Hormones Effects On Menstrual Cycle

Hormones are chemical messengers that are carried in the bloodstream. They are substances which provide a means of communication between organs of the body. Hormones influence distant target cells by changing their chemical processes. Hormones can cause the target cells to change their rate of growth or their rate of producing specific chemical products.

A Releasing Factor of the Hypothalamus which Influences the Menstrual Cycle
GnRF (gonadotropin “releasing factor”)
GnRF is a special kind of hormone called a “releasing factor” located in the hypothalamus. A “releasing factor” causes another gland or organ to release a different hormone(s) into the blood stream. For example, GnRF causes the anterior pituitary gland to produce, store and release FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone).

Hormones of the Anterior Pituitary Gland that Influence the Menstrual Cycle
FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
FSH stimulates the growth of the ovarian follicles (which contain ova). As the ovarian follicles develop, FSH also stimulates the follicle cells to secrete large amounts of estrogen.

LH (luteinizing hormone)
A surge, or sudden release, of LH causes ovulation, the release of a mature ovum from the dominant ovarian follicle. After ovulation, LH stimulates the empty follicle to develop into the corpus luteum. LH then causes the corpus luteum to secrete increasing amounts of progesterone and small amounts of estrogen.

Hormones of the Ovaries that Influence the Menstrual Cycle
The ovaries contain the ovarian follicles which produce estrogen while maturing. After ovulation, the dominant ovarian follicle becomes the corpus luteum which produces progesterone and small amounts of estrogen.

Estrogen
Every month, the endometrium is built up under the influence of estrogen produced by the ovarian follicles. Estrogen stimulates glands in both the endometrium and the cervical canal. Changes in the cervical glands cause changes in the cervical mucus, making it clear, stretchy and slippery so that sperm can pass easily. The endometrial blood supply is increased in preparation for a possible fertilized ovum, and a thickened layer of endometrial tissue develops. Estrogen, along with FSH, also promotes the growth of the ovum in the ovarian follicle. Estrogen causes “feedback” to the anterior pituitary gland for the regulation of FSH and LH.

When the estrogen level increases to a certain level, it gives feedback to the anterior pituitary gland, causing a surge of stored LH that triggers ovulation. When the amount of estrogen in the blood becomes low, it causes feedback to the anterior pituitary gland to produce more FSH and LH in order to start a new menstrual cycle. Estrogen also has other important functions in the body, such as:

• It initiates the growth and development of the uterus and other reproductive organs during puberty and pregnancy. 
• Estrogen promotes the growth of mammary ducts and fat deposits in the breasts during puberty and pregnancy. 
• It promotes bone growth and helps retain calcium in the bones throughout a woman's life. 
• It gives protection from atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease by causing blood vessels to dilate and by limiting the formation of atherosclerotic plaques from lipids.

Progesterone
After the dominant ovarian follicle releases a mature ovum, it changes into a corpus luteum and begins to secrete progesterone. Progesterone and estrogen further develop the endometrium by increasing the maturation of blood vessels in the endometrium. They cause the endometrial glands to enlarge and to begin secreting nutrients into the uterine cavity (in case the ovum is fertilized). Progesterone, however, also limits the volume of the endometrium; without progesterone, estrogen stimulation of the endometrium would be too great. Progesterone affects hormone release from the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary gland. Through this “feedback” system, high levels of progesterone inhibit GnRF secretion and decrease FSH and LH secretions.

Progesterone also has other important functions in the body, such as:

• It sustains early pregnancy until the placenta develops (in approximately 10 weeks). 
• The decline of progesterone helps initiate uterine contractions in labor. 
• It provides a protective effect from breast cancer and endometrial cancer.

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Primary Organs In Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle includes the activities of the hormones of the hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary gland and the ovaries, and the resulting changes in the ovaries, uterus, cervix, and basal body temperature (BBT). This section defines these organs and other parts of the female reproductive system that are involved in the menstrual cycle. The information can be used by the trainer as a review guide to ensure common baseline knowledge by all the trainees.

Hypothalamus
The part of the brain that, among many other functions, releases gonadotropin “releasing factor” (GnRF) which regulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary gland.

Anterior pituitary gland
A pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain and connected to the hypothalamus. Among many other functions, it produces, stores, and releases FSH and LH.

Ovaries
The pair of glands in the female which produce ova (eggs) and the female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone.

Ovum
(plural = ova) egg cell. The female reproductive germ cell that, when fertilized by a male sperm, can develop into a new individual of the same species.

Ovarian follicle
Small sac in the ovary that encloses an ovum. At the beginning of each menstrual cycle, several ova begin to mature. One ovum fully matures and is then released by the dominant ovarian follicle. At birth, each woman has about 600,000 ovarian follicles in each ovary. During a woman's lifetime, only about 400 ova fully mature. The remainder dissolve and are reabsorbed by each ovary.

Corpus luteum
Corpus luteum or yellow body. After ovulation, the dominant ovarian follicle becomes the corpus luteum which produces small amounts of estrogen and large amounts of progesterone.

Fallopian tubes
Fallopian tubes (also called uterine tubes) is two long, thin tubes connected to the uterus, which provide passage for the ova from the ovaries. It is the place where the sperm meets the ovum and fertilization takes place.

Uterus
A hollow, muscular organ in the female pelvis in which the fertilized ovum grows and develops during pregnancy. In the absence of fertilization of the ovum, it sheds its lining during menstruation.

Endometrium
The mucus membrane which lines the inner wall of the uterus.

Cervix
The neck (or entrance) of the uterus.

Vagina
The genital canal in the female, extending from the cervix of the uterus to the vulva. It is the passageway through which babies are born and menstrual fluid flows.

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Understanding Your Menstruation

Understanding of menstruation is very important to you. Because it can be the size you specify prediction days before menstrual periods and PMS. Adequate preparation will be able to help you be a period filled with emotion PMS unstable.

Menstrual Cycle Women Are Same?
Although the average about 28 days, but there is also a 24 day, 30 days, or even 35 days. Irregular cycles are also common in women newly menstruating. Your body needs time to adjust to new habits. A practical example, the menstrual cycle is 28 days during three months, but a sudden change in the next month, or may not menstruate for a month. But you do not need is concerned, because after several years, this cycle will be more regular.

How to Calculate Menstrual Cycle?
Woman's menstrual cycle is calculated starting from the first day of menstruation (bleeding through the vagina), until the first menstruation in the next month. So, if a girl has a menstrual dated May 2, then the next menstruation is due on May 31, the woman's menstrual cycle lasts for 31 minus 2, ie 29 days. To more easily, make it a habit to give each mark on the calendar on the first day of menstruation, per month.

What Exit Through Menstruation?
During menstruation, blood, and layers formed on the uterine wall to flow out through the vagina, including egg cells that die because it is not fertilized by sperm. Length of menstruation is different on each woman. There are only two or three days, or there are up to 8 days. During still under 15 days, were normal. Number of liquid waste also differ from one girl to another girl. Even though you're shocked to see a lot of blood came out, but actually it does not make you fair and anemia (blood deficiency).

On the last day of menstruation, your body began to release a hormone which ordered the uterus to receive a new egg from the ovary. Uterus will prepare themselves with re-thicken the walls with blood and other nutrients required by cells in order to develop eggs. This process lasted up to day 14 (remember, day-to-1 is the first day of your menstrual period). Right in the middle of the cycle (if we cycle 30 days, meaning the day-to-15), at the onset of ovulation. Ovulation is the release of eggs from the ovary to the uterus through the fallopian tube channel. Over the next few days (usually up to day 21), the egg will travel to the uterus, while waiting fertilized by sperm. When this is known as the fertile period.

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How To Make Menstrual Chart Cycle

Every woman has a menstrual cycle is different, not all women have the same duration. To better know the woman's menstrual cycle, women should begin to notice any changes in the physical and psychological. To further facilitate all these things required a menstrual chart which can control and monitor the state of menstruation. Here are tips that you need if you want to make a menstrual chart.

1. Note carefully the duration of your menstrual cycle, starting from the first bleeding until the end (stop bleeding), then up again before you get a menstrual period. This is usually about 28-39 days, but this can not be used as guidelines, because once again every woman is different.
2. Changes in feeling (psychologically) and physically you should always pay attention, this is a signal the body to process that happened to you.
3. Note the chart in your menstrual periods when start to finish. This can help you to calculate the long period, other than it could to compare your menstrual period changes from month to month.
4. You can measure your body temperature changes on every day in the month. Notes about this temperature would be beneficial for you to see when you first menstrual period for each period.

Example menstrual chart, can you see something like this:

The following chart can help you to monitor your cycles, as well as your treatment. Please make xerox copies and record your details

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Normal Menstrual Cycle

Women show considerable variation in the lengths of their menstrual cycles, and the length of the menstrual cycle differs in different animals.

While cycle length may vary, 28 days is generally taken as representative of the average ovulatory cycle in women. Convention uses the onset of menstrual bleeding to mark the beginning of the cycle, so the first day of bleeding is called "Cycle Day one".

One can divide the menstrual cycle into four phases:

• Menstruation
• Follicular phase
• Ovulation
• Luteal phase

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About Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is the set of recurring physiological changes in a female's body that are under the control of the reproductive hormone system and necessary for reproduction. In women, menstrual cycles occur typically on a monthly basis between puberty and menopause. Besides humans, only other great apes exhibit menstrual cycles, in contrast to the estrus cycle of most mammalian species.

During the menstrual cycle, the sexually mature female body releases one egg (or occasionally two, which might result in dizygotic, or non-identical, twins) at the time of ovulation. The lining of the uterus, the endometrium, builds up in a synchronised fashion. After ovulation, this lining changes to prepare for potential implantation of the fertilised egg to establish a pregnancy. If fertilisation and pregnancy do not ensue, the uterus sheds the lining and a new menstrual cycle begins. The process of the shedding of the lining is called menstruation. Menstruation manifests itself to the outer world in the form of the menses (also menstruum): essentially part of the endometrium and blood products that pass out of the body through the vagina. Although this is commonly referred to as blood, it differs in composition from venous blood.

Common usage refers to menstruation and menses as a period. This bleeding serves as a sign that a woman has not become pregnant. (However, this cannot be taken as certainty, as sometimes there is some bleeding in early pregnancy.) During the reproductive years, failure to menstruate may provide the first indication to a woman that she may have become pregnant. A woman might say that her "period is late" when an expected menstruation has not started and she might have become pregnant.

Menstruation forms a normal part of a natural cyclic process occurring in healthy women between puberty and the end of the reproductive years. The onset of menstruation, known as menarche, occurs at an average age of 12, but can occur any time between the ages of 8 and 16. However, the condition precocious puberty has caused menstruation to occur in girls as young as 8 months old. The last period, menopause, usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Deviations from this pattern deserve medical attention. Amenorrhea refers to a prolonged absence of menses during the reproductive years of a woman for reasons other than pregnancy. For example, women with very low body fat, such as athletes, may cease to menstruate. The presence of menstruation does not prove that ovulation took place; women who do not ovulate may have menstrual cycles. Those anovulatory cycles tend to take place less regularly and show greater variation in cycle length. In addition, the absence of menstruation also does not prove that ovulation did not take place, because hormone disruptions in non-pregnant women can suppress bleeding on occasion.

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