Ovulation Cycle

Executive summary about Ovulation Cycle by Elizabeth Morgan

The menstrual cycle is a minor hurdle, as the duration of the menstrual cycle has to be considered for this excursion. The Ovulation Cycle begins with the secretion of two hormones by the pituitary gland situated in the brain. Production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) is controlled by an area of brain called the hypothalamus. It analyzes hormonal signals, oestradiol and progesterone, generated by ovaries and other endocrine glands and transmitted into blood stream. It is a well-set machine, sending signals to the ovaries to prepare release of eggs ensconced in individual follicles.

The dominant egg forges ahead to the next phase, and ovulation occurs about 12 to 24 hours after LH surge. The follicle then forms into a cyst, corpus luteum, responsible for producing progesterone to nurture a fertilized egg. This stage signals PMS symptoms such as breast soreness, moodiness and water retention. If somehow the ovary does not receive the signal it stops generating progesterone 9 to 11 days after ovulation, causing shedding of uterine lining, or menstruation, and is the start of another Ovulation Cycle.

The crucial difference in individual Ovulation Cycle is how women accept this most fertile period of the cycle. It is a possibility that an Ovulation Cycle can occur without ovulating.

The Truth About Ovulation
Executive summary about Ovulation Cycle by Lori Ramsey

One woman may ovulate like clockwork on day 21 of her cycle every single month – while another may ovulate on day 10. The hormones that rule the female reproductive cycle are FSH or follicle stimulating hormone, estrogen, LH or luteinizing hormone and progesterone.

FSH begins to peak in production at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, during the menstrual bleeding. It’s FSH that prompts the ovaries to produce about 15 to 20 eggs to mature. As the eggs mature they are encased in a follicle and it’s this follicle that produces estrogen.

As the estrogen picks up in production several days before ovulation the cervical fluid becomes clear (fertile quality). This type of fluid is also known as “egg-white” like in consistency. The surge of LH prompts the egg to break out of the follicle. This is when ovulation occurs. The time after ovulation is called the luteal phase (LP).

You can always pinpoint the day your cycle will show if you are charting your fertility signs by counting the days in the luteal phase. After the corpus luteum starts to produce progesterone, the body warms up. If you chart your fertility signs you can tell if you have a progesterone deficiency by noting the temperatures if they don’t rise enough or they stay too low the 2nd half of the cycle. A drop in temperatures means that the progesterone level has dropped and signals the uterus to begin shedding the lining – thus a new menstrual cycle starts.

Obviously it’s important to time intercourse around ovulation in order to conceive a baby. If you chart your fertility signs you can see that the body will prepare for ovulation for several days – and if something like stress or illness happens – the ovulation process will stop. In cases like this ovulation will normally resume later. The reproductive hormones are very sensitive to your state of health.

You may want to check out my other guide on ovulation cycle and early signs of pregnancy

Ovulation Cycle

ovulate cycle

Ovulation Cycle

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