How menstruation works - Emma Bryce

譯者: Kelly Liu 審譯者: Max Chern

This might seem hard to believe, but right now,

可能難以置信，但此刻

300 million women across the planet are experiencing the same thing:

全球約有 3 億女人正經歷同一件事：

a period.

就是月經

The monthly menstrual cycle that leads to the period

每個月的生理週期最後會有月經

is a reality most women on Earth will go through in their lives.

是世上多數女性 一生中都會經歷的事

But why is this cycle so universal?

為何全球女性都有生理週期呢？

And what makes it a cycle in the first place?

首先來說，為什麼它會反覆循環呢？

Periods last anywhere between two and seven days,

月經為期大概 2 至 7 天

arising once within in a 28-day rotation.

每 28 天循環一次

That whole system occurs on repeat,

週而復始

happening approximately 450 times during a woman's life.

女人一生中約有 450 次的月經

Behind the scenes are a series of hormonal controls

背後是由一系列的賀爾蒙所控制

that fine tune the body's internal workings

精確地微調身體內部的運作

to make menstruation start or stop during those 28 days.

讓月經在 28 天內開始或結束

This inner machinery includes two ovaries

這個內在機制包括兩個卵巢

stocked with thousands of tiny sacks called follicles

裡面堆疊著成千上萬個小囊袋， 稱為「濾泡」

that each contain one oocyte, an unfertilized egg cell.

每個濾泡裡都有個卵母細胞， 就是未受精的卵子

At puberty, ovaries hold over 400 thousand egg cells,

青春期時，卵巢內 有超過 40 萬顆卵細胞

but release only one each month,

但每月只釋出一顆

which results in pregnancy or a period.

結果造成懷孕或月經

Here's how this cycle unfolds.

以下要解說週期是如何發生

Each month beginning around puberty,

自青春期開始的每個月

the hormone-producing pituitary gland in the brain

大腦內製造賀爾蒙的腦下垂體

starts releasing two substances into the blood:

開始釋放兩種物質進入血液裡

follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone.

促卵泡激素 ( FSH ) 和 黃體生成素 ( LH )

When they reach the ovaries,

當它們到達卵巢時

they encourage the internal egg cells to grow and mature.

會刺激內部的卵子成長與成熟

The follicles respond by pumping out estrogen.

受刺激後的濾泡 隨即分泌 雌激素 ( estrogen )

The egg cells grow and estrogen levels peak,

卵子細胞成長 且 雌激素 濃度達最高峰

inhibiting the production of FSH,

會抑制 促卵泡激素 ( FSH ) 的生成

and telling the pituitary to pump out more LH.

及通知腦下垂體分泌更多的 黃體生成素 ( LH )

That causes only the most mature egg cell from one of the ovaries

這樣使其中一個卵巢內 最成熟的卵子

to burst out of the follicle and through the ovary wall.

衝破濾泡，並穿過卵巢壁而排出

This is called ovulation,

就是所謂的「排卵」

and it usually happens ten to sixteen days before the start of a period.

排卵通常在下一次月經來潮 之前的 10-16 天發生

The tiny oocyte moves along the fallopian tube.

微小的卵母細胞會沿著輸卵管移動

A pregnancy can only occur if the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell

排卵後 24 小時內，卵子與精子受精 才可能懷孕

within the next 24 hours.

Otherwise, the egg's escapade ends,

否則，卵子的冒險之旅告終

and the window for pregnancy closes for that month.

那個月份能懷孕的時機便結束了

Meanwhile, the now empty follicle begins to release progesterone,

排卵後，空的濾泡開始釋放 黃體素 ( progesterone )

another hormone that tells the womb's lining

這是另一種賀爾蒙， 告訴子宮內膜

to plump up with blood and nutrients

增厚充血和備足養分

in preparation for a fertilized egg that may embed there and grow.

為受精卵可能著床與生長做好預備

If it doesn't embed,

假如受精卵未能著床

a few days later, the body's progesterone and estrogen levels plummet,

幾天後，體內的黃體素和 雌激素濃度會急劇驟降

meaning the womb stops padding out and starts to degenerate,

表示子宮不再增厚，開始退化

eventually falling away.

最後脫落

Blood and tissue leave the body, forming the period.

血液和內膜組織排出體外，形成月經

The womb can take up to a week to clear out its unused contents,

子宮最多花一週 把沒用的內容物清出

after which, the cycle begins anew.

隨後，重新開始一個新的週期

Soon afterwards, the ovaries begin to secrete estrogen again,

不久後，卵巢會又開始分泌雌激素

and the womb lining thickens,

以及子宮內膜增厚

getting ready to accommodate a fertilized egg

準備讓受精卵著床

or be shed.

或是脫落

Hormones continually control these activities

賀爾蒙持續地控管這些生理活動

by circulating in ideal amounts delivered at just the right time.

藉著血液循環在對的時間點 將適合的量送達

The cycle keeps on turning,

月經周期循環不斷，

transforming each day and each week into a milestone along its course

在過程中將每天、每星期轉變為

towards pregnancy or a period.

懷孕或月經的重要階段

Although this cycle appears to move by clockwork,

雖說這週期看似時鐘般規律

there's room for variation.

但仍存有差異

Women and their bodies are unique, after all.

畢竟，女人和她們的身體 都是獨一無二

Menstrual cycles occur at diffferent times in the month,

每個月月經來潮的日子各自不同

ovulation comes at various points in the cycle,

排卵的時間也每個人各不相同

and some periods last longer than others.

有些人月經天數比別人長

Menstruation even begins and ends at different times in life

不同女人的初經和停經 的時間也會不同

for different women, too.

In other words, variations between periods are normal.

換句話說

月經有差異是正常的

Appreciating these differences and learning about this monthly process

正確認識這些差異 並了解整個月經的過程

can empower women,

使女人強而有自信

giving them the tools to understand and take charge of their own bodies.

讓她們有方法能瞭解 和掌控自己的身體

That way, they're able to factor this small cycle

這樣，她們才能駕馭 體內的小循環

into a much larger cycle of life.

成就更大的生命循環

翻譯：Kelly Liu