Author: Grace Yu (Yu Hsin Tzu)
In clinical practice, we frequently encounter female patients with menstrual disorders. They often find that after starting herbal medicine or acupuncture, while their menstrual conditions gradually improve, significant changes typically take three months or longer to manifest.
The state of menstruation (such as the stability of the menstrual cycle, the volume of menstrual flow, and the discomfort experienced during menstruation) reflects the smoothness of the follicular maturation process and the quality of ovulation. The outcomes of these factors are often determined by the preparatory care taken in the three months leading up to the current ovulation.
The selection, development, and maturation of eggs in the ovaries until ovulation usually require more than three months. Therefore, after initiating treatment, we must patiently wait at least three months to see the results of a new batch of follicles.
The Stages of Ovulation
- Follicle Selection (More than 200 days before ovulation): During this period, the ovaries continuously select a few follicles from dormant primordial follicles to begin their developmental journey.
- Follicular Development Stage (More than 80 days before ovulation): This is a crucial nurturing period where selected follicles begin to grow, progressing through primary, secondary, and antral follicle stages. At this time, secondary follicles are stimulated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and as they develop, poorly responsive follicles will be eliminated and start to regress. Simultaneously, immature follicles release higher levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and the AMH levels in the blood can reflect the number of follicles at this stage. Traditional Chinese Medicine places special emphasis on nurturing the follicles to improve overall health and regulate endocrine disorders, facilitating successful maturation of the follicles.
- Follicular Maturation Stage (10 days before ovulation): On the fifth day after the last menstrual bleeding, the ovaries begin to select the next batch of follicles that are about to mature, transitioning from tertiary follicles to mature follicles. In this stage, follicles that respond well to gonadotropins (FSH and LH) will continue to develop, while those that do not will regress. Herbal medicine and acupuncture are used to reinforce this final stage, creating opportunities for ovulation of mature follicles. Common issues such as polycystic ovary syndrome, pituitary dysfunction, excessive stress, and various endocrine disorders can disrupt this process, leading to incomplete ovulation and subsequent issues such as abnormal thickening of the uterine lining and menstrual irregularities.
Therefore, good ovulation requires more than three months of preparation, which is not only important but also essential for your body to better prepare for the arrival of new life!
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