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Know your menstrual cycle better

The woman’s menstrual cycle commences about two years after the body hits puberty (between the ages of 9-16 years approximately) the monthly series of changes a woman's body goes through in preparation for the possibility of pregnancy.

This cycle which is counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next (is supposed to be a 28-day cycle) varies from woman to woman and might occur every 21 to 35 days and last two to seven days.

The four main phases of the menstrual cycle are 
-menstruation,
-the follicular phase,
-ovulation and
-the luteal phase

Some common menstrual problems include heavy or painful periods and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The menstrual cycle might be regular (i.e. about the same length every month) or be sometimes irregular along with the fact that the periods may be light or heavy, painful or pain-free, long or short, and still be considered normal. Within a broad range however normal can vary... ultimately normal is what feels normal to you! Do also keep in mind that at time ovary related syndromes, uterine fibroids, pelvic inflammation or the use of certain types of contraception, such as extended-cycle birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), along with stress or a sudden lifestyle change also tend to alter the menstrual cycle.

One also tracks the menstrual cycle to know the most likely times to conceive, as certain days in the cycle are the most fertile days that increase the chances of pregnancy. And we need to remember that the cyclical changes in the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle are a significant biological influence on the female body, both physically and emotionally. Menstruation is governed by a tightly coordinated mechanism that controls the levels of ovarian estrogen and progesterone, which produce varying responses in diverse tissues and organs. The skin, the largest organ in our body, is supplied with estrogen and progesterone receptors, and hence the monthly fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone influence our skin surface, (including lipid secretion and sebum production), the thickness of the skin, deposition of subcutaneous fat, moisture content of the skin and also the integrity of the skin. This monthly cycle can also affect the collagen content of the skin which provides elasticity to the skin and prevents premature wrinkles. (The higher levels of estrogen in the body can also influence skin pigmentation and susceptibility to UV damage). Thus treat your monthly cycle like a friend rather than a foe. This discomfort, and/ or abnormalities during periods that women suffer from can reduce, managed, or even considerably reduced with the right diet, lifestyle correction, supplementation, and medical diagnosis.