There are four main players when it comes to hormones involved in the menstrual cycle:
- Estrogens (this a family of hormones, not just a single hormone, for example, estradiol is an estrogen)
- Progesterone
- FSH (follicle stimulating hormone
- LH (Luteinizing hormone)
They all have different effects. Estrogen is responsible for stimulating the growth of the endometrium while progesterone maintains it. LH surges and induces ovulation and FSH stimulates the follicles to grow until ovulation.
The day you start your period is considered day 1 of the cycle. Ovulation occurs about 14 days before you start your period, this is the approximate half-way point if your cycle is 28 days long.
At day one, estrogen and progesterone levels are low (because the lining is being shed). LH is also low at day one, but FSH is in the process of stimulating the ovaries to grow a mature follicle (there is a feedback mechanism from the maturing follicle that prevents other follicles from being ovulated and this happens in only one ovary).
A few days prior to ovulation (day 14 on the above chart) estrogen peaks. This induces progesterone to be released to maintain the endometrial lining. LH and FSH both surge at ovulation and the mature follicle (containing the ovum) ruptures, releasing the ovum into the abdominal cavity.
The follicle remnants left behind turn into the corpus luteum which produces progesterone, estrogen, and a substance that inhibits FSH (this makes sense because if we’ve released an egg, we don’t want our follicles to continue to mature in case of pregnancy). The progesterone makes the lining of the uterus thicker for implantation in case of pregnancy.
If no pregnancy occurs, eventually the progesterone stops being produced by the corpus luteum (which atrophies and dies after awhile if pregnancy does not occur), the lining is shed, and the cycle begins again.
Eight-Step Strategy for Defeating the Uterine Blues
- Lunges
- Kiss boyfriend
- Pot
- Burritos
- Burritos
- Encouraging words
- Ibuprofen
- Sleep
My feelings are a mess.
My period’s due tomorrow, I don’t really want to cry tonight but it looks like that’s what’s gonna happen.
(via projectilevarmint)
A poem about my period, by horse_ebooks
period, o period
Where are you, period? Why are you hiding? I know you’re in there. Don’t think you can trick me with a 28-day cycle when I’m used to 25 or 26. I know I’m not pregnant. I can tell from the back pain and cramps that started yesterday. You think it’s so funny to wait until the day before my birthday, don’t you? Well, fuck you, period. I’m going to have a good day and not wonder where you are at all.
If my period had a cell phone, I’d call it 38 times in a row.
my emotions are all over the place
Disney Explains Menstruation, 1946.
I DIDN’T KNOW THEY’D DONE THIS.
(via projectilevarmint)
I just don’t want to do anything.
I only got out of bed this morning (after resetting my alarm twice) because it was too hot to stay upstairs. I want to spend all my money and eat at fast food restaurants. I want to stay home and stare at the wall and not talk to anyone. I want to sleep. I am irritable; the insignificant mannerisms of my coworkers and loved ones are sandpaper on an exposed nerve.
Oh. Well, at least I’ll be fine in a few days.
STOP IT, PERIOD
I DON’T WANT TO BE SAD
I DON’T WANT TO BE BLEEDING
I JUST WANT TO PARTY
Demystifying the menstrual cycle one infographic at a time.
via I Heart Guts
(via becauseiamawoman)
