1 – 5 Days Menstruation (‘having a period’) is when the soft lining of the uterus breaks apart. It passes out of the vagina along with a little blood and an unfertilised egg cell. A period usually lasts for 3-7 days.

6 – 10 Days Immediately after menstruation, an egg cell starts to mature in one of the ovaries. While this happens the lining of the uterus starts to build up again, and develop a network of blood vessels. After about 14 days after the cycle has started, the egg cell is released. This is ovulation.

11 – 18 Days The egg cell is swept along the oviduct towards the uterus. If it meets a sperm cell it can be fertilised. The lining of the uterus helps support, feed and protect an embryo, so it is replaced every cycle with fresh material to make sure it is in good condition as possible. It continues to thicken for about a week after ovulation.

19 – 28 Days About 14 days after ovulation, if the egg cell has not been fertilised , the lining of the uterus breaks apart again and the cycle restarts with another period. If the woman becomes pregnant the cycle stops and the thick uterus lining continues to grow to supply the placenta with a good supply of oxygen and nutrients.