PCOS usually means irregular periods, longer cycles or just no periods at all.
When I was younger, I remember loving the fact I wasn’t bleeding every month, and thought I was really winning at life.
I then started to educate myself and came to realize just how important it is to have regular cycles and ovulate every month. It’s not just for pregnancy, it’s an indicator for overall optimal female health.
If you have periods that’s the first step, but it doesn’t mean you are ovulating. That’s a whole other ball game.
The two physical signs to look out for to show you are ovulating is egg white like discharge and a raise in your body temperature.
I’m going to explain the 4 menstrual cycles in simple terms and what happens in each phase. Think of them like seasons! Your bleed is winter, Follicular is Spring, Ovulation is Summer and Luteal is Autumn.
If you want to understand how to nourish your body the correct way in each cycle, how you should be exercising, what you should be eating and how it can affect your energy levels this is explained in my signature online PCOS course you can purchase here.
The menstrual cycle is a complex process that occurs in the female reproductive system. It is a series of physiological changes that basically prepares the body for pregnancy. The menstrual cycle is divided into four distinct phases: the menstrual phase, the follicular phase, the ovulation phase, and the luteal phase.
The menstrual phase is the first phase of the menstrual cycle and typically lasts for 3-7 days. The first day of your bleed counts as day ONE in your cycle. During this phase, the lining of the uterus is shed, resulting in the release of blood and tissue through the vagina. This is commonly referred to as menstruation.
The follicular phase is the second phase of the menstrual cycle and typically lasts for around 14 days. During this phase, the ovaries begin to produce a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates the growth of several follicles in the ovaries. One of these follicles will eventually become dominant and release an egg. You should feel positive, lively, and happy through this phase so enjoy it as much as you can!
The ovulation phase is the third phase of the menstrual cycle and typically lasts for around 24-36 hours. During this phase, the dominant follicle releases an egg, which is then transported through the fallopian tube to the uterus. This is the time when a woman is most fertile and is most likely to become pregnant.
Did you know there are only max 5 days of your cycle if you are regular that you can get pregnant?
The luteal phase is the fourth and final phase of the menstrual cycle and typically lasts for around 14 days. During this phase, the corpus luteum, which is the remains of the dominant follicle, begins to produce progesterone. Progesterone prepares the uterus for pregnancy and if no pregnancy occurs it causes the shedding of the uterus lining.
It’s important to note that the menstrual cycle can vary greatly among all women, and the duration of each phase can vary depending on a variety of factors such as age, health, and hormonal imbalances.
It’s essential for women to be aware of their menstrual cycle and any changes to it, as it can be an indication of underlying health problems.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a healthy, regular cycle. If you are still struggling with PCOS and its symptoms, please do reach out to me and let’s see how we can work together to fix it!
You can book a call with me here
All my love as always,
G x
