Each month, a woman reproductive cycle typically lasts 28-32 days, starting on the 1st day of the woman’s period.  Each month, a woman ovulates and releases an egg.   If the egg is fertilized during sexual intercourse, the woman becomes pregnant.  If the egg is not fertilized, the uterine wall lining is shed, along with the unfertilized egg, and the woman has her menstrual period.  Endometriosis occurs when the woman’s egg is not fertilized, and the shedding of the uterine wall is abnormal.

The following text examines the link between ovulation, the female menstrual period, and endometriosis:

Ovulation:  This refers to as the “fertile time” of a woman’s cycle, when a woman has the greatest chances of getting pregnant.  The few days near ovulation are the fertile phase because, at this time a mature egg is released from the ovary, pushed down the fallopian tube, and is available to be fertilized.

Most women ovulate between day 11 and day 21 of their cycle, counting from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP).  A lot of women ovulate on the 14th of an average 28 day cycle.  A woman’s cycle has two phases: the follicular phase and the luteal phase.  The follicular phase starts the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) and continues until ovulation.  This half of the cycle can last anywhere from 7 days until 40 days.  The luteal phase starts when the woman ovulates.  This phase last 12-16 days, and then the woman experiences her period.

To calculate when you will ovulate, you want to start counting from the day you get your first day.  Count up to day 11, and then now you may ovulate anytime between day 11 and 21, typically on day 14.  It’s important to remember that you may ovulate on a different day each month.  Another way of calculating when you will ovulate is to count backwards, 12-16 days from your next expected period, and this is because once you ovulate, you have your period 12-16 days later.  Stress can affect your ovulation, but stress around the time of an expected period will not make it late.

Endometriosis:  This is a medical condition in women in which the tissue lining the uterus (endometrial cells) grow outside the uterus, usually in the reproductive organs (ovaries, fallopian tubes), intestines, bladder, or rectum.  Endo, means “inside”, and metra, “womb”.  Endometriosis is affects approx. 5% to 10% of women, primarily in their reproductive age and affects approx. 25% of the cases of women with infertility (in the US).

During Endometriosis, the lining during your monthly period is expelled as usual, but then it flows back into your abdominal cavity and implants itself there.  The endometrial cells are deposited in areas outside the uterus continue to be influenced by female hormones, as if they were still inside the uterus.

This condition can cause little or no discomfort or great pain before and/or during their menstrual cycle.  The pain of Endometriosis is usually with menstruation.  There can also be pain with ovulation, pain during bowel movements and urination, and pain with intercourse, among other pains.

There is no certain cause and no known cure for Endometriosis.