The basic biology of menstruation,.
Basic Biology: the cycle begins
Did
you know that when a baby girl is born, she has all the eggs her body will ever
use, and many more, perhaps as many as 450,000? They are stored in her ovaries,
each inside its own sac called a follicle. As she matures into puberty, her
body begins producing various hormones that cause the eggs to mature. This is
the beginning of her first cycle; it's a cycle that will repeat throughout her
life until the end of menopause.
Let's
start with the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a gland in the brain
responsible for regulating the body's thirst, hunger, sleep patterns, libido
and endocrine functions. It releases the chemical messenger Follicle
Stimulating Hormone Releasing Factor (FSH-RF) to tell the pituitary, another
gland in the brain, to do its job. The pituitary then secretes Follicle
Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and a little Leutenizing Hormone (LH) into the
bloodstream which cause the follicles to begin to mature.
The
maturing follicles then release another hormone, estrogen. As the follicles
ripen over a period of about seven days, they secrete more and more estrogen
into the bloodstream. Estrogen causes the lining of the uterus to thicken. It
causes the cervical mucous to change. When the estrogen level reaches a certain
point it causes the hypothalamus to release Leutenizing Hormone Releasing
Factor (LH-RF) causing the pituitary to release a large amount of Leutenizing
Hormone (LH). This surge of LH triggers the one most mature follicle to burst
open and release an egg. This is called ovulation. [Many birth control pills
work by blocking this LH surge, thus inhibiting the release of an egg.]
Ovulation
As
ovulation approaches, the blood supply to the ovary increases and the ligaments
contract, pulling the ovary closer to the Fallopian tube, allowing the egg,
once released, to find its way into the tube. Just before ovulation, a woman's
cervix secretes an abundance of clear "fertile mucous" which is
characteristically stretchy. Fertile mucous helps facilitate the sperm's
movement toward the egg. Some women use daily mucous monitoring to determine
when they are most likely to become pregnant. Mid cycle, some women also
experience cramping or other sensations. Basal body temperature rises right
after ovulation and stays higher by about .4 degrees F until a few days before
the next period.
Inside
the Fallopian tube, the egg is carried along by tiny, hair like projections,
called "cilia" toward the uterus. Fertilization occurs if sperm are
present. A tubal pregnancy, called ectopic pregnancy, is the rare situation
when e a fertilized egg implants or gets lodged outside the uterus. It is a
dangerous life-threatening situation if the fertilized egg starts developing
and growing into an embryo inside the fallopian tube or elsewhere. The tube
will rupture causing internal bleeding and surgery is required.
A
woman can use a speculum to monitor her own ovulation and use this information
to avoid or encourage a pregnancy. This is the all-natural fertility awareness
method (FAM) of family planning.
Uterine Changes
Between
midcycle and menstruation, the follicle from which the egg burst becomes the
corpus luteum (yellow body). As it heals, it produces the hormones estrogen
and, in larger amounts, progesterone which is necessary for the maintenance of
a pregnancy. In the later stages of healing, if the uterus is not pregnant, the
follicle turns white and is called the corpus albicans.
Estrogen
and progesterone are sometimes called "female" hormones, but both men
and women have them, just in different concentrations.
Progesterone
causes the surface of the uterine lining, the endometrium, to become covered
with mucous, secreted from glands within the lining itself. If fertilization
and implantation do not occur, the spiral arteries of the lining close off,
stopping blood flow to the surface of the lining. The blood pools into
"venous lakes" which, once full, burst and, with the endometrial
lining, form the menstrual flow. Most periods last 4 to 8 days but this length
varies over the course of a lifetime.
Bleeding
Some
researchers view menses as the natural monthly cleansing of the uterus and
vagina of sperm and bacteria they carried.
Cramps and Other Sensations
Women
can experience a variety of sensations before, during or after their menses.
Common complaints include backache, pain in the inner thighs, bloating, nausea,
diarrhea, constipation, headaches, breast tenderness, irritability, and other
mood changes. Women also experience positive sensations such as relief,
release, euphoria, new beginning, invigoration, connection with nature,
creative energy, exhilaration, increased sex drive and more intense orgasms.
Uterine
cramping is one of the most common uncomfortable sensations women may have
during menstruation. There are two kinds of cramping. Spasmodic cramping is
probably caused by prostaglandins, chemicals that affect muscle tension. Some
prostaglandins cause relaxation, and some cause constriction. A diet high in
linoleic and liblenic acids, found in vegetables and fish, increases the
prostaglandins for aiding muscle relaxation.
Congestive
cramping causes the body to retain fluids and salt. To counter congestive
cramping, avoid wheat and dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, and refined sugar.
Natural options to alleviate cramping:
v Increase exercise. This will improve blood and oxygen
circulation throughout the body, including the pelvis.
v Try not using tampons. Many women find tampons increase
cramping. Don't select an IUD (intrauterine device) as your birth control
method.
v Avoid red meat, refined sugars, milk, and fatty foods.
v Eat lots of fresh vegetables, whole grains (especially if you
experience constipation or indigestion), nuts, seeds and fruit.
v Avoid caffeine. It constricts blood vessels and increases
tension.
v Meditate, get a massage.
v Have an orgasm (alone or with a partner).
v Drink ginger root tea (especially if you experience fatigue).
v Put cayenne pepper on food. It is a vasodilator and improves
circulation.
v Breathe deeply, relax, notice where you hold tension in your
body and let it go.
v Ovarian Kung Fu alleviates or even eliminates menstrual cramps
and PMS, it also ensures smooth transition through menopause
v Take time for yourself!
v Anecdotal information suggests eliminating Nutra-Sweet from the
diet will significantly relieve menstrual cramps. If you drink sugar-free sodas
or other forms of Nutra-Sweet, try eliminating them completely for two months
and see what happens.
Lifestyle
The
hormones in our bodies are especially sensitive to diet and nutrition. PMS and
menstrual cramping are not diseases, but rather, symptoms of poor nutrition.
Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS
¬ PMS has been known by women for many many years. However, within
the past 30 or so years, pharmaceutical companies have targeted and created a
market to treat this normal part of a woman's cycle as a disease. These
companies then benefit from the sale of drugs and treatments.
¬ Premenstrual syndrome refers to the collection of symptoms or
sensations women experience as a result of high hormone levels before, and
sometimes during, their periods.
¬ One type of PMS is characterized by anxiety, irritability and
mood swings. These feelings are usually relieved with the onset of bleeding.
Most likely, this type relates to the balance between estrogen and
progesterone. If estrogen predominates, anxiety occurs. If there's more
progesterone, depression may be a complaint.
¬ Sugar craving, fatigue and headaches signify a different type of
PMS. In addition to sugar, women may crave chocolate, white bread, white rice,
pastries, and noodles. These food cravings may be caused by the increased
responsiveness to insulin related to increased hormone levels before
menstruation. In this circumstance, women may experience symptoms of low blood
sugar; their brains are signaling a need for fuel. A consistent diet that
includes complex carbohydrates will provide a steady flow of energy to the
brain and counter the ups and downs of blood sugar variations.
Menstrual Myths
Ø Every woman's cycle is or should be 28 days long.
Ø Every woman will or should bleed every month.
Ø Every woman will or should ovulate every cycle.
Ø If a woman bleeds, she is not pregnant.
Ø A woman cannot ovulate or get pregnant while she is
menstruating.
The
above statements are myths. Every woman is different.
It's
true that most women will have cycles that are around 28 days. But, a woman can
be healthy and normal and have just 3 or 4 cycles a year. [However, while
variations might be healthy and normal, they could also be a sign of a serious
underlying problem. For example, a recent news article suggested that irregular
menstrual cycles may predict Type 2 Diabetes.]
Ovulation
occurs about 14-16 days before women have their period (not 14 days after the
start of their period). The second half of the cycle, ovulation to
menstruation, is fairly consistently the same length, but the first part
changes from person to person and from cycle to cycle. In rare cases, a women
may ovulate twice in a month, once from each ovary.
Conception/Fertilization
of an egg, can only occur after ovulation. The egg stays alive for about 24
hours once released from the ovary. Sperm can stay alive inside a woman's body
for 3-4 days, but possibly as long as 6-7 days. If a couple has intercourse
before or after ovulation occurs, they can get pregnant, since the live sperm
are already inside the woman's body when ovulation occurs. Thus a woman can
become pregnant from intercourse for about 7-10 days in the middle of her
cycle.
Fertility
Awareness is a birth control method where women monitor their cycles daily to
identify ovulation. They are learning to predict ovulation to prevent or
encourage pregnancy. It requires training and diligent record keeping.
From
our work providing abortion services, we know that some women can be pregnant
and continue to have periods at the same time. We also know of cases where
women have gotten pregnant during their menstrual period.
Menopause
Technically
menopause is the last menstrual flow of a woman's life and the climacteric is
period of time preceding and following this event. In general usage, menopause
refers to the whole process. For most women, menopause occurs between the ages
of forty and sixty and takes place over a period from 6 months to three years.
The
menstrual cycle usually goes through many changes, some slow and some sudden,
before stopping altogether. A woman's periods may become erratic, closer
together, or further apart. She may skip a period or two, or have spotting at
other times in her cycle.
A
common experience is loss of large amounts of blood with a period and passage
of large clots. When a woman nears the cessation of her periods, she may not
ovulate for one cycle or several cycles. In this case, the endometrium doesn't
receive the chemical message to stop thickening. It grows and grows until its
heavy bulk causes a heavy flow.
Signals
of menopause include hot flashes or flushes, changes in sleep patterns,
headaches or migraines, high energy, high creativity, and/or mood changes. As
with PMS, some of these symptoms are hormone imbalances caused by poor
nutrition.
Did You Know?
ü Women lose between 20 and 80 cc's (1-2 ounces) of blood during a
normal period.
ü One in six fertilized eggs naturally results in miscarriage,
some of which are reabsorbed by the body and the woman is not aware she's been
pregnant.
ü The length of a woman's menstrual cycle (the number of days from
the first day of one period to the first day of the next) is determined by the
number of days it takes her ovary to release an egg. Once an egg is released,
it is about 14 days until menstruation, for nearly all women.
Alternatives for Handling Menstrual Flow
¬ Chlorine-free biodegradable 100% cotton tampons recently hit the
market in response to environmentally conscious feminists. Studies have shown
that organochlorines can be linked to cancer. Women using chlorine-free tampons
are not putting chlorine into their bodies, nor are they supporting an industry
which produces enormous volumes of industrial waste containing chlorine. If
your regular pad or tampon isn't chlorine-free, write and urge them to make
100% cotton pads and tampons without chlorine.
¬ Natural sponges from the ocean (not cellulose) are used by some
women. They are dampened then inserted directly into the vagina. When full,
they are removed, washed with water, and reused. Washable reusable cloth pads
are also available.
¬ The menstrual cap is another reusable alternative. It is similar
to the cervical cap, but worn near the vaginal opening in the same place as a
tampon. When full, it is simply removed, washed and reinserted. A cervical cap
has also been used successfully in this manner.
¬ The Keeper - a specially made reusable device for catching
monthly flow.
¬ Cloth (washable) pads - this is what most women around the word
have always used.
Moon Time
Throughout
all cultures, the magic of creation resides in the blood women gave forth in
apparent harmony with the moon, and which sometimes stayed inside to create a
baby. This blood was regarded with reverence: it had mysterious magical powers,
was inexplicably shed without pain, and was wholly foreign to male experience.
Early menstrual rites were perhaps the first expression of human culture.
Native American (Lakota):
"Follow
your Grandmother Moon. Her illuminating cycles will transform your
spirit." Begin with the Grandmother Moon at her brightest and most open.
This is a time of outward activity and high energy. Sleep where the moonlight
touches you. Walk outside where there are no artificial lights. Feel joy and
creativity. As the Grandmother begins to cover her face, begin to withdraw into
a quieter, less social place. Move to that inward place that is more about
"being" than "doing." In the dark of the moon, when
bleeding, the veil between you and the Great Mystery is the thinnest. Be
receptive to visions, insights, and intuitions. Go to a quiet separate place
such as a Moon Lodge. Later, come out of the dark, a woman with a cleansed
body. As the moon returns, come back out into the world, carrying your vision.
Customs and Traditions
¬ Indians of South American said all humans were made of
"moon blood" in the beginning.
¬ In Mesopotamia, the Great Goddess created people out of clay and
infused them with her blood of life. She taught women to form clay dolls and
smear them with menstrual blood. Adam translates as bloody clay.
¬ In Hindu theory, as the Great Mother created the earth, solid
matter coalesced into a clot with a crust. Women use this same method to
produce new life.
¬ The Greeks believed the wisdom of man or god was centered in his
blood which came from his mother.
¬ Egyptian pharaohs became divine by ingesting the blood of Isis
called sa. Its hieroglyphic sign was the same as the sign of the vulva, a yonic
loop like the one on the ankh.
¬ From the 8th to the 11th centuries, Christian churches refused
communion to menstruating women.
¬ In ancient societies, menstrual blood carried authority,
transmitting lineage of the clan or tribe.
¬ Among the Ashanti, girl children are more prized than boys
because a girl is the carrier of the blood.
¬ Chinese sages called menstrual blood the essence of Mother
Earth, the yin principle giving life to all things.
¬ Some African tribes believed that menstrual blood kept in a
covered pot for nine months had the power to turn itself into a baby.
¬ Easter eggs, classic womb-symbols, were dyed red and laid on
graves to strengthen the dead.
¬ A born-again ceremony from Australia showed the Aborigines
linked rebirth with blood of the womb.
¬ Post-menopausal women were often the wisest because they
retained their "wise blood." In the 17th century these old women were
constantly persecuted for witch craft because their menstrual blood remained in
their veins.
Calendars:
v The Roman Goddess of measurement, numbers, calendars, and
record-keeping; derived from the Moon-goddess as the inventor of numerical
systems; measurer of time.
v It has been shown that calendar consciousness developed first in
women because their natural body rhythms corresponded to observations of the
moon. Chinese women established a lunar calendar 3000 years ago. Mayan women
understood the great Maya calendar was based on menstrual cycles. Romans called
the calculation of time menstruation, meaning knowledge of the menses. In
Gaelic, menstruation and calendar are the same word.
v The lunar calendar's thirteen 28-day months had four 7-day
weeks, marking the new, waxing, full, and waning moons. Thirteen months is 364
days. Pagan traditions describe an annual cycle as a 13 months and a day. Even
today, Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring
equinox. The 13 month calendar also led to pagan reverence for the number 13
and the Christian attempts to demolish it. Generally, the ancient symbols of
matriarchy were the night, moon and 13. Patriarchy (under Christianity) honored
the day, the sun and 12.
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