SC IE NCE 10 QUART ER 3

WE EK 2 - LESSON 5

The
Menstrual
Cycle
PR E PAR ED BY: M ATT HEW T. D EL A C R UZ
 W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

MOST
ESSENTIAL
LEARNING
COMPETENCY
Describe the feedback mechanisms
involved in regulating processes in
the female reproductive system (e.g.,
menstrual cycle)
 W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

LEARNING
COMPETENCIES
1. identify the role of hormones involved
in the female reproductive system;
2. understand each stage of menstrual
cycle;
3. analyze and interpret menstrual chart;
and
4. express appreciation on the importance
of menstrual cycle.
QUESTION
On average, the ovary
releases only one egg
every how many days?

28 days
QUESTION
What controls
menstruation?

Hormones
W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: T HE ME NST RUAL C YCLE

• The monthly changes that take

place in the female
reproductive system are called
menstruation. This cycle
occurs every month from the
first onset which could happen
when a female is between 10
to 13 years old.
W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: T HE ME NST RUAL C YCLE

• The monthly cycle continues

for about 40 years.
 The
Menstrual
Cycle

Important Events in the Menstrual Cycle

1 The pituitary gland controls and starts the cycle.
2 The pituitary gland starts to secrete hormones which affected
various processes.
3 The ovary itself releases a hormone called estrogen, which causes
the uterine lining to increase in thickness.
4 The ovary releases an egg on day 14. Assume that no sperm is
present.
5 The egg moves through the oviduct and enters the uterus.
6 Meanwhile the uterine lining continues to thicken.
7 The egg has not been fertilized; therefore, it will not attach to the
uterus.
8 The thick uterine lining is no longer necessary, so the cells of the thickened
uterine lining break off and leave the vagina.
9 After menstruation, the cycle starts again
 W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

DID YOU Did you know that

menstrual cramps are the
KNOW! results of the strong
contractions of the
uterine wall that occur
before and during
menstruation?
 W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

Every month during the

reproductive years of a female, a
woman’s body goes through
several changes to get ready for
possible pregnancy. This series
of hormone driven events is
called menstrual cycle.
 W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

It has four (4) phases:

1. Menstrual phase
2. Follicular phase
3. Ovulation phase
4. Luteal phase
MENSTRUAL PHASE
W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

• The first stage in which

when you get your period,
levels of hormones
estrogen and progesterone
drops. On average, women
are in the menstrual phase
of their cycle for 3 to 7
days.
MENSTRUAL PHASE
W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

• You may experience

abdominal cramps. These
cramps are caused by the
contraction of the uterine
and the abdominal muscles
to expel the menstrual
fluid.
FOLLICULAR PHASE
W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

• This phase also begins on

the first day of
menstruation, but it lasts
till the 13th day of the
menstrual cycle.
FOLLICULAR PHASE
W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

• It starts when follicle-

stimulating hormone
(FSH) stimulates the
ovaries to produce follicle
which contain immature
eggs. The average
follicular phase lasts for
about 16 days.
FOLLICULAR PHASE
W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

• While the egg cell

matures, its follicle
secretes a hormone that
stimulates the uterus to
develop a lining of blood
vessels and soft tissue
called endometrium.
OVULATION PHASE
W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

• Luteinizing hormone (LH)

is released from pituitary
gland and starts the
process of ovulation.
Ovulation is when your
ovary release mature egg.
This happens at around
day 14 if you have a 28-
day cycle.
OVULATION PHASE
W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

• Within two days, ovulation is

triggered by the high levels
of LH. The egg is funnelled
into the fallopian tube and
toward the uterus by
fimbriae. The life span of the
typical egg is only around 24
hours. Unless it meets a
sperm during this time, it will
die.
OVULATION PHASE
W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

• The life span of the typical

egg is only around 24
hours. Unless it meets a
sperm during this time, it
will die.
LUTEAL PHASE
W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

• After follicle releases its

egg, it changes into corpus
luteum. This structure
releases progesterone and
estrogen. The average
length is 14 days.
LUTEAL PHASE
W EEK 2 - LESSON 5: THE MENSTRUAL C YC LE

• If a sperm cell does not

impregnate the egg cell
within that time, the egg
cell disintegrates. The
hormone that causes the
uterus to retain its
endometrium gets used up
by the end of the menstrual
cycle.
FEEDBACK MECHANISM

• The process through which

the level of one substance
influences the level of
another substance. High
levels of one hormone may
inhibit the production of
another hormone.
FEEDBACK MECHANISM

• Follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH) stimulates
the ovaries to release
estrogen. High levels of
estrogen then prevent the
further production of FSH.
 FEEDBACK MECHANISM

• Estrogen also stimulates the

release of luteinizing hormone
(LH) from the pituitary gland,
which in turn controls the
production of progesterone.
High levels of progesterone
then inhibit the further release
of LH.