Health - Menstrual Cycle

how long does menstrual period last

3-7days (possibly longer)

can a woman get pregnant without penetration or ejaculation?

YES

barrier methods

block sperm from entering uterus; condoms - male and female; diaphragm; cervical cap; abstinence

methods of achieving or avoiding pregnancy

charting methods; birth control- to prevent ovulation; barrier methods

remnants of follicle

corpus luteum, "yellow body" because it appears yellow on the ovary

Biological valve (in menstrual cycle)

created with estrogen-stimulated mucus, essential to human fertility; mucus arranges itself in parallel strands, forming swimming channels for the sperm

how long is menstrual cycle

day 1 of bleeding to day 1 of the next time of bleeding; length tends to be irregular; can be 18 to 40 days between cycles

gestational carrier (Surrogate)

egg of woman and the intended father's sperm are used to create an embryo (via IVF) that is transferred into and carried by the surrogate mother. The resulting child is genetically related to its parents while the surrogate mother has no genetic relation

Estrogen and menstrual cycle

estrogen builds up the lining of the uterus; estrogen rises in 1st half of menstrual cycle - pre-ovulatory phase

pregnancy can result from any genital contact on days of fertility

even without penetration or ejaculation; pre-ejaculatory fluid has very high concentration of sperm; if it comes in to contact with cervical mucus, which is present at the opening of the vagina, sperm can find their way to the fallopian tubes and a pregnancy can result

intrauterine insemination (IUI)

fertility treatment that uses a catheter to place a number of washed sperm directly into the uterus. The goal of IUI is to increase the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes and subsequently increase the chance of fertilization

pre-ovulatory phase

first day of menstrual bleeding until the day of ovulation

other methods of achieving pregnancy

in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), Gestational Carrier (Surrogate)

progesterone in menstrual cycle

increases after ovary releases an egg (ovulation); helps the estrogen keep the lining of the uterus thick and ready for a fertilized egg

progesterone and the lining of the uterus

keeps lining of uterus thick and ready for a fertilized egg; post=ovulatory phase mucus production stops; if fertilization does not occur progesterone level drops and bleeding begins. Level of progesterone in lining of uterus is vital to pregnancy; luteal development begins with production of progesterone

ovulation

one or two eggs selected to develop toward ovulation; follicle ruptures when it is mature and is released from ovary (ovulation)

birth control to prevent ovulation

pills, patches, shots

in vitro fertilization (IVF)

process by which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body and then transferred back to the uterus

What is the menstrual cycle?

series of changes of ovulation and menstruation a woman's body goes through to prepare for pregnancy

follicle

small, cyst-like structure where eggs develop - follicle grows and develops prior to ovulation; follicle ruptures when it is mature and is released from ovary (ovulation

charting methods

use a woman's cycle/body to determine fertility; creighton model, rhythm method, basal body temperature

what happens during menstrual cycle

uterus grows a new lining(endometrium) to get ready for fertilized egg(zygote); if there is no fetilized egg to begin a pregnancy, the uterus sheds its lining - called a menstrual period - bleeding 3-7days (possibly longer)

common symptoms prior to menstrual cycle

water retention, bloating, acne breakout, cramping, tender/sore breasts, fatigue, irritability