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Cycle knowledge is basic knowledge.
Let's work together to ensure that all women* have this knowledge!
The female cycle is a sophisticated hormonal system that has a strong influence on other physiological and psychological processes in the female body. Much of the traditional knowledge about the female cycle and female fertility has been lost over time due to its tabooing, medicalization and pathologization.
A 2017 survey showed that despite a de-tabooing of the female menstrual cycle and menstruation in particular, 60% of girls surveyed aged 11-18 years still have a negative attitude towards menstruation and 50% have large gaps in terms of cycle knowledge [1].
Your natural cycle
The female cycle is divided into four phases that follow each other. In these different phases, the various female hormones affect both your ovaries and your uterine lining.
Often these four phases are also compared to the four seasons.
Length of each of these phases varies from woman to woman and from cycle to cycle.
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You have two ovaries and during the follicular phase (egg maturation), your inner spring, a group of egg follicles matures monthly in one of your two ovaries. Egg maturation is stimulated by a hormone called follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This is secreted from your pituitary gland, a part of your brain. The vesicles that surround the eggs are called follicles and are the name given to these stages. One of these follicles will develop into the dominant follicle, Graaf's follicle. The follicles produce the hormone estrogen, which builds up and thickens your uterine lining.
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The follicular phase lasts between 10 and 16 days.
A steep rise in LH triggers ovulation, your inner summer. The increase in LH causes the Graaf's follicle to burst and expel the fertilizable egg into the fallopian tube. Fertilization also occurs in the fallopian tube.
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Your ovulation occurs between the 13th and 16th day of your cycle.
After your ovulation, the luteal phase begins, your inner fall. After the egg pops out of the Graaf's follicle, a shell is left behind, which turns into the so-called corpus luteum. In the corpus luteum, which is located in your ovary, two important hormones are produced - progesterone and estrogen. They are responsible for maintaining your uterine lining and thus preparing your uterus for a possible pregnancy.
The luteal phase is between 10 and 16 days.
Menstruation, your inner winter, marks the end of your current cycle and also the beginning of your new cycle. Menstruation occurs when the egg has not been fertilized. During menstruation, your uterine muscles contract and expel the built-up lining of the uterus. Between 40-50ml of blood is discharged. During menstruation, your hormone levels, especially those of the two hormones estrogen and progesterone, are low. This is due to the fact that if the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum breaks down and hormone production decreases. Menstruation serves to prepare your body and your uterus for a new cycle and a possible pregnancy.
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Menstruation occurs between your 21st and 35th cycle days and lasts between 3 and 7 days.
Midwife Consultation
During the consultation I will answer all your questions about your cycle, how you can live in harmony with it and what alternative contraceptive methods there are to the conventional hormonal as well as chemical contraceptive methods.
Cost: 100€
When: from your first period
Duration: about 1 hour (more if needed)