![]() This is a titillating topic to cover. Let's start with the female reproductive system because... well... it's the most mystical in my mind. I'm currently reading the book "Blood, Bread and Roses: How Menstruation Created the World" by Judy Grahn. Here's a juicy quote from the preface to kick us off on this exciting topic: "Menstrual blood is the only source of blood that is not traumatically induced. Yet in modern society, this is the most hidden blood, the one so rarely spoken of and almost never seen, except privately by women, who shut themselves in a little room to quickly and many cases disgustedly change their pads and tampons, wrapping the bloodied cotton so it won't be seen by others, wrinkling their faces at the odor, flushing or hiding the evidence away. Blood is everywhere, and yet the one, the only, the single name it has not publicly had for many centuries, is menstrual blood. Menstrual blood, like water, just flows. Its fountain existed long before knives or flint; menstruation is the original source of blood. Menstruation is blood's secret name. All blood is menstrual blood." I've been thinking about this idea for a long time. We are all made up of menstrual blood so why is our society so bent out of shape about acknowledging menstrual blood's existence? We're made up of periods. You're a period. I'm a period. I want to talk about your period and my period and embrace it with you, and me and people on the street. When I first got my period my mother was too shy to talk to me about it. She left pads on my desk when I was at field hockey practice and it was a forbidden subject. I still carry some resentment about that. I'm still rebelling at her shame by openly talking about periods and vaginas whenever I can. I want to celebrate this juicy, powerful, vulnerable, potent part of my life... Judy Grahn writes, "According to anthropologist Chris Knight, the menstrual cycle of primates varies greatly, some species having a seven-day cycle, while others go all the way to thirty-nine days. Only the rhesus macaque, at a twenty-nine day cycle, is close to the human pattern. Only the human cycle, at twenty-nine and a half days, coincides with the cycle of the moon." In times past, women’s periods corresponded more closely with the phases of the moon, with ovulation at full moon and menses at the new moon. It stands to reason that before the advent of artificial light, hormone fluctuations may have been more closely governed by not only diurnal cycles (as with melatonin and cortisol), but by regular monthly cycles. Who among us has not witnessed the powerful effect that the moon’s phases exert on earth’s largest water body, the ocean? It is no stretch to suppose the ebb and flow of fluid in our own bodies — largely composed of water — would be similarly influenced. Uffffff. So magical. ![]() PEOPLE WITH VAGINAS STUFF So, let’s get into the nitty gritty science about menstruation and what it’s all about. Quick note: This post is imperfect. At times I try to leave some space in my wording of male versus female systems to account for the fact that some men have female reproductive systems and vice versa. Most of the time I don't. I hope those reading can get the information they need without getting offended or stuck in the terminology. Unlike the male reproductive system, the female system keeps almost all of their organs hidden. The two ovaries provide a nourishing home for eggs-in waiting, also called follicles. The female system is born with a set number of follicles that have the potential to be chosen as the star egg of a cycle. About four months prior to the cycle, a follicle is chosen as the "queen bee egg" and "groomed" for its role. Oogenesis is the creation of an ovum (egg cell). It is the female form of gametogenesis and the male equivalent (which we'll get into later) is spermatogenesis. The female process involves the development of the various stages of the immature ovum. The two major female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are produced in the ovaries under the direction of pituitary hormones called follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The production of FSH and LH come at the urging of the hypothalamus's gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH). During each cycle an egg is released from one of the ovaries and travels down the fallopian tube, and enters the uterus, where it hopes to meet up with some sexy spermies to create a baby. If that occurs, the duo settle down in the uterus which then becomes an incubator. If not, the egg travels out of the uterus, through the cervix and vagina to exit the body during menstruation. ![]() THE CYCLE Day 1 to 14: Estrogen Dominates The first day of the cycle begins on the first day of menses. When pregnancy doesn't happen, progesterone will have just dropped, oxytocin surges and the uterine lining begins to slough off. In the ovaries a follicle awaits its special moment in the pageant of eggs waiting to be chosen. In the four months prior when the egg was first chosen from the pool of follicles, the egg gets showered with vitamins, nutrients, and hormones so that the egg can be at peak vitality to meet up with some sperm. The chosen follicle (and soon to be egg) produces estrogen in the ovaries via stimulation from FSH in the brain. The estrogen that gets secreted triggers the body to begin rebuilding the uterine lining once the old stuff has come off. In addition, the estrogen that gets secreted by the follicle strengthens and lubricates vaginal tissue, protects against bone loss and keeps one mood in a vital place and bolsters immunity. Day 14: Ovulation Around day 14 a special day arrives. A surge of oxytocin - the "releasing hormone" - releases the follicle from the ovary, and it becomes THE EGG that travels down the fallopian tubes into the uterus to hang out with sperm or be released from the body. Oxytocin has a variety of effects on the body including carnal DESIRE. Many folks with a female reproductive system report feeling pretty horny around this time in the cycle. Oxytocin increases libido and aids climax and reversely, sex and foreplay help INCREASE oxytocin action. At ovulation, estrogen dips and progesterone kicks into gear. You will notice a dip in one's basal body temperature right before ovulation and then rises a few tenths of a degree afterward. In the days after ovulation, the body boosts its production of cervical mucus to make the system a more welcoming environment for sperm and the organ that helps deliver it. Day 14 to 28: Progesterone Dominants Now that the egg has left the ovary, progesterone (stimulated by LH) is produced by the corpus luteum, the empty nest that the egg departed from in the ovary. Similar to estrogen, progesterone also keeps mood and the immune system in vital shape, but its primary job is to finish the mission that estrogen began. Progesterone starts preparing the uterus lining to either incubate and grow a baby or slough off well in the next cycle. Body temperature remains a bit higher during this part of the cycle and folks tend to be hungrier at this time. The body is attempting to hold onto nutrients just in case one might need them for a growing fetus. If conception occurs the basal body temperature rises a few notches due to a pregnancy related progesterone surge as well as other changes including breast swelling and mood changes. If pregnancy does not occur, the basal temperature will drop when the corpus luteum ceases to excrete progesterone. Oxytocin surges and the cycle begins anew. Overview The menstrual cycle does not always go so smoothly. Hormones teeter during periods like adolescence and menopause as the reproductive system kicks on and off the baby-making modes. Throughout the reproductive years other factors influence the cycle like environmental factors, stress, diet, etc. Time of ovulation Women often believe that ovulation occurs mid-cycle. It actually occurs 12-16 days before the next period starts. So, although a woman with a 28-day cycle may ovulate mid-cycle (between day 12 and day 16), a woman with a 36-day cycle will ovulate between day 20 and day 24. For women with regular cycles, an easy way to approximate the time of ovulation is to subtract 16 from the number of days in the cycle and then add 4. This will calculate the span of days in which ovulation is most likely to occur. For instance, a woman with a 22-day cycle is most likely to ovulate between days 6 and 10 of her cycle (22-16 = 6 (+4 =10). Ovulation and conception Following ovulation, the egg lifespan can be up to 24 hours, but is usually between six and 12 hours (4). In contrast, sperm generally survive for three days, but can live inside the vagina for up to five days if optimal fertile cervical mucus is present. Pregnancy can therefore result from intercourse that occurs within a woman’s fertile window (from as early as five days before ovulation, until up to 24 hours following ovulation). MOON MUSINGS I think we’re approaching a moment of major reclamation of the reason and ritual surrounding female body and blood. While my mother approached this subject with shame and avoidance, I hope to pass on the tradition of honoring and respecting this important and mystical aspect of the female body. Facebook recently removed a picture of a woman with menstrual blood on her pants posted by a feminist activist. Many people were angered by facebook's decision to remove an image related to female menstruation and I think some much needed dialogue is occurring right now in regards to menstruation, sexual assault and the patriarchy. I hope to continue to be part of this stirring opennes and conversation. ![]() People with Penis Stuff Let’s move our attention briefly to the male reproductive organs and glands and the process which produces sperm. Spermatogenesis is a process which produces mature male gametes, commonly called sperm but specifically known as spermatozoa, which are able to fertilize the counterpart female gamete, the oocyte, during conception to produce a single-celled individual known as a zygote. This is the cornerstone of sexual reproduction and involves the two gametes both contributing half the normal set of chromosomes to result in a chromosomally normal zygote. Male reproductive capacity depends on testosterone, a steroid hormone produced by Leydig cells located between the seminiferous tubules within the testes. The production and secretion of testosterone depends on three hormones:GnRH from the hypothalamus and LH and FSH from the anterior pituitary gland. Interestly, the names for LH and FSH came from their functions in the female, but they are active hormones in the male as well. Negative feedback loops involving the hypothalamus, the pituitary and the testes maintain a fairly constant blood concentration of testosterone and thus a consistent rate of sperm production. ![]() Semen contains sperm and the secretions of three glands: the seminal vesicles, the prostate gland, and the bulbourethral glands. The seminal vesicles produce seminal fluid, a watery mixture containing fructose and prostaglandins that represents about 60% of the volume of sperm. Fructose, a carbohydrate, provides the sperm with a source of energy. The prostate gland contributes an alkaline fluid which helps temporarily raise the vaginal pH to 6 (normal vaginal pH is 3.5 to 4) which is optimal for sperm. Finally, the bulbourethral glands secrete mucus into the urethra during sexual arousal. The mucus provides lubrication for sexual intercourse and also washes away traces of acidic urine in the urethra before the sperm arrive. To enhance the possibility of sperm survival, the sperm are not mixed with seminal and prostate fluids until the moment of ejaculation. Tens of millions of sperm are formed every day throughout the person with a penis’ adult life. The sites of sperm production are the paired testes. Shortly before birth the testes descend into the scrotum where the temperature is regulated for the developing sperm. Spermies develop best at temperatures a few degrees cooler than body temperature thus the scrotum is an ideal nest because it can contract and bringing the testes closer to the warmth of the body or during hot weather the scrotum can relax, hanging at a cooler temperature away from the body. Each testis is only about 2 inches long but it contains over 100 years of tightly packed seminiferous tubules where the sperm form. The several hundred seminiferous tubules join to become the epididymis, a single coiled duct just outside the testis. The epididymis joins the long ductus (vas) deferens, which eventually joins the duct from the seminal vesicle to become the ejaculatory duct. The newly formed sperm are not fully mature (they cannot yet swim) when they leave the seminiferous tubules. Their ability to swim develops in both the epididymis and the ductus deferens where the sperm is stored until ejaculation. When the male or person with a penis reaches sexual climax and ejaculates, rhythmic contractions of smooth muscle propel the sperm through the short ejaculatory duct and finally through the urethra, which passes through the penis. REPRODUCTIVE VITALITY
Maria Noel Groves makes a great point in her book, Body Into Balance, an Herbal Guide to Holistic Self-Care. I’ve posted it here: “Reproductive health serves as a barometer for your overall health in at least two ways. First, your reproductive system comes last in the pecking order of your body’s priorities. You need to be able to breathe, circulate blood, digest, detoxify, et. cetera, in order to survive. The ability to make babies (the ultimate purpose of the reproductive system) is superfluous, something to when everything else is going great. After all, making and raising babies taxes your body and mind and certainly isn’t necessary (from a pragmatic perspective) for your survival. For this reason, reproductive issues can be the canary in the coal mine for bigger-picture problems. Stress, sleep deprivation, nutrient deficiencies, thyroid wobbles, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and blood sugar issues are a just a few things that can send your hormones swinging and muck up the reproductive wiring. In a slightly different yet connected way, your reproductive system functions as a loudspeaker for your body’s overall health. This is particularly true for women, whose complicated and difficult to ignore cycles expand and contract each month and are easily thrown awry. Imbalances elsewhere amplify during weak points in the monthly cycle, most commonly the days before you get your period. Men are equally affect, but because their hormones and cycles are a little less obvious- at least until middle age, when they manifest as prostate and sexual problems- it’s easy to ignore the warning signs.” Luckily, there are ways to help coax the body back into balance. A good diet, adequate sleep and regular exercise set the stage for vitality and health but herbs have a place in assisting us too. From prostate support herbs and male health tonics to adaptogens and circulatory herbs, there are plenty of ways to support the male reproductive system with herbs. Female bodied people can benefit from iron-rich herbs, bone supportive herbs and herbs to support estrogen balance and pain support during menstruation.
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AuthorThe adventures, studies, and musings of a student at the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism.
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