Tracking your menstrual cycle can help you plan for pregnancy as well as better understand your body and reproductive health. You can get pregnant at any time during your cycle, but it is unlikely you’ll get pregnant just before or after your period. You are most fertile when you ovulate, and it is around this time that you are most likely to get pregnant. In this article, we explain this cycle’s fundamentals and how it affects a woman’s body.

What is my menstrual cycle, exactly?

This is what your body goes through in preparation for pregnancy and may be timed from the first day of your period to the day your next period begins. The average menstrual cycle lasts between 21 and 35 days. Some women may have cycles that are shorter or longer, though be sure to speak to your doctor about missing periods when you are certain you are not pregnant.

Your menstrual cycle happens through a complex interplay of hormones, including oestrogen and progesterone. The hormones are produced by the ovaries and regulate the growth and release of eggs.

The four phases of your menstrual cycle

The cycle happens in four phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulation, and luteal.

Menstrual phase

The menstrual phase occurs when the lining of the uterus sheds. This shedding results in bleeding that typically lasts between 3 and 7 days.

Follicular phase

The follicular phase happens between the end of your period and ovulation. During this phase, the body produces follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), causing follicles to develop in the ovaries. These follicles contain eggs that will potentially be released during ovulation.

Ovulation

Ovulation is the third phase of the menstrual cycle and occurs when an egg is released from the ovary. This typically occurs around day 14 in a 28-day cycle. Ovulation is triggered by a surge in another hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH), which causes the dominant follicle in the ovary to rupture and release the egg.

Luteal phase

The luteal phase is the final phase of the menstrual cycle and occurs after ovulation. During this phase, the ruptured follicle in the ovary forms a structure called the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone. Progesterone prepares the lining of the uterus for implantation and pregnancy.

If the egg is not fertilised, the corpus luteum will degenerate, progesterone levels will drop, and the lining of the uterus will shed and be flushed to the vagina, resulting in your next period.

Monitoring your menstrual cycle

So what exactly is going on down there? Well, you can use a tracking app or simply an old-fashioned calendar to keep an eye on your menstrual cycle. This is a great way for every woman to understand her body a bit better, but it is especially important if you are timing sex for conception.

Make a note of the length of your cycle. It sounds weird, but it may also be useful to jot down how long you bleed and any symptoms you experience, such as cramping, bloating, or mood changes. This information can help you identify your body’s unique patterns in your cycle, or at least help a professional do this for you. Sharing changes you notice with your doctor could help them understand any potential health issues, too.

We’re going to get a bit more personal with our advice now: beyond monitoring your cycle, it's important to practice good reproductive health habits. This means using contraception when you are not trying to conceive and scheduling regular medical checkups to make sure that all is well.

How can understanding my menstrual cycle help me get pregnant?

For Unii’s Preconception Journey, we look at how understanding your menstrual cycle can set you up for conception success!