WHAT IS MENSTRUAL CYCLE

                                          Almost all females have a lot of questions to ask about menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menstrual hygiene, how bleeding comes?, etc. So here we are going to discuss about menstrual cycle and menstrual hygiene. Menstrual cycle is a physiological change occurs in the women from puberty. An average menstrual cycle is 28 days. There are mainly 3 phases on menstrual cycle. They are FOLLICULAR PHASE, OVULATION PHASE, & LUTEAL PHASE. The menstrual cycle is very necessary for fertilization. Normally the menstrual cycle starts at the age of 12-13 years. Due to some problems like stress, malnourished food, tension, hormonal imbalance, side effects of some drugs may delay the menstrual cycle. 

After-all, you should consult with a doctor if the menses not begins till the age of 16 years. The menstrual cycle duration also varies due to physiological changes in the body.

 The menstrual cycle is totally controlled by hormones like Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONES (FSH). The pituitary gland in the human body has the main role in the production of these hormones. The menstrual cycle in a women starts with menstrual bleeding and that day is calculated as first day of menstrual cycle.

During the follicular phase the FSH level slightly goes high and that stimulate the development of follicles. Every follicle contains an egg. When the level of follicle decreases, only one follicle continues to start its development and produce estrogen.

In the second phase, that is, ovulatory phase begins. The LH stimulates egg release. This normally occurs 16-32 hours after the ovulatory phase starts. The estrogen and progesterone goes high level. Then the 3^rd phase begins. In this 3^rd stage the levels of LH & FSH decreases. The estrogen level will increase later. This estrogen and progesterone make the uterus lining more thick. If the ovum (egg) is not fertilized, the degeneration of corpus luteum occurs. The production of estrogen and progesterone stops. Then the lining of the uterus sheds. This is menstrual bleeding and this cycle is menstrual cycle. The first day of the bleeding is calculated as the starting date of menstrual cycle. The length of the menstrual cycle in each woman varies. The menstrual day is calculated by the number of days between menstruations (period) and the next menstruation. An average menstrual cycle of women is 28 days. It may vary to 26-31 days.

Now I hope you understood what menstrual cycle is and how do bleeding comes during menstrual period. Now we can see what the diets necessary are during this menstrual period and how to do proper hygiene.