shed the lining.

Weight Issues: Both under and over weight women could have issues missed or late periods. By correcting the weight problem, the reproductive system can reset the cycle.

It’s not necessary to panic if you miss one period. If you aren’t pregnant, chances are pretty good that you will have one during the next cycle. If you miss more than one, or if there are other symptoms, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. This is in part to make sure whether or not you are pregnant. Even if you know you can’t be, the other issues may require medical intervention.

Make sure to tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you have, as well as what medications/supplements you take. Some medicines and a few supplements may change your schedule or temporarily stop it. If that is the problem, the doctor will probably change the prescription or advise you to stop taking the supplement.

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Tips on How to Stop Coming Too Fast When Having Sex

Coming too fast when having sex is an absolute nightmare, not only does it wreck your self esteem but the look of disapproval from your lover hurts like hell. Hopefully this article will make those looks a thing of the past by giving you two tried and tested methods of lasting longer in bed and stopping early ejaculation.

1. There is a new kid on the block when it comes to delay products, this market has been dominated with delay creams and delay sprays but now there is a delaying patch. You just pop this discreetly onto your arm and allow thirty minutes for the patch to release it’s stuff into your system then your ready to go. This stops you from coming too fast and maintains a better erection. The resuts are very good and can add a minimum of five minutes to your pleasure time.

2. The above is a very fast way of stopping early ejaculation but it’s expensive, so here is a free way to stop coming too fast called kegel exercises. These focus on building up your pc muscles and are so easy to do. Simply squeeze your muscles and hold for as long as you can then release, rest and do it again and again. After three or four days you will start to develop very strong pc muscles which you can squeeze during sex to hold off your ejaculation.

Both of the above have their plus points and minus points, the patches are a really cool invention but their price is high. The kegels are very effective but they take some hard work. Hope that article helps you stop coming too fast when having sex.

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Your Period in Your 30s, 40s, and Beyond - What You Need to Know Between Puberty and Menopause

For many women, the only times we receive much education about our periods are at puberty and menopause. You might assume that after the teenage years, your period should be on a regular cycle, unchanged until menopause, but this isn’t true. Along with the menstrual cycle disruptions of pregnancy, birth control pills, and illnesses, you may have very different periods through the different decades of your reproductive years.

The 20s: Typically, by the time you reach your 20s, the hormonal chaos that accompanies puberty has mostly subsided, and your hormone levels are as balanced as they will ever be. There is no one “right” menstrual cycle, but the average time between one period and the next for a woman in her 20s is 32 days. Periods may be very predictable-like clockwork, even-especially if you are using birth control pills.

This doesn’t mean, however, that you should necessarily be concerned if your periods are irregular. A woman’s menstrual cycle is a complex interaction between her reproductive system; hormones produced in the pituitary glands, hypothalamus and thyroid; and the environment. Stress, diet, and the amount of sleep and exercise you get all influence your cycle, too.

When should you be concerned? Generally, these are signs that you should see a health care provider:

Severe PMS: If you are bothered by physical changes or changes in your mood consistently each month, see a health care provider to rule out underlying causes, such as clinical depression, uterine fibroids, or endometriosis.

Painful periods: Some discomfort is normal, but if the pain is severe, consistent, and not relieved by an over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen, see a health care provider to rule out an infection, scar tissue, or another underlying cause.

Missed, or infrequent, periods: If you are sexually active, have a pregnancy test done first. An occasional missed period, even if you aren’t pregnant, shouldn’t be a concern. They can be caused by too much exercise, stress, and certain medications. If you have gone more than 3 months without a period and are not pregnant, see a health care provider to rule out a hormone imbalance, ovarian cysts, or certain hypothalamus or pituitary conditions.

Unusually heavy periods: If a pregnancy is possible, an unusually heavy period could be a sign of miscarriage. If you consistently have heavy periods, your health care provider may want to rule out endometrial cancer or an underlying thyroid or blood-clotting disorder.

These conditions are all treatable. Don’t be afraid to see your health care provider if you feel there is something unusual or wrong about the way your body functions.

The 30s: As you transition from your 20s to your 30s, and especially by the age of 35, your body begins to produce less estrogen. You may find that your menstrual cycle has shortened, from an average of 32 to 28 days. You may also notice shorter or irregular periods, increased symptoms of PMS, a heavier menstrual flow, or a combination of these changes. These hormone fluctuations are sometimes referred to as perimenopause, which simply means “the time around menopause.”

As our estrogen levels begin to decline, our fertility begins to decline as well. We may experience some of the changes associated with menopause, including the thinning and drying of vaginal tissue, breast tenderness, an increased buildup of body fat around the waistline, hot flashes, and night sweats. A woman may experience these changes for up to fifteen years before her last menstrual period. For some women, these body changes will be more severe during perimenopause than during menopause itself. In fact, seven to eleven percent of women in their late 30s will stop having periods.

If you are severely bothered by the hormone fluctuations and the body changes associated with them, you might first consider lifestyle changes to ease the symptoms. Eating well, getting moderate exercise, reducing your stress level, and getting adequate rest may make the symptoms more manageable. If lifestyle changes don’t solve the problem, you may want to see your health care provider and find out whether hormone therapy, either in the form of birth control pills to help regulate hormones or estrogen replacement therapy, is appropriate for you.

For some women, the perimenopausal years may mean changes in heart health. If you experience any heart symptoms, including skipped beats or moments of rapid heart fluttering, see your health care provider immediately to rule out an underlying heart problem. After you have had these heart symptoms checked out by your doctor, you may find that some heart symptoms become a consistent part of your cycle. Know your own body and what is normal for you.

The 40s: Women typically experience the body changes of perimenopause six to ten years before our menstrual periods stop. For most of us, this means we’ll experience perimenopause by our late 40s. Depending on family history and other factors, you may also stop having periods in your 40s. The average woman will experience shorter cycles. In contrast to what many of us experience in our 30s, you may also have lighter menstrual flows. Ovulation occurs less frequently than it did in your 20s and 30s, and fertility continues to decline.

If you haven’t already learned what to expect from your body during and after menopause, now is the time to educate yourself. If possible, talk to your mother, grandmother, and aunts about their experiences. Even if lifestyle changes worked well for you in your thirties, you may now want to talk to your health care provider about hormone replacement therapy.

Remember, too, that for many women, the transition from the menstrual to the post-menopausal years is a relief and has many positive aspects. Our bodies will change; this is inevitable. Suffering, physically or emotionally, because of these changes is not inevitable.

Women of any age should keep track of when our periods begin and end each month, and be aware of changes in our bodies’ rhythms. This way, when we do notice something unusual or bothersome, we’ll be better prepared to discuss the changes with our health care providers.

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3 Ways to Slow Down Bleeding Caused by Menstrual Cycle

Every month, many women suffer with heavy bleeding from their monthly menstrual period. Sometimes the heavy bleeding can be because of fibroids. Although fibroids are quite common, many times, the doctors won’t remove them. The consequence is that many women will suffer each month with excessive bleeding.

Heavy bleeding can be somewhat manageable when a woman doesn’t have any children but adding children to the equation makes it even more difficult to deal with this each month. Every bit of energy is needed to take care of the kids and dealing with heavy bleeding is something every woman can do without.

Here are 3 tips that can help slow down heavy bleeding and also give women more energy when they need it most.

The first tip is to cut back on sugar. If sugar is cut out completely … at least during the first three days of the menstrual cycle… this should help to slow down the bleeding and not sap so much energy from the body.

The second tip is to exercise. Exercise for some reason slows down the bleeding… plus, it will increase oxygen to the brain and provide the body with more energy. The problem with this is that when kids are involved, there is not much time to exercise… so tip number three might be the best solution.

Tip number three is to drink raw apple cider vinegar. This is a solution that is proven to work to slow down the bleeding associated with menstrual cycles. It is especially great when a woman has to be out in public and it is her 2nd or 3rd day of her period… when most women bleed the most… and she just doesn’t want to be embarrassed by being in the bathroom the whole time.

Add one tablespoon of vinegar to about 16 to 20 ounces of water and drink it throughout the day. If the bleeding is extra heavy, drink two glasses of water with 1 tablespoon of raw (must be “raw”. Braggs raw apple cider vinegar is awesome) apple cider vinegar a day.

Some people can’t stomach the taste of the vinegar, so instead, put it in a glass of apple juice (preferably sugar-free) or grape juice and drink it that way… to hide the strong taste.

The amount of pads or tampons should increase a great deal after drinking the vinegar for only one or two days… and it is not uncommon to go through only a pad or two after the 3rd day of the period. When vinegar is first used, don’t be surprised if more clots are discharged as the body might experience some detoxification. This is normal. This is a good thing as it is cleaning things out… detoxifying the system.

An added bonus? Taking apple cider vinegar on a daily basis is proven to increase ones energy.

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How To Get Rid Of Leg Cramps - 5 Tips That Stop Leg Cramp Fast

Do you want to know how to get rid of leg cramps? You are most likely to experience a cramp because you have put your body and specially your leg through a lot of strain. Activities can include excessive standing, long walks or jogging.

Understanding Cramps

Cramps are basically painful sensations in your muscles due to contraction or over-shortening. When you strain yourself so much, you sweat and with that, you lose a lot of essential fluids, mainly sodium and potassium. The lack of these essential salts forces the body into producing lactic acid within the muscles, finally leading to cramps.

The weird part comes when you feel these cramps while resting. These kinds of cramps are called Nocturnal leg cramps. These are also the results of lack of essential fluids, not due to sweating but due to prolonged resting. What happens here is that when you have been in the same posture for a very prolonged period the blood fails to reach a few points which have been blocked due to your body weight and failing to provide those muscles with the minerals like potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium.

Stop Leg Cramps Fast

Cramps are very painful and disturbing, distracting you from whatever you were doing. So you need ways to get rid of these instantaneously. All you need to do is to follow these simple tips on how to get rid of leg cramps.

1. First thing that you need to do is to provide the problem areas with the essential salts that it needs. For this, you can try drinking water, milk or some supplements that can provide you with the required minerals.

2. Next you need to increase the flow of blood to these parts as soon as possible. For this you can use natural products such as menthol, phosphorous and Lachesis Mutus. These help to increase flow of blood. Menthol increases circulation of blood to this part, phosphorous helps in bringing regularity to your heartbeat, and Lachesis Mutus helps in thinning the blood and increasing its mobility.

3. Getting rid of the immense pain is a major part of the cure. For this, people normally use pain killers, which are more of pain givers than pain killers due to its side effects. So what you need is a safer way to reduce the pain. You can always go for Belladonna, a natural anesthetic, Rhus Tox, which is a plant that acts as a pain killer, or Naja, which runs directly to your nerves and reduces the pain.

4. A major part of every sense of tragedy in your life comes from your mind. Calming down is a very important part of getting over a pain. But when the pain is so bad, calming down is the last thing that comes into your mind. For this, you need anti-depressants such as a nice block of chocolate or some Ignatia plant which is a type of natural anti-depressants.

5. Lastly, you need to make these muscles move better. They have been jammed due to cramps. To do this you can use Cetyl Myristoleate, a type of natural lubricant and this is how you get rid of leg cramps.

When you look at the list above, you know it can’t be very fast. You should have thought about it before getting yourself a leg cramp. However, the good news is, a Health Institute has developed an ointment which is said to contain all the above mentioned substances. Do some online research and look for this ultimate product. Once you find it, you’ll never again in your entire life ask the question about how to get rid of leg cramps again.

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If You Have Ovarian Cysts, the Menstrual Cycle Will Tell the Tale

An ovarian cyst forms when an egg is released from the ovary during ovulation. In the days prior to ovulation, the follicle forms grow around the egg. However, in some cases, the follicle fails to break open and release the egg. What happens instead is that fluid remains and a cyst forms on the ovary. As this happens with ovarian cysts menstrual cycles may have sharp pains associated with them. However, there really are no early symptoms that a cyst is forming. For that matter, there are no signs that the cysts exist unless it’s accidentally discovered during an ultra sound for some other reason or they’re discovered in a routine exam. The doctor will probably watch it for a couple of months and make sure that it disappears on it’s own as it should.

Sometimes the ovarian cysts menstrual cycle will become spotty or even just the opposite, extremely heavy. Either of these situations could be a sign that you have cysts. If this type of situation continues, see your doctor to get an update on the status of your condition. Left untreated, it can grow into septated ovarian cysts that eventually have to be surgically removed. The masses can grow quite large and even mirror a pregnancy in size and symptoms.

Symptoms that you may have a larger spectated ovarian cyst include lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and extended abdomen. If any of these symptoms linger, see your doctor. The longer you allow this type of cyst to remain, the greater your chances of it damaging other organs or developing into a cancerous growth. This is not to scare you, but to make you aware of what could happen. In most cases, there is nothing cancerous or malignant about it.

Ovarian cysts menstrual cycles can be extremely short, extended, spotted, heavy or completely absent. Checking that your cycle is normal is one way of early detection in ovarian cysts. Additionally, if you have pain in your abdomen shortly after beginning or ending your cycle, this too could be an early indication that a cyst could be or is formed. Just remember, in many cases, there simply are no signs. They appear for no good reason other than you may be genetically dispositioned to cysts. Have your doctor watch it and don’t worry.

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Bloating Face Cure - The Causes of and Remedies For Bloating Face

Do you notice your face turning into a puffy moon? Don’t fret. There are easy, safe, and natural ways to restore the sleek and contoured face you once had. But before you take action, it is important that you learn and understand first the causes of facial bloating. That way, you know exactly what to do to get rid of that annoying puffiness. Discussed below are the causes of your bloating face and the corresponding remedy for each cause.

High Carbohydrate Intake

Ever noticed the changes in your face after a party or during holidays? Blame the carbs-or rather your cravings for carbs-for the bloating of your face. Eating too much carbs is a surefire way to get a bloated face since carbs contribute to water retention in the face.

What to do: Make lemonade your home remedy for reducing puffiness on your face. Mix 1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup with 2 tablespoons of lime juice or freshly squeezed lemon. Then add a pinch of cayenne pepper and 8 ounces of water. This concoction contains minerals such as potassium, d-glucarate, and d-limonene that are guaranteed to lessen the swelling of the face in just two hours. Drink this homemade lemonade before you eat breakfast and lunch.

Dehydration

The more you are dehydrated, the more likely you will have a bloated face. It is because your body compensates for the lack of fluid by storing more water in it. As a result, the face bloats.

What to do: Hydrate your body by making sure that you drink a minimum of eight glasses of water daily. Keep a glass or bottle of water near your bed so that you won’t miss a gulp before you sleep. In doing so, you will never have to worry again about your bloating face when you wake up the following morning. If you notice in the morning that your face has become bloated, drink a glass of water right away.

Also, cut back on your tea, soda, and coffee intake. The caffeine in these beverages causes you to urinate more often, making you dehydrate quickly. Just stick to plain water.

Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol is another culprit of facial bloating because it dehydrates your body. As mentioned earlier, dehydration makes your face look bigger.

What to do: Refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages. It’s a little sacrifice you need to do to get rid of your bloating face. Don’t worry; the sacrifice will be worth it.

Inadequate Diet

Most of the time, a bloated face is a telltale sign of nutrient deficiency in the body. Lack of vitamin C is the usual cause of facial bloating.

What to do: A simple way to get more vitamin C and make your face leaner is to drink watermelon juice. To prepare watermelon juice, put a slice of the fruit including the seeds in a blender and then extract the juice. In addition, you should also add more vitamin C-rich foods such as lemons, broccoli, and strawberries in your diet.

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Multivitamins and Supplements: How It Helps With Your Menstrual Cycle

One often unwelcome visitor that a woman has would be her menstrual cycle. Whether if it comes on a monthly basis, every other month, or on irregular instances, these biological phenomenon sends women to a plethora of often unpleasant experiences. Rather than just toughing it off, multivitamins fortified with various nutrients and other supplements can help get you through the struggles you have with your menstrual cycle.

Menstrual Cramps

The medical term for menstrual cramps is dysmenorrhoea. These are painful cramps that happen before or during menstruation. It is caused by contractions of the uterus, which is a hollow pear-shaped organ located below the abdominal area, that serves as a home for a developing fetus. When contractions become too strong the organ compresses nearby blood vessels which impedes oxygen supply. A brief loss of oxygen of the uterine muscles causes the pain. Some women are able to manage the pain, while others can’t even stand due to its intensity. If your diet is low on zinc, calcium, Vitamin E and B vitamins, especially B6, a good multivitamin supplement would help you relieve the cramps along with the bloating.

Mood Swings

When hormones goes out of whack during the menstrual cycle that is when mood swing happens. You could become sensitive, irritable, depressed or anxious. Getting cranky when your period comes is a normal thing, but this can be managed with vitamin B6, vitamin E and herbal supplements such as Black Cohosh, Dong Quai and Chaste Berry.

Delayed & Irregular Menstruation

There are times when your menstruation can be delayed or comes at irregular cycles. It can be caused by temporary hormonal imbalance, depression, stress and weight issues. Some multivitamin supplements contain the herbal extracts from a plant named Black cohosh. It is a uterine stimulant which promotes menstruation. This however should be avoided in pregnancy. That is why it is very important to check with your OB-GYN to know the things to avoid and what to take in.

A diet that is also deficient in vitamin B6 and zinc can also cause irregular menstrual periods. You might need to take supplements to correct your blood levels of these vitamins and minerals.

Confusion/Difficulty Concentrating

When temporary hormonal changes happen it’s highly likely that your nervous system also gets affected. B vitamins and some herbal extracts in plants such as Feverfew can help in managing confusion and problems with concentration. Magnesium can also help manage your oversensitive nervous system during this phase.

Excessive Bleeding

Some women suffer excessive bleeding during their period causing them to feel fatigued, cranky and pale due to the loss of iron in the blood. Maintaining a supplement with iron, along with vitamin C for better absorption will help restore iron into your system.

Acne

It is common to see occasional acne growth when you menstruate. You can either blame pollutants, but in this case you can put it on your hormones going a bit haywire. Aside from maintaining good hygiene, Vitamin A, C, E can has antioxidant which also helps clarify your skin.

These are just a few of the many menstrual issues commonly faced by women. But you can always prepare your body to manage it with a good brand of multivitamin supplement. One that gives extensive nutrients that helps a woman manage her own body issues.

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What Are The Cervical Mucus Stages?

A woman produces different quantities and qualities of cervical mucus at each stage of her menstrual cycle. The cycle affords the changes of the consistency of the mucus in relation to the woman body’s preparation to conceive. It is important that a woman is properly educated on the role of cervical mucus in her overall reproductive health. Cervical mucus stages allow the woman to know when she is fertile or able to conceive.

However, it is important to keep in mind that each woman’s menstrual cycle is different from one another. The quality and quantity of cervical mucus is determined by a lot of factors. It is important for a woman to properly observe the cervical mucus stages in order to familiarize herself on the patterns. This way, she will have an idea when her fertile days are by just checking the mucus.

There is a general progression that a woman can follow and customize it accordingly to the situation. Let us learn how mucus is produced by the cervix.

The production of mucus goes down right after the menstrual period. This is the part of the cycle where women say they feel dry. However, they will start observing mucus to appear in a couple of days or so. It may appear yellow or cloudy white and sticky when touched.

When a female is about to ovulate, the quantity of mucus being produced will increase. This will make women feel moister than the ordinary. The color of the mucus produced may appear cream-like. During ovulation, the color of the mucus will be like egg whites. The appearance is to protect the sperm as it is similar in pH level. The mucus is also an indicator that your body is producing eggs to increase the likelihood you will conceive.

The best way to maintain the consistency and quality of mucus is to remain hydrated. It makes sense because the mucus is made up of 90 percent water. It has trace contents of some minerals, amino acids and electrolytes. The primary function of the mucus when you are ovulating is to ensure that sperm is able to survive long enough to reach the egg and fertilize it.

Production of cervical mucus is also determined by some external factors such as stress, diet, medications, illness and travel. The differences in woman’s cycles determine the quality of mucus being produced. It is important that a woman observes her mucus to reveal a pattern to ensure proper reproductive health.

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Endometriosis Symptoms Checklist - Do You Have The Warning Signs?

There are a number of typical endometriosis symptoms which might indicate that you are suffering from this uncomfortable and often painful syndrome. If you are at all unsure, take a look at the list of symptoms below and if they seem familiar, it would be wise to consult your doctor before thinking about any form of treatment. With this condition, acting quickly is always a good idea and without action, endometriosis is likely to develop further and possibly lead to complications such as infertility.

Some Common Symptoms Of Endometriosis

1. Extreme Pain

Pain can be present throughout the monthly cycle but is usually far more severe around the time of the menstrual period. Pain could be in the general pelvic area,often in the lower back and sometimes in the legs or intestines. It is also common when passing a bowel movement or during intercourse.

2. Heavy Bleeding During Or Between Menstruation

It is common to have irregular periods when you have endometriosis. Sometimes, bleeding will occur during the middle part of the monthly cycle and it can be heavier than a normal period. Women often report that periods are much heavier and painful than what would be considered normal.

3. Bloating In The Abdomen

Swelling, discomfort and bloating are all common endometriosis symptoms. The bloated feeling is often accompanied by pain. The build up of gas can also lead to pain around the rectal area, particularly if there is a build up of endometrial tissue in that area. The bloating will often come and go over the course of the month but is usually reported to be worse around the time of the monthly period.

4. Fertility Problems

Women with endometriosis are prone to fertility problems due to the very nature of endometriosis. This condition causes the growth of tissue similar to that of the womb lining, but in inappropriate areas such as within the abdominal cavity. This can lead to scar tissue and can cause the organs to “stick together”. This in itself can cause pain and affect fertility for a number of reasons, such as the distortion of the reproductive organs and the blockage of the fallopian tubes etc depending on the location of the endometriosis. A history of ectopic pregnancy, chocolate ovarian cysts, miscarriage or uterine cysts are all possible endometriosis symptoms.

5. Miscellaneous

Other possible indicators which point to the fact that you may have endometriosis (especially when noted in conjunction with other symptoms) include fatigue, a reduced immunity and allergies which seem to worsen around the time of menstruation.

The aforementioned endometriosis symptoms will give you an indication as to whether you may have this condition. If you think this is a possibility, then visit your doctor and discuss your treatment options. There is no conventional cure for this condition although certain treatments will alleviate the symptoms. Natural treatment is believed to be a way of rebalancing the body and shrinking the endometrial tissue completely, but this does require a degree of work in the form of changing the diet and improving your lifestyle.

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Irregular Periods and Infertility

If you are trying to conceive and your menstrual cycle is outside what is generally considered the ‘norm’ then you have every reason to set about investigating why. With a normal menstrual cycle fertility has been shown to be four times greater than cycles which are ten days or more out of the norm.

A normal period length can vary anywhere from 25 to 35 days with the optimum length being 28 days. When your period differs from the norm it signals that your fertility is being compromised.

If you experience an irregular cycle every now and then it could be put down to things such as stress, strict dieting or perhaps lack of sleep. However, a consistent pattern of irregular cycles does require attention.

Any irregularity is telling you a story about your reproductive health and some of the symptoms outlined below, although troubling, can indeed be improved.

If you are experiencing short periods this can be a sign of a luteal phase defect. A luteal phase defect is when fewer than 12 days occur after ovulation before the next period commences.

Luteal phase defect can frequently be due to several interconnected factors. An inadequate level of progesterone can in itself be the reason for short cycles with the effect of things such as poor follicle production, inhibited implantation, and premature demise of the corpus luteum.

Long cycles, on the other hand, by their sheer infrequency offer fewer opportunities for conception attempts in any given year. Insulin resistance has been implicated with lengthy menstrual cycles and could signal an underlying metabolic anomaly. If your cycles are as infrequent as nine or less over a year then this can be indicative of polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Hormonal imbalance on the whole will negatively affect the reproductive system, in particular is the impact of excess estrogen which can cause heavy bleeding, spotting and clotting. Conversely, a lack of estrogen might result in light periods. You must consult a medical specialist if you are experiencing heavy bleeding as this could signify more acute reproductive issues.

Recording on paper the daily changes of your menstrual cycle is a good place to start in better understanding your cycle. Charting only takes a few minutes a day and can provide vital information about your fertility to you and your health care professional.

There are many ways of improving the balance of your hormones and subsequently the health of your reproductive system, not the least of which is by undertaking a preconception care program. Preconception care has been shown to improve the chance of conception by up to 80%. Following a highly nutritious diet, avoiding harmful habits like smoking and excessive drinking and supplementing for crucial elements such as zinc will have a direct positive impact on your chance of getting pregnant.

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Missing Menstrual Cycle - Are You Pregnant?

You wake up and you feel terrible. It takes you ten minutes to get the energy to get out of bed and if you didn’t have to go to the toilet, you might not get out of bed at all! After two trips to the bathroom, you get ready to have breakfast and it makes your stomach turn, so another trip to the loo is in order. No more breakfast for you. Your stomach is cramping and your breasts are sore. It feels like you might be getting ‘that’ monthly visitor soon, but only a spot or two shows up, except for some clear stuff. Wait a minute – vomiting, no period, peeing all the time. Could you be pregnant? It’s true, you are pregnant, you think. However a closer look at the symptoms might be in order.

Fatigue:

Being tired all the time can be a symptom of a lot of things, but in women it can be a sign of pregnancy. There is a lot going on in the body when a woman is building a baby and all this concentration can really wear someone out. Hormones rushing around, cellular activity, not to mention vomiting and sprinting back and forth to the bathroom is enough to make anyone want to crawl back into bed. Do not worry though, ladies, if you are pregnant, your energy will soon return with its normal gusto.

Nausea and Vomiting:

The hormonal shift in your body will change the way you eat as well. In the morning time, you might find yourself nausea and throwing up thanks to those pesky hCG levels. Physicians believe that the higher the levels of hCG cause nausea and that your susceptibility to actually vomit depends on how well you could hold back. These hormones also leave a weird metallic taste in your mouth. This is normal and do not worry, the nausea should leave you alone around four months.

Sore Breasts:

This is common in pregnant women. A woman’s breasts are tools of the trade, not just toys or useless flesh. They are there to provide milk for a child and in the process of making a baby, the breasts have to get ready to do their job. The hormones needed to do this can make them sore and growth can make them hurt also. Many changes will happen soon and buying a maternity bra can alleviate some of the pressure.

Vaginal Discharge:

If you are pregnant you might experience a whitish or clear discharge from your vagina. While this might not be a very pleasant thing to talk about normally, it should not be alarming as it is normal. It is nothing to worry about unless it has a strange odour, or is itchy or even is accompanied by soreness. This can affect your newborn and is definitely something to check out in the case that the discharge seems abnormal.

The Missing Period:

This is the most common of the early signs of pregnancy. In fact, besides being sick, a woman might miss most of the other symptoms altogether, until ‘that time of the month’ rolls around and there is no period. If your cycle is regular and suddenly stops, then there is a good chance you could be pregnant if you are sexually active.

Remember that these early signs of pregnancy are relative to who you are. You might find yourself only getting sick, or only missing your period – or not getting sick or missing your period at all. Either way, use your common sense and get a test if you have any of these symptoms together.

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Trying To Get Pregnant - The Menstrual Cycle And When You Can Get Pregnant

An average woman has a 28 day menstrual cycle, although others have longer and shorter cycles. The woman’s ovaries release one egg (or more) in the middle of the cycle. The release of the egg (ovulation) occurs on the 14th date of the cycle. When released, the egg travels through the fallopian tubes down to the uterus. The following could answer why you can’t get pregnant

What is a fertile day?

No one can pinpoint one exact date when a woman can get pregnant. But experts have provided the information we can use to calculate a woman’s fertile period in any one month.

Women’s menstrual cycles range between 23 and 35 rotations, with an average of 28. The first step is to understand the length of your menstrual cycle.

The first stage is when the woman begins to shed blood.

• Between the 5th and the 10th day from the first blood of menstruation, the uterus begins to prepare for the next menstrual cycle. Blood vessels are increasing in the uterine walls and filling with the blood that will bring the nutrients needed to nourish the fetus should fertilization occur.


• The egg is released from the ovary on the 14th day (for women who have a 28 date menstruation cycle) and begins to travel down the fallopian tubes. Once released, the egg can survive for 12-24 hours and disintegrate.


• The woman may get pregnant if she has sexual intercourse shortly before the egg is released or during the lifespan of the egg in the fallopian tubes.


• Once deposited in a woman’s vagina, sperms can remain alive and able to fertilize for up to 5 twenty four hour durations.

The information above suggests that the most likely period for a woman to get pregnant is from the time the egg is released and available for fertilization (on the 14th stage). The egg can survive for up to 24 hours, meaning that it is possible for pregnancy to occur on the when the egg is released day 14 and the following 15.

But in nature, things do not always work out as neatly as that. Besides, some women have the average cycle of a 28 period, on which the information above is based, and others have longer or shorter periods. These factors mean that although the sure time a woman who has a menstrual cycle of twenty eight can get pregnant is fourteenth and fifteenth, the fertile period can range from 10th-18th, taking in account the following factors:

• Sperms deposited in a woman’s vagina can stay alive in a woman’s body for up to 5 days. So the sperms deposited on 10th will still be alive in a woman’s body when the egg is released.


• Women with long cycles of up to 35 phases may release an egg in the middle i.e. the 17th which may remain alive up to 18th. A woman with this menstrual cycle will get pregnant if she had sexual intercourse any time between the 13th and 18th days.

That is why medical experts say that a woman’s fertile period lies between 10th and 18th, counting one to be the first day a woman get menstrual blood. The information above should help you calculate your own fertile period.

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Excessive Vaginal Bleeding: Its Symptoms and Treatment

Excessive vaginal bleeding for any reason including an abnormally heavy period is cause for concern for a woman at any age. Anything outside of a normal menstrual period can be alarming and the first thing to do is to understand the cause for this. While the uterus or vagina could be the obvious reason, there are chances that the excessive vaginal bleeding is from another tissue or organ. This must be diagnosed and controlled through treatment to stay healthy.

What causes the bleeding?

Normally, women go through a menstrual cycle involving a sequence of hormonal changes resulting in the release of an egg by the ovary. This egg could be fertilized and stay in the uterus, or the lining of the uterus could be shed as the menstrual period. This is usually seen as normal bleeding and could last from two to seven days for most women. On average, about five tablespoons of blood are shed. But when the bleeding is not normal and is far more than the average period, there could be several causes.

– Abnormal uterine bleeding or bleeding that is not because of the menstrual cycle

– In adolescent women, when no egg released during the menstrual cycle

– Pregnancy complications such as ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages

– Uterine fibroids

– Pelvic inflammatory disease

– Menopause

– Diseases of the female reproductive organs such as cancer, ovarian cysts, endometritis, vaginal infections

– Drugs

– Inherited bleeding disorders

– Trauma

The symptoms of excessive vaginal bleeding usually manifest as very heavy menstrual periods and stained clothes without warning, disruption in daily routine and tiredness.

While it may not always be an emergency, it is important to seek medical care preferably with a gynecologist, at the first sign of abnormal bleeding. If there are other symptoms with the bleeding such as dizziness, acute pain in the abdomen or fever, a thorough assessment will be necessary to avoid excessive loss of blood.

The physician will usually recommend exams and tests to diagnose the problem, besides studying the medical history and asking questions related to previous pregnancies, birth control being used, and history of bleeding disorders, number of children, current medication and surgeries undergone. A full pelvic exam is done as part of the physical examination. Some of the tests prescribed are:

– Pregnancy test

– Blood work to check for anemia and platelet count, clotting, thyroid tests

– X-rays and ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvic area

– Endometrial biopsy where tissue from the uterus is studied

Based on the results of the above diagnostic tests, one or more courses of treatment could be advised for excessive vaginal bleeding. These are:

– Taking care at home through rest and keeping track of the bleeding so that the physician can advise based on the amount of bleeding

– Medical treatment in the form of prescription hormones if there are hormonal irregularities to regulate the menstrual cycle. If there are other causes for bleeding such as infections or diseases, treatment is focused on those.

– Surgery if necessary

Meticulous follow up is a part of the treatment for excessive vaginal bleeding to ensure that it does not get worse, leading to anemia.

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Implantation Bleeding Or Your Period Early?

What is implantation bleeding? and how do you know what it looks or feels like?

Imagine this scenario, You’re trying for a baby, desperate to conceive. Your period is due in around a weeks time. You’ve been feeling quite crampy all morning, you go to the bathroom, and there it is, blood! Now you have start all over again. So you mark it down in your diary as an early period. and eagerly await for next month.

Over the next couple of weeks you start to feel fatigue setting in, you’re tired and yet you don’t know why. You may be feeling just a bit nauseas, with a stuffy nose.

All of these symptoms may be a sign that your last ‘period’ was really implantation bleeding. Did it happen around a week to a few days before your period was due? Was the bleeding quite light rather than a normal ‘flow’? Was the colour the same as your normal menstrual blood? Implantation bleeding normally produces a pink or brownish blood, more like a light discharge or spotting than a normal period. How long did the bleeding last for? A few hours, a couple of days?

IF the bleeding did progress to a full menstrual flow, then it is highly unlikely that this was implantation bleeding. You may have just got your period a few days early. Although some women have been known to experience a period every month of their entire pregnancy!

Now link in any other feelings or symptoms you may have.

• Light to moderate headaches.
  


• A crampy feeling in your lower abdomen, similar to period pains.
  


• Nausea.
  


• A blocked or stuffy nose.
  


• Sore or tender breasts.
  


• Tiredness.
  


• Dizzy spells or fainting.
  

These are just a few of the many very early pregnancy symptoms that you may feel after pregnancy implantation bleeding has taken place. On the other hand some women feel no symptoms at all!

Without you even realising it, your body could be getting ready for the most amazing 9 months of your life.

Why does implantation bleeding happen?

If you have sex around the time of ovulation, and the egg is fertilized. It will travel on down the fallopian tube and into the uterus. It will then implant itself into the endometrial tissue. This is the blood lining that grows in the uterus. This causes a little of the endometrial tissue to come away from the wall of the uterus and flow out. Implantation into the uterus will occur within 6 to 8 days after ovulation, if the egg has been fertilized.

Pregnancy implantation bleeding is not a problem, it will not effect the embryo. Not every woman will experience this extremely early pregnancy bleeding either, Only around 20 or 30% .

It is normally too early to take a pregnancy test at the implantation stage. Hormone levels will still be fairly stable. So it is just a matter of waiting it out, and keeping those fingers firmly crossed.

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Your Period: What"s Normal, What"s Not, and What to Do About It

Women are fortunate to have a natural monthly process that gives us information and clues about the inner state of our body, as well as remind us of our connection with the ebb and flow and creative force of nature. I like to think our periods are a message to us, and we can learn a lot from them if we know how to listen.

First let’s talk about what is “normal”. A period is considered regular if it has a consistent cyclical pattern. The average length between menses is 28 days, although variation of somewhere from 25 to 33 days is considered normal. Average length of bleeding is three to seven days, without clots or pain.

Heavy Flow

What’s up: If you have to change your pad or tampon more than five times a day, or bleeding lasts longer than 7 days, that would qualify as heavy. This could be caused by fibroids or endometriosis, although some women bleed heavily for no obvious reason. In Chinese medicine it could be due to heat (think inflammation) or emotional upset or stress.

What to do: Dietary change can be important if it is due to fibroids or endometriosis – eliminate dairy, sugar and processed foods, which all cause “damp accumulation” in the body. If it’s not one of those two things, then working on your stress levels, getting regular exercise, and Chinese herbs can help.

Light Flow or Late Menses

What’s up: Birth control pills and the Merena IUD can reduce your flow. If you’re not on hormonal birth control and you see nothing but a little bit of staining and only require a light panty liner or pad, it could be a thyroid problem. Otherwise, in Chinese medicine it could be due what we call a blood or yin deficiency.

What to do: If the Pill is reducing your flow and that bothers you (which isn’t likely), try a different birth control method. If it’s a thyroid problem, you may need meds. See your gyno, who can refer you to an endocrinologist. Otherwise, make sure you are getting at least 2-3 oz of meat or fish several times week. If your vegetarian and don’t want to add meat, bulk up on dark leafy greens.

Irregular Cylces

What’s up: Maybe yours used to come every 28 days but is now arriving on day 21, 35, 28, and back to 21 again. It could be stress, severe weight loss, extreme exercise, or extreme weight gain, all of which can knock your hormones out of whack. Medications that work on the central nervous system, like antidepressants, can also mess with your cycle. Endocrine disorders like thyroid disease can cause irregular periods, too, as can polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). An ultrasound can show if you have ovarian cysts, as well as blood tests to show your levels of testosterone and lipids (which are usually raised with PCOS).

What to do: Acupuncture and herbs can help. There can be many reasons for irregular periods – deficient blood, deficient Qi, stagnant blood, and stagnant Qi. Most doctors will want to put you on birth control to regulate periods, which doesn’t necessarily fix the problem – just covers it up. If the period change is sudden, don’t wait longer than three months to see your gyno. If you do have PCOS, acupuncture and herbs can help.

Cramps

What’s up: Usually the cause is prostaglandins, chemicals manufactured in the uterus that bring on contractions to expel the uterine lining during your period. But if you have incredibly disabling cramps, it could be endometriosis, which affects 7 to 10 percent of women. The disorder is marked by uterine tissue growing outside the uterus, typically in the pelvic area.

What to do: Eliminate dairy, reduce red meat and cheese (which promote the synthesis of prostaglandins), supplement with fish oil (which reduces prostaglandins), Vitamin C, E, B6, and magnesium. Reduce stress. Acupuncture and herbs can help.

PMS

What’s up: A wide variety of symptoms can be present with PMS – bloating, fatigue, weepiness, melancholy, irritability, breast tenderness, insomnia, headaches. PMS is related to to high levels of estrogen and relatively low levels of progesterone. Estrogen levels can be raised due to diet, body fat, or decreased breakdown of estrogen from the liver.

What to do: Eliminate dairy, refined sugar and processed foods, reduce caffeine. supplement with fish oil, Vitamin C, E, B6, B12 and magnesium. Reduce stress, get more sunlight, exercise. Acupuncture and herbs can help a lot.

Spotting

What’s up: Low-dose birth control pills can lead to breakthrough bleeding. If you’re not on the Pill and spotting lightly before your period comes, it can sometimes be a sign of low progesterone, but it’s nothing to be alarmed about. In chinese medicine it is usually due to a yin or spleen deficiency.

What to do: If you’re on the Pill and the spotting doesn’t resolve itself in a few months, ask about a higher-dose Pill. Acupuncture and herbs can help to boost yin and Qi.

In my practice I have become convinced of the profound effect that the psyche and our emotions can have on the menstrual cycle and our health in general. Please pay attention to and honor how you are feeling. Take time to turn inward and slow down during your period.

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Calculating When Your Baby is Due

Determining the date you will give birth is one of the first things you will want to find out once you know you are pregnant. Not only does it have many practical implications – when you will feel tired, when you may have morning sickness, or when you can’t work any more – but it also puts a bookend on the whole pregnancy and the time from which you will become a mother.

There are several ways to determine when your baby will be due. On average human pregnancies last 266 days or roughly 40 weeks (9 months). Other species have shorter or longer periods of pregnancy – larger mammals generally taking longer and smaller mammals a shorter span. Of course, nature often takes things into its own hands so your baby may be earlier or later than the expected due date which is in fact an average of all women. We are all different, our bodies have different physiologies and we have different family histories so don’t expect to be able to determine your estimated time of birth down to the last hour.

1. 
   

   Date of last menstrual cycle

   
   

   If you know when you had your last menstrual period you can calculate your approximate due date by adding 280 days to that date.

   
   

   This works because on average it takes 14 days from your last period to actual conception (14 + 266 = 280). It relies on you knowing your menstrual cycle and that cycle being regular (eg. every 28 days).

   
   


2. 
   

   Date of conception

   
   

   If you know when you actually had sex and were ovulating, you can add 266 days to that date to determine a due date. This only works if you know your own body’s ovulation cycle, the exact date you had sex, and there weren’t multiple days you had sex during your ovulation cycle.

   
   


3. 
   

   Ultrasound fetal measurements

   
   

   A doctor can use ultrasound to take measurements while the baby is inside your uterus. These measurements can relate to the length of the baby, the size of its head or its other dimensions. Each of these measurements all indicate the approximate age of the fetus (based on average growth rates of fetuses measured over time) and taken together can provide a single due date.

   
   

   This method is likely to be more accurate than the methods above. Performing the ultrasound may also indicate other factors such as the sex of the baby (from 16 weeks) or whether you have twins. Ultrasounds taken over a period of months allows you to see the development of the fetus.

   
   

Some of these methods require the involvement of your doctor or obstetrician. They will be able to help you if you need any assistance to calculate the due date and will also be able to discuss your own circumstances and the chances that your baby may arrive earlier or later than the predicted due date.

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Phases of the Menstrual Cycle - A Medical Perspective Overview

The menstrual cycle can be divided into the stages of follicular phase (14 days during which proliferative phase occurs), ovulation, luteal phase (14 days during with secretory phase occurs), and menstruation.

Follicular phase and ovulation::

Follicular Phase:

During the follicular phase, release of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) from the pituitary results in the development of a primary ovarian follicle. This primary ovarian follicle produces estrogen which causes the uterine lining to proliferate (proliferative phase).

Ovulation:

During the middle of the menstrual cycle (14 days), an increase in LH (LH spike) results because of the estrogen produced during the proliferative phase. This LH spike causes ovulation (relase of ovum from the follicle) to occur.

Luteal Phase:

Ovulation is followed by the Luteal phase, during with the remnants (theca interna and granulosa cells) of the follicle (left behind after ovulation of the ovum) develop into the corpus luteum. Corpus luteum produces progesterone, which then maintains the lining of the endometrium (that had proliferated in response to the estrogen in the proliferative phase). This is basically getting ready for the the ovum to implant.

Menstruation:

If the ovum does not implant, the corpus luteum degnerates and the progesterone levels decrease resulting in the sloughing off of the endometrium lining (Menstruation). If the ovum does implant (after fertilization occurs), then the developing trophoblast will maintain the corpus luteum by producing hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) until about 8 weeks when the placenta can maintain production of estrogen and progesterone.

Restarting the Cycle:

A subsequent decrease in estrogen and progesterone (after degeneration of the corpus luteum and menstruation) results in an increase in FSH which then stimulates development of more primary ovarian follicles to start the menstrual cycle all over again. Nearly 5-15 primordial follicles are formed of which only one (dominant) will mature into ovulation. It will stimulate itself with estrogen (autocrine stimulation by the combined work of theca interna cells (produce andrestenedione in response to LH stimulation) and granulosa cells (convert the androstenedione into estradiol in response to FSH stimulation) of the follicle.

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