The ovarian cycle, like the menstrual cycle, controls your progesterone and estrogen levels and initiates the creation of follicular cells, which aids in the body's preparation for pregnancy.
What is the Ovarian Cycle Process?
The menstrual cycle is generally understood by women to be quite well understood, but the ovarian cycle is mostly unknown to them. Don't worry if you're one of these women. After reading this article, you should have a much better understanding of the ovarian cycle.
The monthly cycle is in charge of setting up and maintaining the uterine lining, as you undoubtedly already know. On the other hand, the ovarian cycle is in charge of egg release and endocrine tissue preparation. Together, the two cycles help the body prepare for a prospective pregnancy by balancing the levels of estrogen and progesterone.
On the surface of the ovary, follicular cells develop during the ovarian cycle, eventually forming the corpus luteum (don't worry, we'll go over this in more depth later). The egg is prepared for ovulation, fertilization, and implantation in the uterus by this process. The ovarian cycle and the body's preparation for conception are greatly influenced by progesterone and estrogen.
It's fairly amazing when you consider the intricate ballet that takes place within the body each month to establish the ideal circumstances for reproduction. Your reproductive system is actively working while you're moving around and considering other things. Without your knowledge, it is experiencing intricate hormonal changes and releasing eggs. It's simply incredible!
What Happens During the Ovarian Cycle?
The ovarian cycle normally lasts between 22 and 32 days, with 28 days being the average. This is similar to the menstrual period. The menstrual cycle is separated into the menstrual phase, proliferative phase, and secretory phase, whereas it is made up of the follicular phase, the ovulation phase, and the luteal phase. What occurs during the ovarian cycle is as follows:
The Follicular Phase
The formation of primordial follicles with granulosa cells surrounding them
The anterior pituitary gland secretes luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which help to prepare the reproductive system and mammary glands for pregnancy.
During the follicular phase, a dominant follicle emerges while the others die.
A new endometrial layer begins to grow in the uterus as a result of increased estradiol production, which also stimulates the cervix to generate more protective mucus.
The Ovulation Phase
A developed ovarian follicle releases an egg or oocyte into a fallopian tube during ovulation.
The Luteal Phase
The dominant follicle develops into the corpus luteum, a mass of progesterone-producing cells in the ovary, as a result of the pituitary hormones LH and FSH.
Increased levels of progesterone and other pregnancy-supporting hormones
Either the fertilized oocyte implants in the uterine wall or monthly bleeding, endometrial shedding, and luteolysis (the breakdown of the corpus luteum) start.
The corpus luteum will perish if the released oocyte (or egg) released during the ovulation phase is not fertilized or implanted during the luteal phase. The menstrual cycle would then start, and progesterone levels would drop. Until a fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus and starts the phases of pregnancy, the uterine cycle will continue in this manner.
You might be asking what a follicle is at this moment and why just one dominant Graafian follicle forms. The ovaries contain tiny sacs called ovarian follicles, which are fluid-filled. The majority of follicles in the ovary are primordial follicles, which are encircled by a layer of granulosa cells. They exude hormones that have an impact on the cycles of female reproduction.
What Function Do Follicles Serve?
When a woman first enters adolescence, she typically has between 300,000 and 400,000 ovarian follicles. That may seem excessive, but by the time you turn 36, your follicle count has considerably decreased. Because of this, getting pregnant becomes increasingly challenging as you age.
Your body's follicles have the capacity to release a second oocyte for fertilization. Your granulosa cells and follicle size and health are key factors in determining your fertility. Multiple follicles are stimulated to grow during the follicular phase of the ovulation cycle, but only one principal follicle will continue to grow until it releases an egg during the ovulation phase. Another name for this is a burst follicle, which sounds frightening but is completely normal.
It's crucial to realize that just though a mature follicle releases an egg, it doesn't automatically follow that the egg is healthy or developed enough to be fertilized. For your eggs to be fertilized and develop into your own tiny Mini-Me, they must be in good health. Each egg needs a good zona pellucida as well, which guards the egg and embryo as they are developing.
What Is the Ovarian Cycle's Hormone Order?
The body experiences some head-spinning variations in hormone levels over the course of the three phases of the ovarian cycle. Here is a quick rundown of the hormones that control sex during each stage of the ovarian cycle.
The Phase of Follicles
Multiple hormone levels increase during the follicular period. These consist of LH, FSH, and estrogen. The Graafian follicle produces the elevated estrogen levels, while the pituitary gland releases the FSH and LH chemicals. The hypothalamus releases gonadotropin releasing hormone, also known as GnRH. The hormone causes the pituitary to start producing FSH.
In preparation for pregnancy, estrogen induces the endometrium (uterus lining) to thicken and develop. The pituitary gland releases a significant amount of LH and a lower amount of FSH when estrogen levels are at their highest. These two chemicals cause ovulation. One of the three estrogen hormones your body generates, estradiol, is no longer produced by the primary follicle prior to the onset of ovulation.
The Phase of Ovulation
Just before the ovulation phase, estrogen levels decline quickly. The corpus luteum starts generating progesterone when the egg is discharged into the fallopian tubes. Raising progesterone levels aids in stimulating new glands and blood vessels to get the body ready for pregnancy.
Lauteal Phase
Progesterone concentrations peak in the middle of the luteal phase. During this stage, if the egg does not implant, the corpus luteum starts to deteriorate and disintegrate. Throughout the majority of the luteal phase, estrogen levels also increase once more. Your milk ducts enlarge as a result of the rise in both estrogen and progesterone, which is why your breasts hurt so much right before your period.
Your egg will dissolve if it does not implant during the luteal phase. Your progesterone and estradiol levels fall without an implanted egg, which causes the start of your menstruation.
Hope you learned something new! Check out ownyouraura.com for more education and learn how you can take control of your menstrual health!
