The shortening of the menstrual cycle in middle-aged women may not be an accidental physiological fluctuation, but a signal that menopause is quietly approaching, which deserves everyone’s attention.
Eggs’ growth
From natural screening to waiting to meet sperm
The menstrual cycle is the interval between the first days of two periods. Women of childbearing age have an average menstrual cycle of 28 days, which is normal if it is advanced or delayed by 7 days. The entire cycle uses ovulation as a watershed and is divided into two stages: before ovulation it is called the follicular phase, and after ovulation it is the luteal phase.
It is important to note that the duration of the luteal phase is relatively fixed, generally stable at around two weeks. Therefore, the length of the menstrual cycle is mainly determined by the duration of the follicular period.
Every month, a group of egg cells will naturally screen out a leader to become the dominant follicle. As it matures, the ovaries expel the egg; the fimbriae of the fallopian tube, like tacit teammates, catch it firmly. Then, under the constant swing of the fallopian tube cilia “assist hand”, the largest cell of the human body is transported to the widest part of the fallopian tube lumen, waiting quietly to meet the sperm and complete the union of life.
If fertilization is successful, the corpus luteum on the ovary will continue to function and will not retire until the placenta is formed. During this time, it continuously secretes estrogen and progesterone, providing adequate nutritional support for early embryonic development. At this point, the follicles can rest temporarily without having to participate in the next selection round.
But it always takes luck to meet, and fertilization is not a success every time. Without fertilization, the corpus luteum of the ovary stops waiting and gradually shrinks after two weeks of maintenance. The egg cells did not slack off—— month after month, they participated in the next selection one after another.
The number of egg cells is doomed “only decreases but does not increase” from the beginning. During a woman’s lifetime, there are usually less than 500 egg cells that can mature and reach ovulation standards.
A turning point after the age of 37
Ovarian decline with cycle changes
After the age of 37, not only does the number of follicles in the ovary decrease significantly, but the quality also decreases significantly. Faced with the ovary’s inability to do so, its “upper-level”—— pituitary gland intensifies its regulation and secretes more follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in an attempt to awaken ovarian function. This trick really worked at first: stimulated by follicle-stimulating hormone, more follicles were mobilized and the rate of maturation accelerated. But the rapid maturation of follicles means that the follicular period is shortened, and the menstrual cycle is shortened.
However, as follicle-stimulating hormone continues to rise, follicles are depleted more and more rapidly. Ultimately, when there are no more follicles to develop in the ovary, even if the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone have risen to more than a dozen times their original levels, the ovaries can do nothing. At this point, the menstrual cycle will gradually change from its previous shortened state to prolonged, until it eventually goes through menopause.
However, some friends may have questions: since the shorter menstrual cycle may be related to the decreased ovarian function, why go to the hospital to check for follicle-stimulating hormone, and the results are sometimes normal? This is because the decline in ovarian function at this stage is not a straight-line decline, but rather a volatile “sometimes good and sometimes bad” trend ——the overall trend is declining, but there will be repetitions in the process. As a result, menstrual cycles can also grow and fall, not steadily and continuously shortening, which are normal manifestations of fluctuations in ovarian function.
Regarding the process of female reproductive ageing, the currently internationally accepted “gold standard” is STRAW ﹢10 staging ﹢reproductive ageing workshop staging 10. This system is based precisely on the changes in the menstrual cycle and divides reproductive aging in women into three stages: reproductive, postmenopausal and postmenopausal, helping to give a clearer idea of this natural process.
Note that if you experience symptoms such as whether your period should come or not, whether you should walk or not, or even dizziness, fatigue, palpitations due to bleeding, it is important to seek medical attention promptly.
Absolutely “the chain reaction of passing through”
Some discomforts are easily overlooked
When women enter the menopause, in addition to the common manifestations such as menstrual cycle disorders and changes in menstrual flow, there are also some easily overlooked discomforts that are also worthy of attention, such as hot flashes, sweating, high mood swings, insomnia and dreaminess, and even loose skin, loss of collagen, joint aches and pains. These seemingly scattered problems, which can be traced back to their origins, are in fact closely related to hypoovarian function and reduced estrogen secretion.
The human body is a delicate synergistic system, and estrogen does much more than maintain reproductive function. The skin, brain, bones, mammary glands, uterus and other organs are target organs for estrogen. If there is a long-term lack of estrogen nourishment, the body will naturally suffer from various discomforts.
From the physiological mechanism, estrogen reduction directly affects the balance of monoamine neurotransmitters in the body, such as norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, etc., which in turn triggers a chain reaction: increased levels of norepinephrine enhance the “heat dissipation” effect, which is precisely the important cause of hot flashes and sweating; Decreased secretion of serotonin and dopamine, known as “pleasure transmitters”, makes people prone to low mood and negative emotions such as anxiety and depression; neurotransmitter disorders can also interfere with sleep rhythms, leading to problems such as difficulty falling asleep, shallow sleep, and easy waking.
It is particularly noteworthy that these symptoms mentioned earlier do not exist in isolation, but interact with each other and form a vicious circle: serotonin is involved in thermoregulation, and a drop in its level aggravates the fluctuations in body temperature; the imbalance in the ratio of norepinephrine to dopamine further aggravates hot flashes and sweating; and repeated hot flashes and poor sleep, in turn, amplify mood swings. Over time, these symptoms can affect a woman’s quality of life. Therefore, it is recommended that middle-aged women record changes in their menstrual cycles, pay attention to regular physical examinations, and detect potential health risks in a timely manner.
Disclaimer: All photos used in this blog are generated by artificial intelligence (AI). These images are original creations produced by AI technology and do not depict real people, places, or events. They are provided for illustrative purposes only and cannot be claimed or used as real photographs.
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