No Ovulation? It’s Not a Real Menstrual Cycle

A menstrual cycle is, by definition, an ovulatory cycle in which ovulation is the main event and progesterone is made.

Any other kind of bleed is either the breakthrough bleed of an anovulatory cycle or a pill-bleed, which are not real menstrual cycles. 

An ovulatory cycle has two phases.

The two phases of an ovulatory cycle

The two phases of a menstrual cycle are the 1) pre-ovulatory or follicular phase when estradiol is made, and 2) the post-ovulatory luteal phase when progesterone is ma...