The Menstrual Cycle

It's called a menstrual period or flow of blood loss vaginally due to flaking of the endometrium, which occurs with approximately one month. The onset of menstruation marks the beginning of the reproductive life of women.
Lost approximately 130 ml of blood per cycle, with a range of 13 to 300 ml. Usually the bleeding, which did not coagulates unless it is very abundant, is more copious the second day.
It is considered the first day of bleeding as the first day of the menstrual cycle, which involves several elements, including the major hormones produced by ovaries and pituitary-estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating and latinizante, and involved several organs , As the uterus, ovaries, the hypothalamus and pituitary, among others.


The menstrual cycle
The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. It consists of three layers: the first is to be eliminated with menstruation month to month, and regenerates in the same period, according to the phase of the cycle to it.
Based on the Endocrine developments, the menstrual cycle, which can be between 23 and 35 days were divided into three phases.
The follicular phase (ovulatory) begins the first day of bleeding and ends the day before the preovulatory increase of luteinizing hormone, which marks the beginning of the ovulatory phase. This is the most variable in terms of duration, as it is considered within the normal range that goes from 12 to 14 days. In this period of endometrial thickening occurs due to the elevation of estrogen and follicle-stimulating hormone, which regenerates completely within a period of between four and seven days after menstruation. Similarly stimulates the growth of a group of three to 30 follicles (eggs) that are recruited because of their rapid growth during the last days of the previous cycle. As the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone down, you select one of these follicles to ovulate, and when it matures, the others are eliminated.
Normally the ovulatory phase was introduced on June 14 of the cycle. Given the complex set of hormonal events that occur in it, is considered the ovulatory phase as the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle. Here is where the follicle or ovum becomes larger and protruding into the outer layer of the ovary, when broken, leads to ovulation, or the release of the egg by the ovary.
Postovulatory or luteal phase occurs in the second half of the menstrual cycle. During the same egg begins to move along the fallopian tube toward the uterus, leading to increased levels of progesterone and the coating helps prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy. If a sperm fertilizes the egg, and it adheres to the wall of the uterus, the woman becomes pregnant. If the egg is not fertilized, it dissolves or is absorbed by the body, pregnancy does not occur, the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall, coating the spread of the uterus is released and menstruation low.

The organs of reproduction and the menstrual cycle
The cervix. During the follicular phase produced a progressive increase in the vascularization of cervical and cervical mucus secretion. The external cervical opening hole to reach a diameter of 3 mm at ovulation, then is reduced to 1 mm. The gradual increase in estrogen does increase of ten to 30 times the amount of cervical mucus, whose characteristics are clinically useful for evaluating the stage of the cycle and the hormonal status of the patient.
The elasticity of mucus increases just before ovulation, while during dormancy, and the influence of progesterone, thickens, it becomes less watery and loses its elasticity.
The vagina. When at the beginning of the follicular phase of ovarian secretion of estrogen is low, the vaginal epithelium is thin and pale, but as they begin to raise, it becomes more elastic, resistant and violet color.

Disorders or menstrual irregularities
Among the major menstrual disturbances are the following:
• amenorrhea, or absence of menstrual period, which can be:
Primary. This term is used to refer to the absence of the period in which young women at 16 years of age have not yet begun to menstruate. In this case you need to discard first the presence of congenital abnormalities or birth in the reproductive organs.
Secondary. It is the lack of menstruation in women who used to have it on a regular basis. Some of the causes of amenorrhea are normal physiological or, as pregnancy and lactation, while others are of extreme weight loss as a result of serious illnesses, eating disorders, excessive exercise or stress. It may also be related to problems of the reproductive organs or hormone from pituitary glands, thyroid, ovary or adrenal.
• Dysmenorrhea or menstrual cramps: These are periods
painful that include severe menstrual discomfort. In general, young women the pain is not due to any illness or medical condition known, but is caused by a hormone called prostaglandin that causes contractions of the uterus or excessive parent who become disabled. Some nonprescription painkillers can help relieve these symptoms. Sometimes a disease or medical condition, such as endometriosis and uterine myomas, are the cause of pain. Treatment depends on the origin of the problem and its severity.
• abnormal uterine bleeding or vaginal bleeding than normal menstrual periods. Includes bleeding very abundant or scarce, unusually long periods, too frequent or between periods. In adolescent girls and women who are approaching menopause, the hormonal imbalance problems often lead to these disorders, as well as irregular cycles. Other causes of abnormal bleeding is uterine fibroids and polyps, and the treatment will depend on its origin.
In short, we can say that menstruation is the part of the ovarian cycle in which the endometrium responds to the stimulus of estrogen in the ovulatory phase and the elimination of progesterone in the postovulatory when there is no pregnancy, and if the cycles are and regular ovulation occurs.
Not always the irregularities of the menstrual cycle are candidates for treatment, and the first intention was to discard some organic problem.
When do you see a doctor?
• If you are 16 years and has not yet begun to menstruate.
• If your period suddenly stops occur.
• If bleeding for more days than usual.
• If bleeding excessively.
• If bleeding more than just a few drops between periods.
• If you have severe pain during their period.