Regular periods do not always indicate ovulation

Many women are under the misconception that a regular period each month equals ovulation. Not true. A period can occur regularly in the absence of ovulation.

It’s the presence of estrogen in the body that results in the cyclic thickening of the uterine lining in preparation for a fertilised egg. Therefore, a woman with normal or elevated estrogen levels in her body will have a period (perhaps at times irregularly).

The hormone progesterone prepares the lining of a woman’s uterus (womb) for a fertilised egg, and maintains the integrity of the uterine lining to promote gestation (pro-gestation). Failure to conceive triggers a drop in progesterone levels resulting in the shedding of the uterine lining (menstruation), and then the cycle starts again.

It’s quite common for women to not ovulate every month (anovulatory cycle). This gives rise to estrogen dominance. It also explains why some months you may feel more PMS, and have a heavier shedding (perhaps with clots), indicating a build up due to estrogen influence with no opposing progesterone.

When a woman is physiologically balanced with estrogen and progesterone, ceasing progesterone supplementation can bring on a period within 24 to 36 hours. This is why women are advised to continue taking their progesterone if they suspect they are pregnant because stopping cream and allowing progesterone levels to drop can potentially bring on a miscarriage.