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- cycle is counted
- controlled by different
from the first day
glands in the body and
of menstruation
hormones are
(bleeding) to the
produced to maintain
first day of the next
good health
period
- The average
duration is 28
days long
4 PHASES OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE
(M. F. O. L)
The Hypothalamus
secretes the As estrogen levels in the
Gonadotropin-Releasing blood increase, the uterine
Hormone (GnRH) that glands within the
stimulates the Pituitary endometrium enlarge
Gland to secrete Follicle
Stimulating Hormone
(FSH) and Luteinizing This prompts
Hormone (LH) some of the
ovarian follicles
PHASE 2: Follicular Phase to begin growing
and to secrete
or pre-ovulatory estrogen
When there is no
fertilized egg to start a
pregnancy, Later on through
menstruation will occur the follicular
phase, the
graafian follicle
secretes more
estrogen and
inhibin
occurs mid-cycle
The egg is funnelled into the
fallopian tube and towards
the uterus by waves of small
hair-like projections
the developing follicle causes
a rise in the level of estrogen
(a hormone that is responsible
for the growth and
development of female sexual Due to the high levels of LH,
characteristics and the graafian follicle ruptures
reproduction in both humans and ovulation or the release
and animals.) of an oocyte from the ovary
occurs
The hypothalamus in the brain detects these rising
levels and releases a Gonadotropin-Releasing
Hormone (GnRH) which prompts the pituitary gland
to produce higher levels of LH and lesser FSH
The oocyte exists from its
follicle, and the remnant of the
PHASE 4: Luteal Phase
ovarian follicle becomes the
post-ovulatory
When the uterus begins to shed,
corpus luteum that marks the start of
menstruation cycle.
The Progesterone stimulates the uterus to If egg is implanted in the lining of If fertilization does not occur, the
undergo final maturational changes that the uterus, it produces the corpus luteum is replaced by the
prepare it for pregnancy and the uterus is hormones for the corpus luteum. CORPUS ALBICANS which does not
now fully ready to house and nourish an These hormones include the Human secrete hormones, causing
embryo Chorionic Gonadotrophin (HCG) progesterone and estrogen levels to
which is detected in a urine test for decrease.
pregnancy.
I R R E G U LAR M E N S T R UAT I O N