The menstrual cycle is a complex, recurring physiological process that prepares the female reproductive system for potential pregnancy. This cycle typically lasts between 21-35 days, with an average of 28 days, and involves coordinated hormonal changes affecting the ovaries and uterus.
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1) Modern Medical Science: Phases of the Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is divided into several phases, which can be viewed from both ovarian and uterine perspectives.
1.1) Menstrual Phase (Days 1-5)
The cycle begins with menstruation, which marks day 1. During this phase, the functional layer of the endometrium (uterine lining) breaks down and is shed through the vagina, resulting in menstrual bleeding. This occurs when pregnancy has not taken place and progesterone levels drop. The average blood loss is approximately 30-40 milliliters per cycle, though normal ranges vary considerably between individuals.
1.2) Follicular Phase (Days 1-13)
This phase overlaps with menstruation and extends until ovulation. The hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH promotes the development of multiple ovarian follicles, though typically only one becomes dominant and continues to mature. As follicles grow, they produce increasing amounts of estrogen, which causes the endometrium to thicken and proliferate, preparing for potential embryo implantation.
1.3) Ovulation (Day 14, approximately)
When estrogen levels reach a threshold, they trigger a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland. This LH surge causes the mature follicle to rupture and release an oocyte (egg) approximately 24-36 hours later. Ovulation typically occurs around the midpoint of the cycle in women with regular 28-day cycles, but timing varies considerably among individuals and can fluctuate from cycle to cycle.
1.4) Luteal Phase (Days 15-28)
After ovulation, the ruptured follicle transforms into the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine structure that secretes progesterone and some estrogen. Progesterone stabilizes the endometrium and makes it receptive to embryo implantation. If fertilization and implantation occur, the developing embryo produces human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which maintains the corpus luteum. If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates after approximately 14 days, progesterone and estrogen levels decline sharply, and menstruation begins, starting the cycle anew.
1.5) Hormonal Regulation
The menstrual cycle is governed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis through intricate feedback mechanisms. The key hormones include:
A) GnRH (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone): Released by the hypothalamus in pulsatile fashion, it regulates FSH and LH secretion.
B) FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone): Stimulates follicle development and estrogen production.
C) LH (Luteinizing Hormone): Triggers ovulation and supports corpus luteum formation.
D) Estrogen: Produced primarily by developing follicles, it stimulates endometrial proliferation and, at high levels, triggers the LH surge.
E) Progesterone: Produced by the corpus luteum, it maintains and stabilizes the secretory endometrium.
These hormones interact through both negative and positive feedback loops to coordinate the cycle's events.
In Jyotiṣa, the hormones are ruled by Śukra. Appropriate analysis should be done in order to detect imbalance of hormones or problems related to the same.
2) Physiological Variations and Considerations
Menstrual cycles can vary significantly among individuals and throughout a woman's reproductive life. Factors affecting cycle regularity include age, stress, nutrition, body weight, exercise levels, and various medical conditions. Adolescent cycles are often irregular for several years after menarche as the hormonal axis matures. Similarly, perimenopause is characterized by increasingly irregular cycles before menstruation ceases entirely at menopause.
2.1) Starting Of Menses
According to Rati Śāstra: Śiva said, “Listen, O Devi, pure and spotless, to my reply to the question you have asked. By hearing this, your understanding shall grow. A woman’s menstrual cycle begins after about the age of twelve and continues until around fifty. During this period, it occurs each month for approximately three days, when blood flows naturally from the uterus.”
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A) Average age: Menarche typically occurs between 11-14 years, with the average age being approximately 12-13 years in most developed countries.
B) Normal range: Menarche anywhere between 9-16 years is generally considered within normal limits, though timing varies by:
1. Genetics and ethnicity: Genetics account for approximately 50-80% of the variation in age at menarche. Girls typically experience menarche around the same age as their mothers and sisters.
2. Nutritional status
a) Adequate Nutrition: Proper caloric intake and balanced nutrition support normal pubertal development.
b)Malnutrition or Eating Disorders: Can significantly delay menarche or cause amenorrhea in those who have already started menstruating.
c)Obesity: Girls with higher BMI tend to experience earlier menarche, possibly related to higher leptin levels and increased estrogen production from adipose tissue.
3. Geographic location
4. Body composition
5. Overall health
6. Environmental factors: Exposure to certain environmental chemicals that mimic or block hormones may affect pubertal timing, though research is ongoing.
According to Jyotiṣa, the Pañcāṅga Yogas at the time of first menstruation should be noted down and the results on the basis of that are to be predicted. Amāvasyā, Caturthi, Navami, Caturdashi, Ashtami, Shashti, Dvadasi, and Pratipadā are not suitable. Yogas like Vaidhrti, Vyatipata and Parigha are also deemed inauspicious. If the menses occurs during Grahana then also it is considered unfavorable. Refer the following quotations from Rati Śāstra (written in italics):
[Please take these results with a pinch of salt. All the Pañcāṅga Yogas are to be taken as a whole before predicting the final outcomes.]
"If the lotus (menses) opens for the first time on the first day of the moon, it is said that the girl’s life will be short, without any doubt. If her first menstruation occurs on the second day, she is believed to lose her memory and mental clarity. This is the view held by those learned in the laws of cohabitation. If the menses begin on the third day of the moon, she is said to remain without offspring.
Listen further. If the first menstruation occurs on the fourth day, she is considered barren. If it begins on the fifth or sixth day, it is believed to result in premature death. If it occurs on the seventh day, she is said to become the mother of only one child. On the eighth day, her nature is compared to that of a serpent. On the ninth day, her disposition is said to remain within the bounds of ordinary human nature.
If the menses begin on the tenth day, whether in the waxing or waning phase, the learned say she takes on a demonic feminine nature. If it occurs on the eleventh day, she is again described as having the nature of a female demon. When it begins on the twelfth day, she is said to acquire the nature of a Yogini. If it occurs on the thirteenth day, she is regarded as a devoted and virtuous wife. If her first menstruation appears on the fourteenth day, she is said to be devoid of fortune, and such women are believed to be quite common.
If the first menses occur on the full moon, she is described as having a divine nature, resembling the Goddess of Fortune and marked by piety. If it occurs on the new moon, she is said to suffer from painful diseases and premature aging, without any doubt.
Thus are described the effects of the lunar days on the onset of first menstruation, as taught in traditional understanding.
If a girl first menstruates under the lunar day combinations known as Nanda, Bhadra, or Purna, she is said to become deeply devoted and faithful to her husband. If it occurs under the combination called Jaya Tithi, she is believed to be fruitful and to bring honor to her family. If the first menstruation takes place under Rikta, it is said that she becomes a widow, without doubt.
I shall now speak of the auspicious and inauspicious effects attributed to the days of the week in relation to the first menstruation. Śiva declares that if the first menses occur on a Sunday, the woman is said to become a widow. If it takes place on a Monday, she is regarded as a devoted and faithful wife. If it begins on a Tuesday, she is believed to lose her chastity. If it occurs on a Wednesday, she is said to be endowed with good fortune.
If the first menstruation happens on a Thursday, she is said to obtain a wealthy husband. If it takes place on a Friday, the day associated with the preceptor of the Asuras, she is believed to become the mother of many sons. If it occurs on a Saturday, she is considered barren. These views are presented as the opinions of those versed in the traditional laws of cohabitation and are said to be widely accepted among learned authorities.
Śiva said that when particular lunar days coincide with specific weekdays, the combination is known as Siddhi Yoga. If Nanda, which includes the first, sixth, and eleventh lunar days, falls on a Friday; if Bhadra, comprising the second, seventh, and twelfth days, falls on a Wednesday; if Rikta, consisting of the fourth, ninth, and fourteenth days, falls on a Saturday; if Jaya occurs on a Tuesday; and if Purna falls on a Thursday, then this alignment is called Siddhi Yoga. The influence of Siddhi Yoga and Amrita Yoga on the first appearance of menstruation is regarded as auspicious and beneficial, while that of Papa Yoga is considered inauspicious and foreboding.
Śiva states: I shall now describe the effects attributed to the months on the first appearance of menstruation. If a woman first menstruates in the Hindu month of Vaisakha, which generally begins in the middle of April and is regarded as the first month, she is said to be sweet in speech. If it occurs in Jyestha, she is believed to become a widow. If in Ashadha, she is said to become wealthy. If in Sravana, it is held that her children may not survive infancy.
If her first menses appear in Bhadra, the fifth month, she is said to suffer from ailments and various painful diseases. If in Asvin, her children are again believed to be short-lived. If in Kartika, her misfortune is said to bring ruin to the family into which she is born. If the onset occurs in Margashirsha, she is regarded as pious.
If it appears in Poush, she is described as possessing intense sensual desires. If in Magha, she is said to be both pious and deeply devoted to her husband. If in Phalgun, she is believed to become the mother of many children. If in Chaitra, she is again described as being overcome by strong sensual appetites. Thus are outlined the traditional views regarding the influence of the months on the first onset of menstruation."
3.) Āyurveda & Menstrual Cycle
मासेनोपचितं रक्तं धमनीभ्यामृतौ पुनः ॥
ईषत्कृष्णं विगन्धं च वायुर्योनिमुखान्नुदेत् ।
[The blood accumulated (inside the uterus) during the month, which is slightly black and of unusual smell, brought into the dhamanis (arteries) during the rtu (menstrual period), is expelled out by vayu (vata), through the orifice of the yoni (uterus and vaginal tract).]
3.1.) Opinion Of Ācārya-s
मासि मासि प्रवर्तेत नारीणामृतुकालकः ।
[The fertile period occurs month after month in women.]
A) Ācārya Sushruta – Artavachakra commence at the age of 12 years and comes to an end at the age of 50 years.
B) Ācārya Vāgbhatta – same opinion as that of Sushruta.
मासि मासि रजः स्त्रीणां रसजं स्रवति त्र्यहम् ।
वत्सराद्द्वादशादूर्ध्वं याति पञ्चाशतः क्षयम् ॥
[In women, the rajas (menstrual blood) which is the product of rasa (the first dhatu), flows out of the body for three days, every month, after the age of twelve years and undergoes diminution by the age of fifty years.]
C) Acharya Kāśyapa – menstrual cycle starts at the age of 16. At the same time, he also said that this age of appearance of menses gets influenced by specific Aahar (Dietics) and Arogya (health).
D) Arunadatta – age of start of menses and age of menopause can also occur before 12 years and 50 years respectively.
3.2) Ārtava Cakra (Menstrual Cycle)
ऋतुः षोडशरात्रं तु विज्ञेयो गर्भसम्भवे ।
त्रिरात्रं नैव गन्तव्यं स्त्रीभिः प्रथमतः स्मृतम् ॥
[The fertile period (ṛtu) for conception extends over sixteen nights. However, the first three nights are strictly prohibited for sexual union.]
3.2.A) Rajasrava Kāla (Menstrual Phase)
पञ्चरात्रं तु तद्दृष्टं शोणितं रजसः स्मृतम् ।
[The flow of menstrual blood (rajas) is observed for five nights (days).]
This is the cleansing phase. Vata dosha, specifically its sub-type Apana Vayu (responsible for downward movement), is dominant. Its energy is directed downward to help expel the uterine lining and menstrual blood from the body. It is considered a natural period of detoxification.
According to Rati Śāstra, "The first three days of menstruation are considered a period of impurity for women. On the first day, the impurity is equated to that of a Caṇḍāla woman (one who deals with the disposal of corpses); on the second day, it is likened to that of a woman who has committed Brahmahatyā; and on the third day, it is comparable to that of a Rajaka. Purity is attained on the fourth day."
Actually, women are considered pure as they regularly undergo their menses through which the impurities within them are removed. This has been stated in Brihat Samhita where Sri Varahamihira has praised the women as follows:
अग्निश्च सर्वभक्षित्वं तस्माभिष्कसमाः स्त्रियः ॥
[The Moon gave them (women) purity (cleanliness); Gandharva, cultured and sweet speech; the Fire, the capacity to eat all sorts of food. Hence women are like unto pure gold.]
ब्राह्मणाः पादतो मेध्या गावो मेध्याश्च पृष्ठतः ।
अजाश्वा मुखतो मेध्याः स्त्रियो मेध्यास्तु सर्वतः ॥
[Brahmins are pure at the feet; cows at the back; goats and horses, at the face (mouth); and women are pure all over.]
स्त्रियः पवित्रमतुलं नैता दुष्यन्ति कर्हिचित् ।
मासि मासि रजो ह्यासां दुष्कृतान्यपकर्षति ॥
[Women having matchless purity, never are they defiled. For the menses remove their blemishes every month.]
However, the "impurity for three days" is an indirect way to convey that any form of sexual intercourse during the three days of menstruation is to be avoided. Sexual intercourse during this phase is strictly prohibited. The text offers a physiological explanation: during the initial days of menstruation, impure blood flows swiftly through the female reproductive system. If intercourse occurs at this time, the semen fails to enter or remain within the uterus (ovarian region), rendering conception impossible. Moreover, the texts warn that intercourse during the first night leads to depletion of the husband’s vitality and longevity, continuous illness, and the early death of the offspring, if conceived.
Therefore, all sages and authorities unanimously prohibit sexual union during this phase of the Ārtava Cakra. This period corresponds to the menstrual phase of the modern menstrual cycle. Symbolically, the ancients describe it as the opening of a lotus.
3.2.B) Ṛtu Kāla (Fertile Phase)
रजसो दर्शनादूर्ध्वं द्वादशाहः स ऋतुः स्मृतः ।
[The twelve days following the appearance of menstruation are known as ṛtu, the fertile period.]
Following the cleansing of menstruation, this is the building and nourishing phase. Kapha dosha, with its qualities of stability, growth, and moisture, becomes dominant. The body focuses on rebuilding the endometrium (uterine lining) and developing a healthy follicle in the ovary.
During this phase, the lotus that had opened begins to close gradually, indicating the womb’s receptivity. This is regarded as the most auspicious and suitable period for conception, as the uterus is capable of receiving and retaining the semen, thereby facilitating fertilization.
3.2.C) Ṛtuvyatīta Kāla (Post-fertile Phase)
द्वादशरात्रादूर्ध्वं यत् कालः स ऋतुव्यतीतः ।
[The period extending beyond twelve nights is termed ṛtuvyatīta.]
In this phase, the lotus that had bloomed earlier is now fully closed. The very term vyatīta means “passed” or “transcended,” indicating that the fertile window has closed. The process of uterine constriction is complete, and the passage for the semen is obstructed. Consequently, this period is considered unfavorable for conception. It generally corresponds to the 15th to the 28th day of the menstrual cycle in modern terms and represents the uterine preparation for the implantation of a fertilized ovum.
This phase is dominated by Pitta Doṣa, the energy of transformation and heat. The uterine lining becomes richer in blood vessels and nutrients, preparing to sustain a potential pregnancy. The body's basal temperature rises slightly due to this increased metabolic activity. If this phase comes to an end without pregnancy, Vāta Doṣa begins to rise again to initiate the shedding process, starting the cycle anew.
Regarding copulation, it is stated:
ऋतुस्तु द्वादश निशाः पूर्वास्तिस्रोऽत्र निन्दिताः ॥
एकादशी च युग्मासु स्यात्पुत्रोऽन्यासु कन्यका ।
[Rtu (period suitable for conception) is twelve nights (day and night); the first three days of it are insuspicious, so also the eleventh day, copulation on even days leads to birth of a son and on other (odd) days to a daughter.]
According to Horā Sāra, a woman is considered fit for conception from the 5th to the 17th day after the onset of her menstrual cycle. It further states that for the begetting of a male child, union should occur when Candra transits the Upacaya houses of the woman’s natal chart and receives the aspect of a masculine benefic planet.
Bibliography/References:
1. Caraka Samhita
2. Ashtanga Hridayam
3. Sushruta Samhita
4. Rati Shastra
5. Hora Sara
Malik G, Kumar Panda J, Tanwar S (Link: https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/3175/4762)
7. X (Twitter) posts by @Aagnisuta (Link: https://x.com/i/status/1987418147759268262)
8. AN AYURVEDIC AND CONTEMPORARY OVERVIEW OF MENSTRUAL CYCLE (Link: https://ijrap.net/admin/php/uploads/2540_pdf.pdf)
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