Adolescence can be a confusing time for young people as their bodies begin to change and they become young adults. Ovulation and menstruation are normal parts of puberty, and by better understanding what is typical, you or your child can know when to seek help for any abnormal menstrual conditions. See common menstrual complaints. Show
When a young person reaches puberty, they begin to ovulate — a process in which a mature egg cell (also called an ovum) that is ready for fertilization by a sperm cell is released from one of the ovaries (two reproductive organs located in the pelvis). If the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell as it travels down the fallopian tube, pregnancy occurs. The fertilized egg then becomes attached to the lining of the uterus until the placenta (an organ, shaped like a flat cake, that only grows during pregnancy and provides a metabolic interchange between the fetus and pregnant person) develops. If the egg does not become fertilized as it travels down the fallopian tube on its way to the uterus, the endometrium (lining of the uterus) is shed and passes through the vagina (the passageway through which fluid passes out of the body during menstrual periods, also called the birth canal), a process called menstruation. As the average menstrual cycle in adults lasts 28 days (starting with the first day of one period and ending with the first day of the next menstrual period), most people ovulate on day 14. At this time, some people experience pain or discomfort in their lower abdomen, spotting, or bleeding, while others do not experience any symptoms at all. A person is generally most fertile (able to become pregnant) a few days before, during, and after ovulation. Menstruation is one part of a person's menstrual cycle which includes the shedding of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) that occurs throughout a person's reproductive life. With each monthly menstrual cycle, the endometrium prepares itself to nourish a fetus, as increased levels of estrogen and progesterone help to thicken its walls. If fertilization does not occur, the endometrium, coupled with blood and mucus from the vagina and cervix (the lower, narrow part of the uterus located between the bladder and the rectum) make up the menstrual flow (also called menses) that leaves the body through the vagina. When does menstruation begin?On average, menarche (a young person's first menstrual period) occurs between the ages of 12 and 13 years old. It generally happens about two years after a girl’s breast budding (average age 10 to 12 years old), and, in most cases, not long after the onset of pubic and underarm hair. Stress, including medical illness, various types of strenuous exercise, weight loss and diet can affect the onset of menstruation and the regularity of the menstrual cycle. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that a young person consult her healthcare provider if she has not started to menstruate by age 15, and/or if she has not begun to develop breast buds, pubic hair, or underarm hair by the age of 13. How long is a menstrual cycle?The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days — from the beginning of one period until the next begins — though in adolescents, cycles can range from 21 to 45 days in duration. For up to the first five years after a girl begins menstruating, periods may be irregular in length and intensity. Normal menstrual periods can last up to seven days, but blood flow during that time may vary from heavy to light and will differ from individual to individual. If a young person’s menstrual cycle is especially heavy, irregular, absent or is accompanied by painful cramps, vaginal itching or other symptoms, they should be examined by a clinician who specializes in treating adolescents, like the Adolescent Medicine Specialty Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The Adolescent Medicine Specialty Clinic provides evaluation, treatment and support for young people with gynecologic needs. Learn about common menstrual complaints and how to treat them. Ovulation is a process in which the body releases an egg from an ovary in preparation for sperm to fertilize it. It is part of the menstrual cycle, which most females experience from the onset of puberty until menopause. In this article we discuss how long ovulation lasts, what happens during it, signs and symptoms, how to track ovulation, and when to see a doctor. Ovulation only lasts around 1 day. The body triggers the release of an egg from the ovaries. Once that egg starts its journey towards the uterus, it only stays viable for 1 day. However, sperm can live in the uterus and fallopian tubes, the tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus, for up to 6 days. This means that there are around 6 days of the menstrual cycle during which people can become pregnant. The body produces the highest amounts of the hormone estrogen during ovulation. This high surge of hormones causes the ovaries to release the egg into the fallopian tubes. The egg travels through them toward the uterus. Estrogen has already caused the uterus to thicken in preparation for implantation. Once the ovaries release the egg, the levels of estrogen in the body begin to fall. There are several signs and symptoms that a person is currently experiencing ovulation. These include:
Some people may experience the following signs and symptoms:
People can usually only get pregnant if they are having unprotected sex just before or during ovulation. People are most likely to get pregnant if they have sex within a day or two of ovulation. However, it is possible for people to become pregnant if they have sex up to several days before ovulation because the sperm can swim up the fallopian tubes to wait for the ovaries to release the egg. The best way to become pregnant is to have frequent unprotected sex before and during ovulation. Some people may use signs and symptoms of ovulation as a way to avoid becoming pregnant. Fertility awareness methods, which people may also know as natural family planning or the rhythm method, may help people plan their sexual activity around their ovulation so that there is less of a chance they will get pregnant. However, a person who does not want to get pregnant should consider using birth control, which is much more effective at preventing pregnancy. There are several ways in which people can track their ovulation to determine when they are at their most fertile:
In contrast, for individuals who do not wish to conceive, various methods of birth control are much more effective. According to Planned Parenthood, using condoms is 85% effective, using a birth control pill or patch is 91% effective, and using a birth control implant or hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) is 99% effective. There are four stages of the menstrual cycle:
The follicular phaseThis phase typically occurs from days 0–14 of the menstrual cycle. If a person has a menstrual cycle that is not 28 days, it is because the follicular phase is either longer or shorter than 14 days. During this phase, the hormone that the body produces the most is estrogen. This helps thicken the uterine lining, making it possible for a fertilized egg to implant itself there. The higher amount of estrogen also makes it easier for sperm to enter the reproductive system. The estrogen changes the cervical mucus, making it easier for sperm to gain entry. OvulationOvulation occurs 14 days before the start of menses, the blood that comes out during a period. If a person has a 28-day cycle, this means that ovulation occurs on day 14. People with a varied cycle will experience ovulation at different times. Day 1 of the menstrual cycle is the first day of a period, or menses. During ovulation, the amount of estrogen the body produces is at its highest. This surge in estrogen triggers a surge in LH, which then stimulates the ovary to release an egg. The cervix also produces more watery mucus to better accommodate sperm. The luteal phaseIn a 28-day cycle, this phase starts on day 14, and ends on day 28. Instead of mainly producing estrogen, the body produces more of a different hormone, progesterone. During the luteal phase, progesterone triggers the uterine lining to secrete substances that support a pregnancy. The progesterone also decreases the amount of cervical mucus the body produces. The fertilization window has passed, so receiving sperm is no longer a priority for the body. The higher amount of progesterone also increases the body’s temperature. If sperm fertilizes the egg, then the body maintains the higher levels of estrogen and progesterone as the egg implants itself into the uterine lining. However, if this does not happen, then the levels of estrogen and progesterone rapidly decrease as the body prepares for menses. MensesThe drop in levels of estrogen and progesterone causes the uterine lining to shed. Menses typically happens on day 1 of the menstrual cycle. Most menstrual blood is arterial, which means that the blood contains oxygen. Only 25% of the blood is venous, which means that it does not contain any oxygen. Venous blood tends to be darker in color than arterial blood. The menstrual blood also contains tissue debris. A process called fibrinolysis prevents the menses from containing clotted blood unless a person experiences a heavy flow. By tracking the menstrual cycle, people can learn whether their periods are regular or irregular and whether their symptoms are any cause for concern. The easiest way to track the menstrual cycle is by marking when a period starts and ends on a calendar. It may also be useful to track:
A person may consider tracking their menstrual cycle with an app. Several apps that track the menstrual cycle are available to download. Some are free and may be capable of tracking certain symptoms. It is important to see a doctor if there are signs that something unusual is happening during the menstrual cycle. Some signs that a person may need to make an appointment with a doctor are:
These symptoms may be a sign that something unusual is happening in the body that is causing a change in the menstrual cycle. Ovulation is a process where the ovaries release eggs in preparation for fertilization. It is a normal part of the menstrual cycle, which prepares the body for pregnancy. The length of the menstrual cycle varies from person to person. Therefore, it is important for a person to keep track of what is normal for them. A person should make an appointment with a doctor if they experience any concerning symptoms. Where does the egg go after ovulation if not fertilized?If no sperm is around to fertilize the egg, it moves through to the uterus and disintegrates.
How long does an unfertilized egg live after ovulation?A released egg lives for less than 24 hours. The highest pregnancy rates have been reported when the egg and sperm join together within 4 to 6 hours of ovulation.
What happens to the egg if not fertilized?If the egg is not fertilized or does not implant, the woman's body sheds the egg and the endometrium. This shedding causes the bleeding in a woman's menstrual period. When a fertilized egg does implant, a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) begins to be produced in the uterus.
What happens to the ovulated egg if it is not fertilized by a sperm?An egg is available for fertilization for 12 to 24 hours after ovulation. It will disappear after 24 hours if it is not fertilized.
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