Menstruation is the process in which a woman’s body discards the buildup of the lining of her uterus. The menstrual cycle is defined as monthly menstruation. It begins with puberty, which generally occurs between the ages of 10 to 15, and ends with menopause, between the ages of 50 to 55. A menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of a woman’s period up to the first day of her next period. The menstrual cycle has three phases: The follicular phase(before the release of the egg), the Ovulatory phase(egg release), and the Luteal phase(after egg release).
Hormonal fluctuations:
The two sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, fluctuate during the menstrual cycle. Estrogen levels rise and fall twice over the three phases. Its levels rise during the follicular phase and then drop immediately after ovulation. This is then followed by a secondary rise in estrogen levels during the luteal phase with a decrease later, at the end of the cycle. Progesterone levels, on the other hand, are low during the follicular phase, and then rise after ovulation for about five days, before going back down.
Effects of estrogen on the immune system:
Estrogen plays a crucial role in modulating the immune system. Studies have found that estrogen increases circulating antibody levels and activates immune cells such as natural killer cells and T cells, which help with a stronger adaptive response to infections. In addition, estrogen also has anti-inflammatory effects, which can help protect against tissue damage and promote wound healing. Due to this increased immunity, many women experience an improvement in autoimmune symptoms such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis with a rise in estrogen levels. The peak in estrogen levels further enhances immune response, making it an optimal time for vaccine administration.
Effect of progesterone on the immune system:
Progesterone, on the contrary, is a known immunosuppressant in humans. It decreases antibody production and inhibits the activation of the immune system, making women more susceptible to infections. In addition, progesterone has pro-inflammatory effects, which can amplify conditions such as asthma and arthritis. Progesterone levels have also been associated with the triggering of various autoimmune diseases. Women are more prone to yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and other infections when there is a rise in progesterone levels. The immune suppression during this period is beneficial to pregnant women, as a pregnant woman’s immune system would have attacked the fetus if it was at its full capacity.
Thus, the fluctuation of the two hormones plays an important role in regulating the immune system.
Future implications:
These fluctuations have important implications for medical research, diagnosis, and treatment. Clinical trials should consider the hormone levels when evaluating the efficacy of vaccines or immunotherapies. Healthcare providers should consider the menstrual cycle phase when treating autoimmune diseases. The fluctuations not only have a great impact on the immune system of a woman but also play a role in her overall well-being.
In conclusion, the menstrual cycle has a significant impact on the immune system and the overall well-being of a woman, as an increase in estrogen levels enhances the immune system while an increase in progesterone levels suppresses it.
- Kshiti Kulkarni
Sources:
- www.merckmanuals.com/home/women-s-health-issues/biology-of-the-female-reproductive-system/menstrual-cycle
- www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=167&ContentID=progesterone#:~:text=Progesterone%20levels%20are%20often%20
low,days%20before%20going%20back%20down - www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279054/#:~:text=Estrogen%20levels%20rise%20and%20fall,end
%20of%20the%20menstrual%20cycle - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8671374/#:~:text=Progesterone%20is%20a%20known%20immunosupres
sant,progesterone%2Dmediated%20immunosuppression%20remains%20controversial - midcityobgyn.com/posts/pregnancy/how-pregnancy-affects-the-immune-system/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20a%20pregnant%20woman%20can,pattern%20in%20all%20normal%
20pregnancies. - www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/your-menstrual-cycle
- cora.life/blogs/blood-milk/how-the-four-phases-of-the-menstrual-cycle-may-affect-your-immunity#:~:text=Those%20fluctuations%20in%20estrogen%20and,right%20before%20and%20
during%20menstruation - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22155200/#:~:text=The%20menstrual%20cycle%20might%20affect,
affecting%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age
*Disclaimer: This article has also been posted to our Medium. NernstNaK is the rightful owner of this work on both our website and Medium, and thus stresses that there has been no plagiarism or copying on either account.*