Ovulation & Menstrual Cycle
We’re here to offer guidance and support as you navigate your ovulation and menstrual cycles, empowering you to track your cycle confidently and pursue your conception goals with assurance and clarity.
Ovulation &
Menstrual Cycle
We’re here to offer guidance and support as you navigate your ovulation and menstrual cycles, empowering you to track your cycle confidently and pursue your conception goals with assurance and clarity.
What is menstruation and ovulation?
Many women primarily see their menstrual cycle as their period, but there’s more to it. Understanding each phase allows us to connect with our body’s rhythm.We’re here to offer guidance and support as you navigate your ovulation and menstrual cycles, empowering you to track your cycle confidently and pursue your conception goals with assurance and clarity.
Exploring the phases of your menstrual cycle
While we refer to the 28-day cycle below, every woman’s cycle is unique, ranging from 21 to 35 days. If your cycle remains consistent, there’s usually no cause for concern. But if it varies significantly, talk to your GP. Your cycle has two main phases: the follicular and luteal phases, with ovulation in between.
The follicular phase
Picture the follicular phase as the beginning of your cycle, where eggs develop within follicles in your ovaries. Estrogen levels rise, thickening your uterine lining as follicles mature.
- Menstruation (Days 1–5): Your period begins, signalling the shedding of your uterine lining while new follicles, each housing an egg, start to grow. Be kind to yourself during this time.
- Mid-Follicular (Days 5–12): Follicles release estrogen to nurture your uterine lining, creating an ideal environment for potential pregnancy. One follicle typically dominates, growing larger and cradling a mature egg ready for conception.
- Ovulation (Days 12–15): Luteinising hormone (LH) surges, prompting the dominant follicle to release the mature egg from the ovary. It’s a delicate process orchestrated by your body, bringing you closer to possible conception.
Did you know?
Remarkably, sperm can survive up to five days in the fallopian tube, but the egg has just 12 to 24 hours for fertilisation. If successful, the egg and sperm form a zygote, which travels to the uterus and ideally develops into a blastocyst over five days, ready to implant in the uterine lining.
The luteal phase
During the luteal phase, progesterone maintains the uterine lining, creating a warm and nurturing environment and fostering a potential pregnancy.
- Days 16–22: Progesterone takes charge, nurturing the uterine lining for potential pregnancy. Its surge 5 to 9 days post-ovulation confirms ovulation, serving as a reassuring sign that your body is primed for pregnancy.
- Days 23–28: If fertilisation occurs, hCG prompts the corpus luteum to sustain progesterone production. Otherwise, the egg is absorbed and the corpus luteum fades. This subtle shift in hormone levels is what prompts your uterus to gently start anew, ushering in your period.
Did you know?
Our pregnancy tests accurately detect hCG in urine, confirming pregnancy as early as 6 days before your expected period. With results over 99% accurate from the first day of your missed period, you can trust in our reliability.
hCG levels need time to build up for detection. If you suspect pregnancy but receive a negative result, wait 48 hours and retest with your first-morning urine for clarity and peace of mind.