The Menstrual Cycle

The graph below shows the levels of three different chemicals involved in the control
of the menstrual cycle.

a) What do we call the group of chemicals that control the menstrual cycle?
Hormones (
)

b) Describe and explain what happens to the lining of the womb during the menstrual

cycle.

In the first 5 days the lining breaks away and is lost (
)

during menstruation/period (
)

The lining then builds up again (
)

to prepare the womb for a fertilised egg (
)

c) What is the average length of the human menstrual cycle?

28 days (
)

d) Which two glands secrete chemicals that control the menstrual cycle?
Pituitary gland (
)

Ovary (
)

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 e) Describe the function of each of these chemicals involved.
FSH – Causes egg to mature (
)

Stimulates the ovary to produce oestrogen (
)

Oestrogen – Causes the womb lining to develop (
)

Inhibits FSH production (
)

Stimulates the release of the egg (
) ANY 2

LH – Stimulates the release of the egg (
)

f) Describe what happens during the first five days of the menstrual cycle and
explain why this is important.
Lining of the womb breaks away (
)

Released from the body with the unfertilised egg (
)

During menstruation/period (
)

Allows a new lining to build up for the next egg (
)

g) Imagine you are a doctor. Use the graph to explain to a couple who are trying to
have a baby when it would be best to have sex. Remember sperm can live for up to
three days inside the woman’s body.
Most fertile period is 11-24 days (
) as an egg is released around day 14(
)

Then travels down the oviduct/fallopian tube to the womb (
)

So is available to be fertilised (
)

ANY 3

h) Progesterone is another chemical produced during the menstrual cycle. Its

function is to maintain the lining of the uterus. Explain why this hormone would stay
at a high level if a woman became pregnant.
Retain the lining of the womb (
)

for the fertilised egg to develop (
)

Total = 22 marks

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