THE MONTHLY CYCLE

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Monthly Cycle

A women's body function before and after ovulation is very complex and

amazing! If you were like me and didn't do much more than giggle during sex

education class at age 10 this page will help you understand exactly what

takes place and why during a women's monthly cycle. Three things are

necessary to become pregnant. The egg, the sperm and a vehicle in which the

sperm travels - cervical fluid. This will take you through a cycle step by

step and show you what takes place both with and without successful

conception.

The Follicle & the Egg

Follicles are what house each individual egg. A hormone called FSH

(Follicle Stimulating Hormone) enables your body to mature 15 to 20 eggs in

each ovary. The follicles that hold the eggs will start to grow and produce

estrogen, which is a very necessary hormone for ovulation to occur.

Ovulation is the actual process of one ovary releasing an egg from the most

dominant follicle. The time it takes to ovulate is approximately two weeks

from the first day of your monthly cycle but will vary from woman to woman

and even within your own cycles due to your body waiting until you have

reached a sufficient level of estrogen. When you have reached this level

your body will release a surge of LH (Luteinizing Hormone) which is the

hormone that causes the egg to actually burst through the ovarian wall. The

other eggs will eventually ripen and disintegrate. The egg then ventures

into the pelvic cavity and what happens next will decide if conception will

occur.

A Cycle Without Conception

If the egg is not picked up and drawn into the fallopian tubes no pregnancy

will take place. The follicle that held the egg will collapse on itself

becoming a corpus luteum. The presence of the corpus luteum is what

constitutes the luteal phase of a women's cycle. It will remain behind

after the release of the egg on the interior ovarian wall and will start to

produce yet another hormone called progesterone. Progesterone is

responsible for three things. Prevents the other eggs from being released

during that cycle, strengthens and thickens the uterine lining (endometrium)

and causes all of the fertility indicators (waking body temps, cervical

fluid and position) to change.

If pregnancy does not take place the uterine lining - endometrium is shed

which causes the cyclical bleeding from the uterus to occur which we all

know as menstruation. The first day of menstruation is the first day of a

monthly cycle and the whole process begins again.

When Pregnancy Occurs

When the egg enters the pelvic area it is swept into one of the fallopian

tubes by fingerlike projections called fimbria. Sperm travels up the

fallopian tube by way of cervical fluid. Fertilization occurs in the outer

portion of the tube when the sperm penetrates the egg. The now fertilized

egg will travel down to the uterus which takes approximately 6 to 8 days

and will burrow into the uterine lining.

The burrowed egg immediately starts to release HCG (Human Chorionic

Gonadotropin) which is referred to as the pregnancy hormone and is what is

detected to give a positive pregnancy test result. HCG communicates to the

corpus luteum to stay alive longer than the normal 12 to 16 days. The

lengthened life of the corpus luteum enables continued release of

progesterone, which is responsible for sustaining the uterine lining

(supplying nutrients and oxygen to the fetus) until the placenta can take

over and continue to provide for your ever growing precious fetus.

Taken from Webwomb.com

Hart

~ Mom to 4 Great Children ~

Arianne (16) ~ a (8)

(5) ~ Bean (1)

Glory to God and Many Thanks to Dr. Levin!

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