Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a term used to describe the period in which a woman carries one or more embryos in her womb. Until pregnancy occurs, a mature egg produced by the ovary must be combined with a sperm. The egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube. The fertilized egg is then transferred to the uterus and implanted in the uterus. The thick lining is ready to receive the fetus, and the pregnancy lasts 40 weeks or more, which is equivalent to nine months.
PMS
The menstrual cycle is a major stage of puberty in the girl, a series of changes that take place in the body of the female to prepare for the process of pregnancy, each month the process of ovulation or ovulation by the production of one egg from the ovaries, and at the same time hormonal changes to prepare the uterus to receive the fetus. If ovulation occurs and fertilization occurs, the endometrium is removed through the vagina. This is called the menstrual cycle, and continues in females from adolescence to menopause, that is, about 50 years of age. The menstrual period is calculated from the first day of menstrual bleeding until the first day of the next cycle, and the period of the menstrual cycle is 28-35 days.
The menstrual cycle is divided into three phases:
- Menstrual phase: This period is characterized by bleeding from the vagina and endometrial detachment due to successive contractions of the uterine wall.
- Peripheral phase: During the follicular phase the follicle prepares to release the egg, usually one egg is released each cycle, and at the same time the lining of the uterus begins again to prepare for pregnancy. The fertility period for women is the last five days of this stage, in addition to the day of ovulation, so it is recommended for those who want to have sex during this period.
- Zero phase: This stage starts when the egg starts from the follicle in the ovary, and can occur at any time from 7 to 22 days of the normal menstrual cycle. If fertilization of this egg in the sperm cell begins to cultivate in the lining of the uterus and pregnancy occurs, and calculate the pregnancy from the first day of bleeding Menstruation in the current menstrual cycle, and if the egg is not fertilized start the lining of the uterus dissociation.
Ovulation date
To ensure pregnancy occurs, the couple should know the following points:
- Ovulation occurs between the 13th to the 20th day before the next menstrual period.
- Sperm remain alive in the body of the female for six days while the egg dies after 12-24 hours of ovulation, so intercourse should occur before ovulation several days or during ovulation; to increase the probability of sperm met with the egg.
- The day of ovulation should be carefully defined to ensure pregnancy occurs. Some of the following methods can be used to calculate ovulation time:
- Urine Test Kit: Using a urine sample: These devices measure the level of the lutein hormone. The concentration of urine in the urine increases 24 to 36 hours before ovulation. These devices are provided with instructions on when to start the examination depending on the length of the menstrual cycle. Five to seven days.
- Ovulation test strips: The advantages of this method of ease of use and its low cost, and the woman knows the date of ovulation of the color change of the tape when dipping in a sample of urine.
- Digital Ovulation Test Kit: This test measures the change of the concentration of the L-1 hormone using a sample of urine.
- Advanced Digital Ovulation Testing Kit: It detects the concentration of lutein in addition to estrogen in urine and can predict the two most fertile days in women.
- Fertility Monitor: This device monitors the concentration of both LH and estrogen, some of which also monitor follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The advantages of this type of device is that it stores information obtained from previous urine tests, and can monitor the timing of ovulation accurately .
- Sprouting test kits using saliva: These devices monitor the minerals in the saliva, and are equipped with a small microscope, and when the date of ovulation shows a form resembling fern paper. Its advantages include frequent use and ease of use. One of the disadvantages of not being able to see the paper through the microscope.
Other ways to monitor ovulation include:
- Calculus: This method is effective in women with regular ovulation period between 28-32 days. The ovulation date is calculated based on the average length of the cycle and the date of the last period of menstruation for women, and the use of special ovulation machines that are available on the Internet.
- Observe the physical changes associated with the ovulation process, such as acute abdominal pain that suddenly appears and disappears within several hours, changes in the breast, and increased libido.
- Monitor the change in body temperature: When ovulation Progesterone hormone is secreted in the body, slightly raising the body temperature by 0.8 degrees after ovulation. After measuring the temperature accurately every morning you can see the high temperature when ovulation occurs. Therefore, this method is successful to know the occurrence of ovulation or not, and recommends the use of a thermometer is accurate.
- Monitor changes in cervical mucus: the lower part of the uterus through which the uterus connects to the vagina. At the time of ovulation the neck mucus becomes more dense and viscous. Vaginal viscosity during ovulation allows protection of the sperm entering the body and facilitates the pursuit of the egg.
- Endometrial biopsy: In this test, a sample of endometrial tissue is taken and examined in vitro by a microscope. The test is performed several days before menstruation. Any changes in the lining of the uterus after ovulation can be determined.
- Ultrasound screening: The vesicles are monitored to monitor the egg’s maturity in the ovary.
Age and fertility
Pregnancy at any age has its advantages and disadvantages as well, experts say, from a biological point of view, that women are more fertile in their early twenties. The ovary in the newborn girl about 1-2 million eggs decrease to between 300000 to 500000 at puberty, while the real number of ovaries during the years of fertility is almost 300, and the older the woman the less the quality of the eggs produced, Children with genetic diseases, such as Down syndrome.
The risk of miscarriage is 20%, rising to 18% at the end of the 1930s, and 53% at the age of 45. Concerns about health complications, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and uterine fibroids . The higher the age of pregnant women, the higher the proportion of children born premature or underweight, especially in women aged 35 or older.
In the twenties, the risk of pregnancy is 33% in every menstrual cycle, while it decreases to 20% at the age of 30, and the risk of ovarian chromosomal abnormalities increases as women age.
As for the reasons for the decline in the fertility rate of women with age, it is due to one or some of the following reasons:
- Ovarian reserve: The number of follicles that contain the remaining oocytes in fertilized ovaries; the older the number of eggs, the lower the number of oocytes early, the eggs are finished earlier than usual.
- PMS: As women approach menopause, their periods are shorter and less regular.
- Endometrial: With age, the endometrium may become thinner, reducing the success of fertilized egg culture.
- Mucous secretions: Vaginal secretions may become less fluid and less receptive to the sperm.
- Diseases affecting the reproductive system: Some genital diseases can hurt over time, such as endometritis, PCOS, and chlamydia.
- Problems with excess weight : Obesity may lead to reduced chances of pregnancy and increase the health problems of pregnant women.
- Blockage of the fallopian tube due to infection .