Fertility Education Trust

understanding your fertility, page 9 of 14

The Cycle Without Pregnancy

The egg ripening phase (approximately 5 - 6 days). The cervix opens and secretes 'motorway mucus' to transport, nourish and filter sperm. No intercourse at this time: no pregnancy.

The Egg Ripening Phase

If, however, no intercourse took place in the egg-ripening phase, when the fertile “motorway” mucus was being secreted from the cervix, then the egg cannot be fertilised. It dies quickly and the cycle will end differently!

Ovulation and womb preparation. The egg is fertilisable for 12 hours. Endometrium (food lining) develops for 10 - 16 days.

Ovulation and Womb Preparation

The empty egg follicle will convert to a corpus luteum and produce the hormone progesterone which will thicken the womb lining for about 10 - 16 days.

The cervix will pinch shut again and the mesh mucus plug will be re-installed in the cervical canal.

Progesterone will also stop any more eggs being released in that cycle.

Leading to menstruation. When no pregnancy occurs, the food lining is discharged after 10 - 16 days ... a new cycle begins.

Leading to Menstruation

At the end of this 10 - 16 day phase after ovulation, because no conception occurred, the progesterone fades away.

The thickened womb lining is not needed because pregnancy did not occur and it is discharged amid blood loss over the next 4 - 6 days, constituting the next menstruation.

So the period marks the end of this cycle - and becomes Day 1 of the new cycle! And the whole process starts again...

© 2007 Fertility Education Trust