Ovu-regul™ - Ovarian cycle regulation.
A good ovarian cycle permits :
- The expulsion of an egg from the dominant follicle
- The adaptation of the woman's body to facilitate the access of sperm for fertilization : opening of the cervix, mucus secretion.
- The thickening of the uterine lining (endometrium) to allow the fertilized egg to become firmly implanted.
The ovarian cycle is divided into 3 phases:
Follicular phase
The follicular phase begins on the first day of menstruation and ends with ovulation. During this phase the pituitary gland produces FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone). Under the influence of this hormone, available follicles in the ovaries swell. Around the 5th day of the cycle the dominant follicle is selected. It continues to grow while other follicles degenerate.
FSH causes the secretion of estrogen which acts on the uterus: :
- Development of the uterine lining called endometrium. The development of the endometrium prepares for the hosting of a fertilized egg.
- Prepares the cervix for the reception of sperm: secretion of mucus, cervical opening.
At the end of this first phase, around the 12th day of the cycle under the action of high doses of estrogen in the blood, the pituitary gland releases another hormone - the luteinizing hormone (LH). This is the LH surge!
Ovulatory phase
Approximately 37 hours after the LH peak, the dominant follicle ruptures and releases the mature egg. This is the moment of ovulation!
It occurs around the 15th day of the cycle. The egg descends into the uterus by one of the two fallopian tubes. This is where it may encounter a sperm to be fertilized. The sperm then only have 24 hours in which to fertilize the egg. It is essential to correctly target the days for intercourse. The optimal time for intercourse is the day before and day after ovulation.
Luteal phase
The luteal phase lasts approximately 14 days. Under the action of LH, the ruptured follicle becomes the corpus luteum. It secretes estrogens and a significant amount of progesterone. This progesterone completes maturation of the endometrium to allow it to host a fertilized egg.The egg migrates from the fallopian tube within 3 to 4 days to reach the uterus.
Within the egg, the genetic material in the sperm head fuses with that of the egg. 23 pairs of chromosomes are formed by the combination of 23 chromosomes from the egg and 23 chromosomes from the sperm.The embryo is born.
Implantation
21 to 22 days after the onset of menstruation, the ovum enters and implants itself in the endometrium. Once the egg is well established in the uterine wall, the process of conception ends and pregnancy begins.
Studies & Research: Chastetree berries / Vitex agnus castus
- C. Women with fertility disorders benefited from V. agnus-castus obtaining more pregnancies then the placebo group. Forsch Komplementarmed. 1998;5(6):272-278.
- Milewicz A, Gejdel E, Sworen H, Sienkiewicz K, Jedrzejak J, Teucher T, Schmitz H. Vitex agnus castus extract in the treatment of luteal phase defects due to latent hyperprolactinemia. Arzneimittelforschung. 1993 Jul;43(7):752-6.
- Amman W. Favorable effect of Agnus castus (Agnolyt) on amenorrhea.Amman W. Effet favorable de Agnus castus (Agnolyt) sur l'aménorrhée. ZFA (Stuttgart). ZFA (Stuttgart). 1982 Feb 10;58(4):228-31. 1982 Feb 10; 58 (4) :228-31.
- Propping D, Katzorke T. Treatment of corpus luteum insufficiency.Etaiement D, KATZORKE T. traitement de l'insuffisance du corps jaune. Zeitschr Allgemeinmedizin 1987;63:932–3. Zeitschr Allgemeinmedizin 1987; 63:932-3.
- Wuttke W, Splitt G, et al. Behandlung zyklusabhangiger brustschmerzen mit einem Agnus castus-haltigen arzneimittel. Geburtsh u Frauenheilk 1997;57:569-574.
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