You’ve heard of the four stages of the menstrual cycle—menstrual, follicular, ovulation, luteal—but, truth be told, it’s been years since you took a sex-ed class and you could use a refresher course.

You must have noticed a series of changes your body goes through each month, during the menstrual cycle. You may experience cramps, bloating, breast tenderness, and mood swings. These symptoms apart ...

Throughout the follicular phase, a single "dominant follicle" develops faster than the rest. This follicle (a fluid-filled sac in your ovary) then releases more estrogen into the body in preparation ...