|
|
Figure 2. The female reproductive system
The aspect of the reproductive system that women are most aware of is the menstrual period which they have every month. The menstrual cycle is the time from the beginning of one period to the beginning of the next one. Usually menstrual cycles last about 28-35 days, though anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks is considered normal.
During the menstrual cycle, the uterus gets ready for pregnancy. Under the influence of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, its lining grows rich and thick to prepare for the fertilized egg. If pregnancy doesn't occur, the uterus must get rid of this lining so that it can grow a new one in the next cycle. The old lining passes out of the uterus through the vagina as the menstrual flow.
The menstrual flow thus consists of:
If the menstrual flow is heavy, there may sometimes be clots in it. Sometimes the uterine lining is shed as large fragments - and these may sometimes looks like bits of pregnancy tissue to some women, who think they are miscarrying.
Many infertile women are obsessed with their menstrual periods, and they worry about every little variation – whether it’s too dark , too light, too much or too little. However, remember that the menstrual flow has no connection to your fertility and you should not be too concerned about variations, which are quite common and of little significance.
© Dr. Aniruddha Malpani and Dr. Anjali Malpani www.drmalpani.com
Credits: How to Have a Baby: Overcoming Infertility
 |
 |
