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The Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle lasts about 28 days and includes ovulation and menstruation, regulated by four hormones: FSH, oestrogen, LH, and progesterone. FSH initiates the cycle by stimulating follicle development, while oestrogen and LH trigger ovulation and prepare the uterus for potential fertilization. If fertilization occurs, progesterone maintains the uterine lining and prevents menstruation until the placenta takes over hormone production.

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Breanna James
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6 views9 pages

The Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle lasts about 28 days and includes ovulation and menstruation, regulated by four hormones: FSH, oestrogen, LH, and progesterone. FSH initiates the cycle by stimulating follicle development, while oestrogen and LH trigger ovulation and prepare the uterus for potential fertilization. If fertilization occurs, progesterone maintains the uterine lining and prevents menstruation until the placenta takes over hormone production.

Uploaded by

Breanna James
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is a cycle of about 28 days comprising two main


events:
• Ovulation - which is the release of an ovum from an ovary.
• Menstruation - which is the loss of the uterus lining from the body.
This starts to occur about 14 days after ovulation if fertilization has not
occurred.
Hormones
• The cycle is controlled by four hormones which synchronize the
production of an ovum with the uterus lining being ready to receive it
if fertilised. The start of the cycle is taken from the start of
menstruation
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is secreted by the pituitary gland at
the beginning of the cycle.
• FSH stimulates a Graafian follicle to develop in an ovary and an ovum
to mature inside the follicle.
• FSH stimulates the follicle to produce oestrogen.
Oestrogen
• Oestrogen is produced by the Graafian follicle mainly during the
second week of the cycle.
• Oestrogen stimulates the uterus lining to thicken and its blood supply
to increase after menstruation.
• Oestrogen causes the pituitary gland to stop secreting FSH and to
secrete luteinising hormone (LH).
Luteinising hormone (LH)
• Secreted by the pituitary gland in the middle of the cycle.
• A sudden rise in LH causes ovulation to take place.
• LH stimulates the corpus luteum to develop in the ovary after
ovulation and to secrete progesterone.
Progesterone
• Produced by the corpus luteum during the third week of the cycle
• Progesterone causes the uterus lining to increase slightly in thickness
and remain thick.
• If fertilization does not occur the corpus luteum breaks down during
the fourth week and reduces secretion of progesterone.
• The decrease in progesterone causes the uterus lining to begin to
break down, and the pituitary gland to secrete FSH at the end of the
fourth week.
Effect of Pregnancy on the Menstrual Cycle
• If fertilization takes place, the corpus luteum remains in the ovary and
it secretes increasing amounts of progesterone.
• This causes the uterus lining to increase in thickness and it prevents
menstruation.
• As the placenta develops, it takes over secreting progesterone, which
keeps the uterus lining thick and inhibits the development of mature
ova in the ovaries and menstruation throughout pregnancy.

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