Menstrual cycle: The menstrual cycle dscribes the changes that take place in a

woman’s body approximately every twenty – eight days. The menstrual cycle prepares
the woman’s body for pregnancy.
1. For the first four to five days of the cycle the lining of uterus breaks down and, along
with some blood, flows out of the uterus. This is called menstruation.
2. After menstruation the lining of the uterus is rebuilt from day six to day fourteen.
Around day fourteen an egg is released from the ovary. This is called ovulation.
3. The egg or ovum travels along the fallopian tube to the uterus. As the egg moves
along fallopian tube, the rebuilding of the uterus is completed. If the egg is not fertilised
while in the fallopian tube, it passes into the uterus and out through the body via the
vagina.
4. The lining of the uterus remains intact until around the day twenty – eight of the cycle.
If fertilization has not occurred the lining breaks down and the cycle restarts.
The average lenth of the menstrual cycle is twenty – eight days and menstruation occurs
nearly once a month in a woman’s body. Between the ages of forty – five and fifty –
five, ovaries stop releasing eggs. This is called the menopause.
Summary:
The menstrual cycle is a 28 day cycle that prepares a woman's body for pregnancy.
Menstruation, or a period, occurs for the first 4 to 5 days of the cycle.
Blood is lost as the lining of the uterus breaks down.
After menstruation the uterus lining is rebuilt and will remain intact until day 28.
Ovulation is the release of an egg from an ovary. It occurs around day 14.
If the egg is not fertilized the woman will have a period at the start of the next cycle.
Stages in the Menstrual Cycle:
1. Menstrual flow stage (Day 1-5)
• The first day of the menstruation is the first day of the menstrual cycle. The
uterine lining (endometrium) breaks down and flows from the body through the
vagina.
• The anterior pituitary gland secretes follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) into
the bloodstream.

2. Follicle stage (6-13)

Effects of FSH:
• FSH stimulates the development of the follicles in the ovaries.
• It stimulates the follicles in the ovaries to secrete oestrogen.
Effects of Oestrogen:
• Oestrogen causes to repair and growth of the uterine lining.
• It inhibits FSH production, preventing the ripening and growth of more follicles.
• It stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete luteinizing hormone (LH).

3. Ovulation (Day 14)

Effects of LH:
• LH causes ovulation.
• It also causes the formation of the corpus luteum.
• The corpus luteum secretes progesterone

4. Corpus luteum stage (Day 15-28)

Effects of progesterone:
• Progesterone maintains the uterine lining by causing it to thicken further.
• It prepares uterus lining for implantation of the embryo.
• Inhibits ovulation
• Inhibits FSH production
Corpus luteum: The structure that forms in an ovary after an egg has been released; it
secretes progesterone.