Causes of Periods

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As your follicles within your ovary ripen they secrete the female hormone oestrogen. This causes your womb lining to thicken and cervical mucous (mucus produced by the cells lining the cervix) to change. As levels rise, this will then cause an egg to be released from your ovary (ovulation), which will travel down your fallopian tube and into your womb.

Ovulation takes place approximately 14 days after the first day of the start of your last period, however, this timing can vary greatly. When you are ovulating your temperature will rise by approximately 0.5 degrees Celsius. This temperature rise can be measured. It should be taken at the same time every morning before getting out of bed.

If this egg is not fertilised through sex it will naturally disperse and the lining of your womb (endometrium) will be released.

The female hormone prostaglandin then kicks in causing your womb to contract. This marks the beginning of your period.

The bleeding is composed of the womb lining, together with some blood caused by the breaking of fine blood vessels within the womb as the lining detaches itself.

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