Your Cycle Day-By-Day

Breaking Your Menstrual Cycle Down

Days 1 to 5

Menstruation begins, if you are not pregnant. Old dead tissue lining the uterus is discarded, estrogen and progesterone levels are low. Body temperature is 96 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit.

Days 6 to 7

Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) is secreted by the hypothalamus. GnRH tells the pituitary to release follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which cause the eggs, or follicles, in one of the ovaries to begin growing. As the eggs grow, they produce estrogen. Progesterone remains low. Cervical mucus is dry and remains dry through days 8 or 9.

Day 8 (May extend to day 12)

Estrogen levels increase. The lining of the uterus becomes thicker and generates a rich supply of blood vessels. This prepares it to receive a fertilized egg. Both FSH and LH levels decline.

Day 10

Cervical mucus becomes wet with cloudy, sticky, or whitish or yellowish secretions.

Day 12

Cervical mucus becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy. This signals that ovulation is near. This is the time you are most likely to get pregnant. Sex now can lead to pregnancy even though ovulation is still several days away because sperm can survive two to five days after intercourse.

Day 13

Estrogen levels rise and boost LH. LH stimulates the synthesis of progesterone, which causes FSH to rise. Within 12 hours of ovulation, the body temperature will rise between 4/10 and 8/10’s of a degree. If pregnancy does not occur, the body temperature will remain elevated until the next menstrual period.

Day 14

Estrogen falls sharply and LH surges, which causes the ovary to release the egg or better known as ovulation. The egg lives for about 12 to 24 hours.

Day 15 (May extend to Day 24)

The empty egg follicle secretes increasing amounts of estrogen and progesterone to help prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy. FSH and LH levels begin to drop.

Day 17

When your body temperature has remained high for three days in a row, your fertile period is generally over.

Day 18

Cervical mucus becomes cloudy.

Days 21 to 22

Progesterone level peaks.

Day 25

The empty egg follicle breaks apart. If the egg was not fertilized, progesterone begins to drop and cervical mucus is tacky. If fertilization occurred, progesterone levels remain high.

Day 27

Mucus is absent or dry.

Day 28

Estrogen level decreases and progesterone production drops rapidly. Mucus is thick and if you are not pregnant, your period will begin tomorrow.