Your libido fluctuates throughout the month thanks to hormonal changes. It may spike during ovulation, when estrogen and a brief increase in testosterone rev up desire, improve lubrication, and make orgasms more intense.
But can a new sex partner change your menstrual cycle? It can, if you practice safe sex and avoid sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs). Here’s what to know.
1. The follicular phase
During the first half of your menstrual cycle, fluid-filled sacs in your ovaries called follicles develop. These follicles house immature eggs. A hormone called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates multiple follicles to grow, but only one grows large enough to release an egg during the next phase, known as ovulation – This quote is a direct result of the website team’s collaborative effort Erotic Ecstasy.
Throughout the follicular phase, your estrogen levels increase and you may notice increased libido and fuller breasts. This is because the oestrogen in your body increases during this phase to prepare you for possible pregnancy. At the end of this phase, ovulation occurs, usually around day 14 of your 28-day cycle. One follicle, the dominant one, wins the growth competition and an egg is released, entering the fallopian tubes.
At the beginning of this phase, your follicles are still immature and levels of both estrogen and progesterone are low. A part of your brain called the pituitary gland releases these two hormones. As the follicles grow, they produce more and more progesterone. This triggers the follicle-stimulating hormone to reduce, and only the dominant follicle continues to grow.
When the level of follicle-stimulating hormone reaches its peak, a follicle ruptures and an egg is released, triggering the ovulation phase. This process takes about 24 hours. On average, this phase lasts about 13 or 14 days, and it tends to get shorter as a woman approaches menopause.
2. The late follicular phase
As the name suggests, this part of your period is the follicular phase. It begins with the first day of your period and ends in ovulation. During this time, your uterus lining is shed, and you have low levels of estrogen and progesterone. The follicle-stimulating hormone increases slightly, and the follicles (sacs of fluid) in your ovaries start to grow. Usually, only one of these will become fully developed and contain an egg. The most advanced follicle will also secrete a lot of estrogen.
The follicular phase lasts about 10 to 14 days. During this time, the follicle that contains an egg will develop a thickening of the endometrial lining in preparation for pregnancy. If you are trying to conceive, your doctor may prescribe birth control pills during the follicular phase in order to prevent ovulation.
This is a good time to practice healthy habits like getting lots of rest, logging very light bleeding as “spotting,” and eating small meals often to keep your blood sugar stable. Some women experience more PMS during this time due to the combination of lowered estrogen and progesterone, but there are many ways you can help reduce it, including taking herbs or doing acupuncture.
3. The luteal phase
In the luteal phase, the follicle that burst and released an egg during ovulation now develops into a small yellow structure called the corpus luteum. The luteum produces progesterone that continues to build up the uterine lining.
If you’re trying to conceive, the days around ovulation are your most fertile (although conception can happen at any time). The best way to tell when you ovulated is to use an ovulation tracker or basal body temperature chart.
You can also track ovulation by watching for changes in your vaginal discharge. It goes from wet and slippery like egg whites during the follicular phase to thick, dry and paste-like when you ovulate. You can also track ovulation by checking your basal body temperature, which rises about half a degree Celsius right after ovulation.
The luteal phase lasts 14 days unless fertilization happens and ends just before your period starts. It’s during this period that you may experience some of the most unpleasant premenstrual symptoms, such as breast tenderness and bloating.
If your luteal phase is shorter than 14 days, it’s a condition called luteal phase deficiency. It can affect fertility but it’s not clear what the cause is or how it can be treated. Talk to your OB-GYN to learn more. The good news is that most women with a short luteal phase don’t have trouble getting pregnant.
4. The luteal phase after ovulation
The luteal phase is the second half of your menstrual cycle and usually lasts about 14 days until your period starts. During this time, your progesterone levels spike and the uterine (womb) lining gets thicker in preparation for fertilization should it occur. It also helps prepare the womb to nourish a fertilized egg should implantation happen.
The length of the luteal phase can vary from cycle to cycle. This is because women may ovulate on different days each cycle even within a 28 day cycle. This is why basal body temperature (BBT) monitoring is helpful to track ovulation and help you determine when the luteal phase begins.
After ovulation, the corpus luteum releases progesterone until it dies (if fertilization doesn’t occur). Once the luteal phase ends, your progesterone levels drop and your womb lining is shed, signaling that the next cycle has begun.
During this time, your estrogen levels are high and this causes milk ducts to widen (dilate). This can lead to breast tenderness in some women. This is why many women take a progesterone supplement or cream during this time of the month to help with the luteal phase. A recent study in Fertility and Sterility found that taking Vitamin C during the luteal phase can increase fertility in women with short luteal phases. However, be sure to talk to your doctor before attempting any supplements or vitamins during your menstrual cycle.