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Menstrual cycle. In the first part of the video, the 4 most important hormones for female menstruation and how they work were explained. Now we'll talk about the cycle itself, which for many women runs like clockwork every 28 days. It can be divided into 2 phases, the follicular phase and the luteal phase. In between comes ovulation. The cycle begins when the period starts. At this time, the 4 hormones estrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH are all low. FSH from the pituitary gland gives the starting signal. FSH stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen. Estrogen levels rise on around day 5. Estrogen is practically the sole entertainer in the follicular phase and has 2 tasks. 1. It causes the uterine lining to build up layers that are practically like cozy blankets. The egg can snuggle up in these blankets if it has been fertilized. and 2. it allows the follicle to mature. After about 14 days, ovulation occurs. It is triggered by the two hormones LH and FSH. After that, their production immediately drops again; they are not needed again for the time being. After ovulation comes the luteal phase. It is called this because the shell of the egg is reused after ovulation. The female body converts this shell into its own mini-organ, the corpus luteum. It can produce its own hormone: progesterone. Progesterone is important for maintaining the pregnancy. If fertilization has not occurred, progesterone production drops again after about a week. When the progesterone level has reached a certain low point, menstruation begins and the cycle starts again. The contraceptive pill works by tricking the body into thinking it is pregnant the entire time. If the pill is stopped during the pill break, the body lacks hormones. The bleeding that follows is not a real menstruation, but rather a withdrawal bleed. It is not absolutely necessary for contraception. Therefore, the pill can be taken continuously. It is best to talk to your gynecologist about this beforehand.