Menstrual Cycle and Fertility: Understanding the Connection

Diagnosis & Treatment, General, Health & Lifestyle October 1, 2024 October 1, 2024

Understanding the connection between your menstrual cycle and fertility can empower you to make informed decisions about your reproductive health. Your menstrual cycle can offer key insights into your fertility status—helping you decide whether egg freezing is right for you.

So, what exactly happens during the menstrual cycle? How does it impact fertility? In this article, we explore the menstrual cycle and fertility.

What Is The Menstrual Cycle?

The menstrual cycle is your body’s natural monthly preparation for a potential pregnancy. This 24 to 38-day cycle is governed by your hormones. Throughout the month, your hormones fluctuate, preparing for pregnancy or a lack thereof.

Menstruation, also known as your period or menses, happens when pregnancy doesn’t occur. This leads to the monthly shedding of the uterine lining and the start of a new cycle.

Four Stages Of The Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle consists of four stages: the menstrual phase, the follicular phase, the ovulatory phase, and the luteal phase. In the following sections, we take a closer look at each stage.

Menstrual Phase

The first day of your period marks the beginning of a new menstrual cycle (also known as “Day 1”). During this time, estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest.

With the absence of pregnancy, your body sheds the uterine lining. This phase typically lasts about three to seven days. At the end of menstruation, low hormone levels signal the pituitary gland to produce the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This marks the beginning of the follicular phase.

Follicular Phase

FSH begins to rise at the start of this phase. This stimulates the growth and development of follicles in your ovaries. Each of these follicles contains an egg, preparing the body for ovulation.

Estrogen also rises during this phase. It works to thicken the uterine lining and prepare for a potential pregnancy. Estrogen then peaks just before ovulation. The follicular phase typically lasts about 14 days; however, this may vary from person to person.

Ovulatory Phase

A surge of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is triggered by high estrogen levels, causing ovulation. This means one mature egg is released from a follicle. Typically, this happens around day 14 of a 28-day cycle.

Luteal Phase

After ovulation, the empty follicle transforms into the corpus luteum. This produces progesterone and prepares your uterus for potential pregnancy.

If pregnancy doesn’t occur, this phase ends with the start of your next period. The luteal phase usually lasts about 14 days in a 28-day cycle. However, it’s worth noting that cycle length varies from person to person.

When Are You Most Fertile During Your Cycle?

Your most fertile days occur during ovulation, usually around the middle of your cycle. In a typical 28-day cycle, this would be around day 14.

The days leading up to ovulation, often called your “fertile window,” are when you have the highest chance of conceiving. This window usually spans about five to six days, starting a few days before ovulation and ending on the day of ovulation.

However, it’s also important to know that sperm can live inside your body for up to five days. This means that even if you have sex before ovulation, there’s still a chance you could become pregnant once the egg is released.

Ovulation And Fertility

As we now know, ovulation is the release of a mature egg from one of your ovaries. This time is significant for those looking to grow their family as there is only a brief window for conception.

Various factors can impact ovulation, such as:

Age
Stress
Body weight
Medical conditions (like PCOS)
Medications
Lifestyle factors

How To Know When You Are Ovulating

There are many ways to predict ovulation, including:

Ovulation Predictor Kits: These at-home tests detect the surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) that occurs 24-36 hours before ovulation. They are one of the most accurate methods for predicting ovulation.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Charting: Your body temperature rises slightly after ovulation. By tracking your BBT daily, you can identify this shift and predict future ovulation dates. There are even apps that can help you track this.

Cervical Mucus Changes: As you approach ovulation, your cervical mucus becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy (often compared to egg whites).

Physical Symptoms: Some people experience physical signs of ovulation, including:

Mild pelvic pain or cramping
Light spotting
Breast tenderness
Increased sex drive

Fertility Apps and Monitors: Many smartphone apps can help you track your cycle and predict ovulation based on the data you input.

Calendar Method: If your cycles are regular, you can estimate ovulation by counting back 14 days from the expected start of your next period. However, this method is less reliable, especially for those with irregular cycles.

Keep in mind that ovulation timing can vary from cycle to cycle. Factors like stress, illness, or lifestyle changes can affect when (and if) you ovulate.

Does The Length Of Your Menstrual Cycle Matter?

Your cycle length can provide insights into your hormonal health and ovulation patterns. It can also offer insights into your overall fertility health. So, what’s a normal menstrual cycle length?

Normal Menstrual Cycle Length

The most common cycle length is around 28 days. However, a normal menstrual cycle ranges from 21 to 35 days.

Short Menstrual Cycle

A short menstrual cycle is typically considered less than 21 days. This often means a shorter follicular phase and early ovulation. As such, this could impact the quality of your eggs due to a shorter time for follicular development.

Long Menstrual Cycle

A long menstrual cycle exceeds 35 days. Usually, this means ovulation is delayed or doesn’t occur. Long cycles can further be associated with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome).

Irregular Menstrual Cycle

An irregular cycle means that the length of your cycle varies from month to month. This can make predicting ovulation and menstruation difficult. It can also indicate that hormonal imbalances are happening beneath the surface. If you suspect you have an irregular cycle, it’s important to talk with a healthcare provider or fertility specialist.

Common Menstrual Irregularities

Irregular periods or shorter or longer cycles can happen due to:

Hormonal imbalances
High stress
Certain health conditions
Certain medications
And more.

Some common menstrual irregularities further include:

Amenorrhea: This is the absence of your period caused by hormonal imbalances, high stress, extreme weight loss, or pregnancy.
Oligomenorrhea: This refers to infrequent or light periods. It’s usually associated with thyroid conditions or PCOS.
Dysmenorrhea: Painful menstruation is a common problem. This is often due to underlying issues like endometriosis.
Menorrhagia: This term refers to abnormally long bleeds. It may suggest fibroids or other problems are occurring within the reproductive system.

At EVOLVE, our caring and compassionate team is here to help you navigate the egg freezing process—including any menstrual cycle irregularities that may be holding you back. Book a call with an EVOLVE nurse to learn more.

FAQs

Can you get pregnant when you’re not ovulating?

It’s possible to get pregnant, even if you’re not ovulating. This is largely because the sperm can live up to five days within the body.

Do light periods mean low fertility?

Light periods don’t necessarily mean you have low fertility. However, the causes behind it may make it more difficult to conceive.

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