Nothing further from the truth.
Menstrual cycles length and duration varies from woman to woman according to race and ethnicity and even for the same woman, depending on her age.
A period is considered to be regular even if it varies slightly from one month to another.
A regular cycle has an “average” duration of 28 days, when we look at the entire menstruating female population, but this being said, a cycle between 23 and 35 days is considered normal, as long as there is a pattern to it and most of the cycles are ovulatory.
But what exactly is it that decides the health of your menstrual cycle? The answer is easy to guess: hormones!
From the time she reaches puberty and has her first period and until she reaches menopause, usually around the age of 50-51 years old, a woman’s reproductive system is regulated by hormones.
During the first part of the cycle, called the follicular phase, the maturing follicle gets ready to ovulate. It produces estrogen, which will thicken the uterine lining, preparing it for implantation in case fertilization occurs. When a certain level of estrogen is reached mid-cycle, indicating the follicle is ripe, the brain sends a gush of LH (Luteinizing hormone) to help the follicle burst and release the egg: that is how ovulation happens.
After ovulation, estrogen remains stable, and it is Progesterone’s time to shine. Progesterone will start going up as soon as the egg is released, and will peak around 7 days after, when the implantation window opens. The role of Progesterone is to prime the uterine lining and make it a comfortable place for the embryo to burrow into, in case you conceive that cycle.
Progesterone also has another role: to counterbalance Estrogen.
Estrogen is a very important hormone. It maintains your sexual and reproductive health, but also has an impact on your overall health: bones, heart, central nervous system.
Estrogen impacts cholesterol and blood sugar, collagen production in your skin and your ability to focus.
When Estrogen is low during menopause, without the appropriate hormonal replacement therapy, women may suffer from brain fog, vaginal dryness, change of moods, osteoporosis.
You do not want your Estrogen levels to be too low!
But you don’t want them too high either, because in that case, you may experience heavy periods, weight gain, and tiredness.
That is why ovulation is important, so you can produce enough Progesterone to keep your Estrogen under control. It’s called: hormonal balance.
One of the main causes of irregular cycles is hormonal imbalance, and the most frequent culprit for this is PCOS- polycystic ovarian syndrome.
PCOS is a hormonal condition that affects women of childbearing age. It is estimated that up to 13% of the entire female population worldwide is diagnosed. Unfortunately, up to 70% of the women who suffer from this condition remain undiagnosed, because they lack access to care and also because there is a lack of consensus regarding the diagnostic criteria.
The 3 main features of PCOS are:
- Irregular periods
- Excess androgen
- Polycystic ovaries
The incidence of PCOS on the Gulf Countries is even higher that in the rest of the population, with studies stating up to 1 in 4 women being diagnosed with this condition in the United Arab Emirates. Aside from a genetic predisposition in the local population, other causes for such high numbers of PCOS in the region are lack of vitamin D, lifestyle choices, being overweight, and insulin resistance.
So how do you know if your cycles are regular, if you are ovulating correctly and if your hormonal balance is optimal?
A healthy menstrual cycle is important for a woman’s overall health, regardless of where she is in her life and whether she is trying to get pregnant or not.
Ovulation is a marker of health because it shows your hormones are balanced. It is essential to keep an eye on ovulation, and the easiest way to do this is to track your cycles. Several apps can help you monitor your symptoms, log in your personal data and alert you when something seems off. That could be a great first step and an opportunity to notice any red flags worth signalling to your doctor.
Keeping track of your body’s changes helps you identify issues that can impact your entire health, which can be easily addressed with the help of a specialist doctor.
At ART fertility center we are experts in offering customized assessments, so you can proactively decide together with your doctor, which is the best way to help you get regular periods and achieve optimal hormonal health, especially if you are planning on growing your family.
Make an appointment now in one of our three clinics located in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.