Menstrual cycle

Do you want to understand what’s happening in your body? Women are fertile from puberty to menopause. This section will allow you to find out more about your menstrual cycle and the symptoms that you can feel.

What is the menstrual cycle?

The menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your menstruation and it ends the night before your next menstruation.

We say a person is regular when the number of days in her cycle does not vary from one month to the next. The duration of the menstrual can vary and that’s absolutely normal. It generally lasts between 24 and 38 days, whether you are regular or irregular. During adolescence or pre-menopause, these delays can be much more variable.

When does ovulation take place?

Ovulation generally takes place around 14 days before menstruation. However, the period that extends from the 1^st day of menstruation until ovulation is unstable and can vary unexpectedly, which makes it difficult to predict the time of ovulation with certainty.

Do you ovulate once or several times? Generally, we ovulate once a month. However, it is possible to have a 2^nd ovulation that occurs within 24 hours after the 1^st one.

When does the fertile period take place?

The fertile period takes places within 5 days before ovulation and 3 days after it. That is when you are at greater risk of a pregnancy.

Caution!

This does not mean that the contraception is not necessary on the other days of your menstrual cycle.

On the contrary, ovulation can take place before or be delayed at any moment if you are under stress or undergoing a change such as a trip, the encounter of a new partner, a break-up, a mourning, an exam, etc. We can also experience a spontaneous ovulation without any warning signs.

Signs of ovulation

Breast tenderness;
Pinching sensation in your lower belly at the time of ovulation;
Opening of the cervix to allow spermatozoa (sperm) to enter;
Soft cervix;
Cervical mucus (vaginal discharge) that is more abundant, slippery, transparent and stringy to help spermatozoid (sperm) (reach the ovum (egg);
Shinier hair;
Softer skin;
Sensation of vaginal and vulvar moisture;
Constipation;
Increase in sexual desire (for both partners).

The day after ovulation, the signs of fertility disappear:

Closing and hardening of the cervix;
Feeling of vulvar dryness;
Absence of cervical mucus or very pasty and opaque.

Can a woman become pregnant if she has unprotected sexual relations while she is menstruating?

Yes, a woman can become pregnant during her menstruation, especially if she has a short cycle or if she has spontaneous ovulations.

For example, a woman who has a 24-day cycle ovulates on the 10^th day of her cycle. Her fertile period begins 5 days before her ovulation, even if she is still menstruating.

What is the lifespan of spermatozoid (sperm) and the ovum (egg)?

Spermatozoid generally live 3 to 5 days in the woman’s body during a fertile period, whereas the ovum lives 12 to 24 hours.