THE MENSTRUAL CYCLEPredicting

Ovulation & Fertility Periods

“The Curse”

Menstruation is considered a unique indicator of a woman’s

overall _____________.

Answer: Physical Health• The menstrual cycle is viewed as a

reliable predictor of a woman’s general health and well-being.

• The lack of or complete loss of a woman’s cycle could indicate issues with fertility, bone health, heart disease, and ovarian failure.

TERMINOLOGYMenses

1. The periodic flow of blood and mucosal tissue from the uterus.

2. The monthly flow of blood and cellular debris from the uterus that begins at puberty and ceases at menopause. This process is also referred to as emmenia, a menstrual cycle or period.

Menstruation If an ovum is not fertilized, or if the

fertilized ovum does not attach to the uterine wall, the uterine lining is not needed

The muscles of the uterus contract, causing the lining to gradually break down

The lining passes through the cervix into the vagina and out through the vaginal opening

4 to 7 days Cycles Vary from female to female

Menopause - The period marked by the natural and permanent cessation of menstruation, occurring between the ages of 45 and 55 in humans.

Dysmenorrhea – painful periods, including severe cramps. In young women this is usually caused by high levels of prostaglandins. Treatments include: Warm baths, OTC pain medications like Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and Midol) and Naproxen (Aleve)

Amenorrhea - Absence of the menses (Why?)

FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO AMENORRHEA

Natural causes1. Pregnancy2. Breast-feeding 3. Menopause

AmenorrheaLifestyle factors1. Stress - Mental stress can temporarily alter the

functioning of your hypothalamus — an area of your brain that controls the hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle. Ovulation and menstruation may stop as a result. Regular menstrual periods usually resume after your stress decreases.

2. Low body weight - Excessively low body weight interrupts many hormonal functions in your body, potentially halting ovulation. Women who have an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia, often stop having periods because of these abnormal hormonal changes.

AmenorrheaLifestyle factors3. Excessive exercise - Women who participate in sports that require rigorous training, such as dance, body building, long-distance running, cycling, and gymnastics may find their menstrual cycle interrupted. Several factors combine to contribute to the loss of periods in athletes, including low body fat, stress and high energy expenditure.

AmenorrheaMedications – Antipsychotics, Cancer chemotherapy, Antidepressants, and Blood pressure drugs

Contraceptives - Some women who take hormonal birth control may not have periods. Contraceptives that are ingested, injected, absorbed, or implanted (intrauterine & sub-dermal), may cause amenorrhea. When hormonal contraceptives are stopped, it may take three to six months to resume regular ovulation and menstruation cycles.

PMSWhat is PMS?

PMS? Psychotic Mood Shift Puffy Mid-Section Pardon My Sobbing Pissy Mood Syndrome

PMS Premenstrual Syndrome

Most women have tender breasts, bloating, and muscle aches a few days before they start their menstrual cycle. These are normal premenstrual symptoms. But when they affect your daily life, they are called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS can affect your body as well as your mood. Sometimes it can make you change the way you act.

PMS is tied to hormone changes that happen during your menstrual cycle. Doctors don't fully know why premenstrual symptoms are worse in some women than in others. They do know that for many women, PMS runs in the family.

PMS Symptoms PMS symptoms can affect your body, your mood, and how you

act in the days or week leading up to your menstrual period. Physical signs include:

Acne Bloating and tender breasts Food cravings Lack of energy Cramps Headaches Low back pain

When you have PMS, you might also: Feel sad, angry, or anxious Be less alert Find it hard to focus on tasks Want to withdraw from family and friends Act in a forceful or hostile way (CRAZY)

Victims of PMS We have humor and the pleasure of

never personally experiencing PMS.

Feminine Hygiene Products

Reusable Softcups

Softcup Infomercialhttp://www.softcup.com/

Toxic Shock Syndrome What is TSS?

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a rare, but potentially serious disease that has been associated with tampon use. In rare cases, TSS can be fatal. TSS is believed to be caused by toxin-producing strains of the staphylococcus aureus bacterium.

What causes TSS? The bacterium that causes TSS is found most commonly on the

skin, in the nose, armpit, groin or vagina. In fact, about one third of the population carry it without any problem at all. However, in a very small number of people, certain strains of the bacterium produce toxins that can cause TSS. Most people have the antibodies in their bloodstream to protect them from the toxin if it is produced, but many do not.

TSS What is the link between TSS and tampon use?

The link is not clearly understood. However, tampon research shows that the risk of tampon-related TSS is associated with absorbency: the higher the absorbency the higher the risk; the lower the absorbency, the lower the risk. That is why a woman should always use the lowest absorbency tampon for her menstrual flow.

What are the symptoms of TSS? Some of the symptoms are much the same as the flu, but they can become serious very

quickly. The warning signs of TSS are: Sudden high temperature (102 degrees F/38.9 degrees C or higher)

VomitingDiarrheaA sunburn-like rashMuscle achesDizzinessFainting or feeling faint when standing up

If you have any of these symptoms and are wearing a tampon you should remove the tampon immediately and contact your doctor for immediate treatment. Tell the doctor that you have been using tampons and suspect that you may have TSS. Don’t worry about being an alarmist. What's important is to get speedy treatment.

Methods of Predicting Ovulation

Calendar or Rhythm Method Basal Body Temperature Method

Rise in body temperature after ovulation Ovulation/Cervical Methods

Sampling of cervical mucus and cervical positioning

Ovulation Predictor Kits Combination of all methods or urine sample

tests

Menstrual Cycle Charts

Charting Mucus & Positioning Patterns

Temperature Charts

A woman’s fertile period depends on the life span of sperm and egg. The egg (ova) lives

for about one - two days. A man’s sperm can live inside a woman’s body for about five -

seven days. Successful fertilization of a woman’s egg is more likely from vaginal intercourse prior to ovulation rather than

vaginal intercourse that follows ovulation. In total, a woman has a good chance of

becoming pregnant from unprotected vaginal intercourse during nine days of her menstrual cycle – (Seven days before the release of an egg (ovulation), the day of ovulation, and

possibly, the day after ovulation).

Susie Three Cycles

Initial Spotting Period Ends Possible Ovulation End of Cycle

Susie Use the calendar method to develop a

three month timeline that depicts the following woman’s menstrual cycle. Length of cycle: 28 days Duration of Period: 5 days Initial spotting : May 15th “Fertile Time” Possible Ovulation range: ???

Most women ovulate anywhere between Day 11 and Day 21of their cycle, counting from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). For this lesson we will use the cycle midpoint, plus three days before and after as our “Fertile Time.”

Susie’s Dates Initial Spotting

May 15 June 12 July 10 Period End

May 19 June 16 July 14 Possible Ovulation

May 25-31 June 22-28 July 20-26

End of Cycle June 11 July 9 Aug. 6