Charting Path to Pregnancy: Understanding Menstrual Cycle

If you are trying to get pregnant, it is important to understand your menstrual cycle. So we decided to speak to Dr. Gupta, a gynaecologist and fertility specialist. He has helped countless women understand the menstrual cycle phases and fertile days, and acquainted them with how to use this knowledge for conception.

This information about ovulation and the menstrual cycle can empower you, offering insights into your body's signs. 

Before understanding what role it plays in ovulation, let's understand what is menstrual cycle. A menstrual cycle is a natural process in a woman’s body that prepares her for conception. A cycle usually lasts 28 days, but it is normal for it to range from 23 to 35 days. The changes your body goes through each month are also known as periods. During this period, the ovary releases an egg, and the uterus prepares for a baby.

However, the catch is that ovulation does not happen monthly for all women. So, if you have been trying to conceive for a while, unsuccessfully, speak to your doctor. It can be a sign of endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). 

Dr. Gupta often told his patients, "Get the timing right". So we asked him, what this phrase means. He explained, it is normal to look for solutions online and advice from elders when trying to conceive. But the answer lies in understanding your menstrual cycle and what goes on in each phase. 

A cycle has four phases: menstruation, follicular, ovulation, and luteal. Each of these phases is necessary to create an optimal environment for conception. The length of your menstrual cycle may not determine your fertility, but it does indicate hormonal changes required for pregnancy. Despite having regular menstrual flow, an imbalance during the ovulation phase will make conception difficult.

Day one of your period marks the beginning of your menstrual cycle. Depending on individual body types, periods can last three to seven days. Note your start day to monitor your menstrual cycle accurately, especially if you are trying to conceive. 

During these days, your body uses hormones to send signals to the womb that a successful pregnancy has not occurred. Soon after, your uterus lining sheds, and your period transitions from spotting to heavy flow. It is a painful phase during which you may experience symptoms like abdominal cramps, fatigue, bloating, acne, and mood swings. 

If you experience severe pain during your period, speak to your gynaecologist.

The follicular phase begins on the first day of your menstrual cycle and continues until approximately day 14. During this phase, the ovaries develop follicles in preparation for ovulation. On average, women are born with over one to two million eggs. But as you age, you begin to lose these eggs, and by puberty, three to four lakh eggs remain. 

Dr. Gupta explains, the ovarian follicles are tiny fluid sacs on the ovaries holding underdeveloped eggs. During this phase, your body again sends hormonal signals to the follicles to prepare an egg. It is released for fertilisation once the egg matures. 

Due to the increased oestrogen hormone, you will feel happy and energetic during this phase.  

If you are trying to conceive, this is the most crucial phase of your menstrual cycle. But what is ovulation period? On the 14th day of the cycle, a mature egg moves down the fallopian tube to the uterus. The egg is viable for just 12 to 24 hours for impregnation.

A patient of Dr. Gupta, Priya tracked her ovulation using a prediction kit to improve the chances of a successful conception. This involves taking your body's basal temperature which are correlated to your ovulation windows. For accurate readings, take your temperature when the body is at rest, like as soon as you wake up. There will be a slight fall right before ovulation and a rise during ovulation. Hormonal changes within your body cause these fluctuations. 

You may also feel other hormonal changes like an increase in libido (sex desire), mood swings, and anxiousness. 

Day 15 to 28 of the menstrual cycle is also known as the luteal phase. After ovulation, the empty follicle forms the corpus luteum, releasing progesterone hormone. The hormone prepares the body for pregnancy by maintaining a uterine lining. It helps the egg implant itself in the uterus. 

If the egg does not fertilise, the cycle ends, and you begin your period. It is natural to feel upset during this time, as many do. But it does give you an opportunity to start over. 

Your menstrual cycle is regulated by different hormones such as: 

• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which regulates sexual development and fertility.
• Luteinising hormone (LH), which helps with hormone production to sustain pregnancy.
• Sex hormones such as oestrogen which regulates the menstrual cycle and progesterone which prepares the uterus lining to support a pregnancy.

Priya describes her ovulation journey as a roller coaster of emotions. At some point, she was extremely upset about her body’s inability to conceive, while at the other, she felt an increased sex drive. If you are in the same boat or are experiencing similar feelings during ovulation, there’s a medical explanation for it.  

Ovulation, also known as the fertility window, is an interaction between the pituitary gland, the ovaries, and the uterus. They work together to create a desirable environment for the release of an egg that sperm can fertilise. Here’s what you need to know when trying to conceive:

• Fertility window: The egg lives for 12 to 24 hours and must be fertilised within it for a successful pregnancy.
• Ovulation tracking: The best time to have sex for conception is three to six days before ovulation. Your most fertile days will depend on the length of your menstrual cycle.
• Prevention of infections: Right before ovulation, your cervix makes a protein-rich clear jelly to cover the vagina during sex. This mucus makes the vagina acidic, preventing infections and helping the sperm survive.

The ovulation period in your menstrual cycle occurs two weeks before your period starts. Since every woman has varying cycles, you can calculate it based on your exact cycle days. For instance, if you have an average menstrual cycle of 28 days, your ovulation period is around the 14th day. With this calculation, your most fertile days are 12, 13, and 14.

While most women can understand their ovulation days, you may not necessarily know what it feels like. It can differ from woman to woman, and sometimes you may not notice the signs. But the following are the common clues your body gives to let you know when you are ovulating: 

• Cervical mucus: When you near ovulation, the body produces more oestrogen causing your cervical mucus to change. It becomes stretchy and clear, helping the sperm swim to the egg.
• Heightened sense: Enhanced sense of smell is one of the most common olfactory changes during ovulation. You will be more attracted to the male pheromone androstadienone, signalling fertility.
• Breast tenderness: The drastic change of hormones can make your breasts or nipples feel sore.
• Abdominal cramps: It is rare, but some women can feel the release of the egg through mild abdominal pains.
• Spotting: You can spot brown discharge when the follicle around the egg matures, grows, and ruptures. It is nothing but old blood as ovulation discharge.
• Body basal temperature: BBT will increase during ovulation and stay elevated. 

Tracking your menstrual cycle is easier than you think. Here’s how you can do it: 

• Calendar method: Mark the start and end date of your menstrual cycle for a couple of months. You will be better at approximating the phases.
• Tracking apps: Use an app to calculate your menstrual cycle. Fill in your start and end period date to get valuable insights and alerts regarding different phases.
• Predictor kits: Ovulation kits help identify hormonal changes and pinpoint fertile days using a pee stick.  
• BBT tracking: Use an oral thermometer to measure your resting body temperature every morning. Keep track of it through the cycle, and you will find it elevated during the ovulation phase. 

If there was one thing Priya shared with us and her doctor, she desired to use a natural approach to conception. Here’s what you can do to enhance your chances of a successful conception:

• Unprotected sex: Time your intercourse during your fertility days.
• Body insights: Understand how your menstrual cycle works.
• Reduce stress: Ease your mind and body to embrace your conception efforts.

If you're struggling to conceive even after following these, remember that it's okay to seek help—you're not alone in this journey. Reaching out for support can be the first step towards understanding your options and finding the right path forward.

Speak to a fertility specialist if you have been unsuccessful at conception for over a year. Other symptoms that need a doctor’s visit are the absence of periods or heavy periods and an irregular menstrual cycle.

Understanding your menstrual cycle is essential to improving your chances of conception. By tracking your ovulation and fertility windows, you can better time intercourse and increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy. Empowering yourself with this knowledge brings you one step closer to your goal of starting your family.