‘Ṛtu’ and ‘Ṛtukāla’: The time to be pregnant exploring Ayurveda perspectives on fertility in literature

The menstrual cycle is a body clock related to the reproductive system that parallels with other environmental cyclical phenomena. The analysis of dynamic aspects of the menstrual cycle can be traced across vast Ayurveda literature. They are highly valued within the Ayurveda tradition for maintaining wellbeing of the self and progeny and mitigating personal and social misconceptions related to menstruation. This article focuses on a three-way categorical identification of the menstrual cycle based on Doṣa behavior, facilitating personal and clinical cycle adjustment. A novel concept, FOAD (Fetal Oriented Adult Diseases), is compared with the cyclical change of seasons (‘Ṛtu Parināma’) and transitional periods of seasons (‘Ṛtu Sandhi’). This comparison emphasizes how the overarching influence of ‘Ṛtu’ (seasons) and their associated environmental stimuli impact biological processes, including the menstrual cycle, and significantly, how these same stimuli can collectively affect the developing fetus. Further, in this article, ‘Varṇa Paddhathi’ based changes of the menstrual cycle are evaluated epistemically through modern molecular biology. ‘Ṛtuchakra’, is broadly elaborated highlighting key review gaps concerning its comprehensive understanding, addressing these gaps can inform and structure counseling practices across three distinct phases: pre-conceptional, gestational, and post-partum, for individuals seeking optimal progeny health. Through a study of ten key physiological and environmental aspects related to Ṛtu and its influence on female health this article aims to bridge traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern medical understanding to provide insights for improved women’s health and counseling practices related to menstruation, thereby enhancing the understanding of the menstrual cycle from an Ayurveda perspective, empowering young women through insightful reproductive health education, and fostering research and promoting informed healthcare practices.