The Menstrual Cycle

During puberty, hormones are released from the brain that

stimulate the ovaries. The ovaries then produce estrogen and
progesterone.

These are hormones that cause the eggs in the ovaries to

mature so the woman can become pregnant when she chooses
to.
Every month, one egg leaves one of the ovaries on its way to
the uterus via the fallopian tubes.

In preparation for the egg, the uterus starts to develop a thicker

lining and it’s walls become cushiony (the endometrial lining).

The endometrial lining is tissue lining the uterine cavity that

grows during the menstrual cycle in preparation for nurturing
an embryo.
If the egg reaches the uterus and is fertilized by a sperm cell, it
attaches to this cushiony wall.

Most of the time the egg just passes right through without
fertilization. Since the uterus no longer needs the extra blood and
tissue which made up the walls thick, it sheds them by way of the
vagina.

This cycle will happen nearly every month until the ovaries stop
releasing eggs, usually several decades later. (Menopause).
Periods are different for every woman.

Some girls start menstruation when they're 9 or 10; some in

their late teens.

The length of the cycle also varies. Some periods last longer
than 28 days, some shorter.
Menstrual cramps are pretty
common during the first few days
of your period. These are most
likely caused by prostagladins.

Prostaglandins causes the muscles of the uterus to contract.

When the uterine muscles contract, they constrict the blood

supply (vasoconstriction) to the endometrium.
This contraction blocks the delivery of oxygen to the tissue
of the endometrium which, in turn, breaks down and dies.

Menstrual cramps of some degree affect more than an

estimated 50% of women, and among these, up to 15% would
describe their menstrual cramps as severe.

After the death of this tissue, the uterine contractions literally

squeeze the old endometrial tissue through the cervix and out
of the body by way of the vagina.
The difference between menstrual cramps that are more
painful and those that are less painful is apparently related to
a woman's prostaglandin levels.

Hormone levels rise and fall during a menstrual cycle,

affecting the way a female feels both mentally and physically.

Emotions can become more intense than usual, and many

women may feel bloated because of water retention. When
your period begins, PMS usually goes away. You may also
have acne flare-ups.
If you have just begun your menstruation, your body will need
time to regulate itself to these changes. Your periods might be a
bit erratic at first.

You may have two cycles in one month and miss having one the
next month. How long your period lasts also varies . Some girls
have their periods for only 3 or 4 days, others as long as a week.
The menstrual flow of blood can vary from woman to woman also.