Interestingly, a woman is born with all of the eggs that she will ever have. In other words, she does not produce any more eggs once she is born. During puberty, a girl begins the menstrual cycle, which is the process of preparing the body for possible pregnancy. One important phase in the menstrual cycle is called ovulation, where you monthly release the eggs present in your body.
First, it is important to understand the basic structure of a woman’s reproductive system. A woman’s ovaries are connected to the uterus by fallopian tubes. Your eggs are nestled in the ovaries in an immature form. Your body’s hormones help regulate the maturation, release, and flushing out of your eggs. All of this, save for the actual bleeding of the menstrual cycle, is part of the ovulation process.
Ovulation is divided into two different portions. These two parts are called the follicular phase and luteal phase. The follicular phase begins on the first day of the last menstrual period, and it can last 7-40 days. Over this time, your body has a rise in follicle stimulating hormone, which eventually leads a follicle to produce a mature egg. At the same time, the follicle itself releases a form of estrogen that causes the lining of the uterus to thicken, to prepare for a possible fertilized egg.
Next, you undergo actual ovulation, when the egg bursts from the follicle. The egg travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus, and it can be fertilized in either location. Additionally, you cannot predict whether only your left or right ovary will release the mature egg, or both. After release, the egg can survive for 12-24 hours.
Ovulation is the first day of the luteal phase, which then lasts until you start your next period. During this time, your body produces hormones that would help the egg to implant in the uterus should it be fertilized. 12-16 days after ovulation, the luteal cycle ends as your body flushes out the egg and lining of the uterus so that you can prepare again for ovulation.
One of the ways that women prevent unwanted pregnancy is by controlling ovulation. Oral contraceptives such as YAZ, Yasmin, and Ocella use special hormones to prevent early ovulation so that you can avoid pregnancy. However, these hormones have also been linked to serious health problems such as heart attack and stroke. If you have suffered from the negative side effects associated with YAZ, Yasmin, or Ocella, visit the website of the YAZ attorneys from Williams Kherkher today.