FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE

There are Two female cycles

Ovarian cycle

Endometrial cycle / Menstrual cycle

 Objectives
Enlist phases of Endometrial cycle
Enlist important changes during this cycle
Define Anovulatory cycle
Discuss transport of Oocyte & Sperm
Enlist normal Semen analysis
ENDOMETRIAL
/MENSTRUAL CYCLE
 Parts of Uterus
Fundus
Body
Cervix

Internal os- upper opening of

cervical canal
External os- lower opening of
cervical canal
Walls of Uterus
Endometium

Functional layer
Basal Layer
Myometrium
Perimetrium
 Endometrial/ Menstrual
cycle
28day cycle
Normal blood loss 20-80ml
Phases -- 4
Endometrial Cycle
Menstrual phase--- 1-5 day
Proliferative phase--- 5-14 day
Luteal or secretory phase--- 14-27 day
Ischemic phase--- 27-28 day
Proliferative phase
Phase extends from 5th -14th day of the
cycle
Estrogen is secreted by ovarian follicles
act on uterus
Endometrium of uterus proliferates.
Increase in thickness due to growth of
glands and blood vessels
Secretory / Luteal phase
 Begins after ovulation on 14th day.
 Phase extends from 14th - 27th day of the cycle
 In addition to estrogen now progestron also acts on
endometrium
 There is extensive endometrial thickening and secretory
changes occur.
 Glands and blood vessels extensively enlarge and dilate
due to excessive production of secretions and increase in
vascularity. Glands become Corkscrew in appearance
Ischemic phase
Phase lasts for one day. Extends from 27-
28 day of the cycle.
Excessive production of estrogen and
progesterone causes negative feedback
leading to withdrawal of FSH & LH
This causes Ischemia (decrease in blood
flow) due to constriction of blood vessels
Menstrual phase
Phase extends from day 1 – day 5 of the
cycle
Ischemia will lead to shedding of
endometrium(functional layer)
Excessively filled glands and blood
vessels are thrown out
 CASE
Gynecologist diagnosed a case of 28
years old lady, that her reproductive
cycles are ANOVULATORY. What does
this mean ?
Anovulatory Menstrual Cycles
The typical reproductive cycle is not always realized because the
ovary may not produce a mature follicle and ovulation does not
occur.
In anovulatory cycles, the endometrial changes are minimal; the
proliferative endometrium develops as usual, but no ovulation
occurs and no corpus luteum forms.
The endometrium does not progress to the luteal phase; it remains
in the proliferative phase until menstruation begins.
Anovulatory cycles may result from ovarian hypofunction.
The estrogen, with or without progesterone, in oral contraceptives
(birth control pills) acts on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland,
resulting in inhibition of secretion of
gonadotropin-releasing hormone and FSH and LH, the secretion
of which is essential for ovulation to occur.
 ANOVULATORY CYCLE
Inadequate gonadotrophins
No ovulation
No corpus luteum
No progestron
No secretory phase
What IS THE BASIS OF BIRTH
CONTROL PILLS (Estrogen +
Progestron)

Intake of Estrogen & progestron causes

decrease in FSH & LH
leading to anovulation

So no ovum
TRANSPORT OF GAMETES
Transport of Oocyte

Parts of Fallopian tube

 Infundibulum + fimbria
 Ampulla
 Isthmus
 Intramural part
OVULATION

 Expulsion of oocyte
(secondary oocyte) from
ovary
Oocyte Transport
The secondary oocyte is expelled at ovulation from the ovarian
follicle with the escaping follicular fluid
During ovulation, the fimbriated end of the uterine tube becomes
closely applied to the ovary.
The fingerlike processes of the tube, fimbriae, move back and
forth over the ovary.
The sweeping action of the fimbriae and fluid currents produced
by the cilia of the mucosal cells of the fimbriae "sweep" the
secondary oocyte into the funnel-shaped infundibulum of the
uterine tube.
The oocyte passes into the ampulla of the tube, mainly as the
result of peristalsis-movements of the wall of the tube
characterized by alternate contraction and relaxation-that pass
toward the uterus.
Sperm Transport
From their storage site in the epididymis, mainly in its tail, the sperms
are rapidly transported to the urethra by peristaltic contractions of the
thick muscular coat of the ductus deferens.
The accessory sex glands-seminal glands (vesicles), prostate, and
bulbourethral glands-produce secretions that are added to the sperm-
containing fluid in the ductus deferens and urethra
From 200 to 600 million sperms are deposited around the external os
of the uterus and in the fornix of the vagina during sexual intercourse.
The sperms pass slowly through the cervical canal by movements of
their tails. The enzyme vesiculase, produced by the seminal glands,
coagulates some of the semen or ejaculate and forms a vaginal plug
that may prevent the backflow of semen into the vagina.
When ovulation occurs, the cervical mucus increases in amount and
becomes less viscid, making it more favorable for sperm transport.
 SPERM TRANSPORT
 In Male genital
tract
Sperm formed in spermatic
cord
By Peristaltic movement
pass from

 Epididymis to
 Vas Deferens
 Prostatic urethra
sperm transport In female tract
Vagina, Cervix, Uterus, Fallopian tube
Issuelessmarried couple consulted their
gynecologist. Gynecologist reported that
husband’s semen analysis showed about 40%
normal sperms. The wife was diagnosed to
have Anovulatory reproductive cycle.
Problem lies where?

???
Answer
Anovulation is the problem. Husbands
report is normal
Ovulation can be induced by exogenous
gonadotrophins (Clomophin citrate)

This can cause stimulation of multiple

ovarian follicles so multiple oocytes
might ovulate leading to Multiple
pregnancies
 SEMEN ANALYSIS
Amount 0.5 - 5ml (3.5ml)
Composition
Fluid 90%
Sperms 10%

No. of sperms/ml= 20-100million/ml

Motile sperms = 50-70%
Morphology = over 30% normal looking
Life of sperm = 3 days
 RECAP
1. Which of the following phase extends from 3. A patient had a complaint of heavy blood loss
27-28 days of endometrial cycle. during endometrial cycle. She asked her
a) Proli ferative gynecologist what is normal amount of blood loss?
What is your answer?
b) Secretory
a) 20 – 30 ml
c) Luteal
b) 20 – 50 ml
d) Ischeamic c) 20 – 80 ml
e) Menstral d) 20 – 150 ml
e) 20 – 200 ml
2. Under the effect of excess progestron 4. Gynecologist was discussing a case of infertile
secreted by corpus luteum , proliferation and patient with medical students. The patient had
secretion of glands is increased. This occurs Anovulatory cycle. He asked the students to tell
in which of the phase of endometrial cycle. which of the ovarian follicle will not be present in
this patient.
f) Proliferative
f) Primordial follicle
g) Luteal
g) Primary follicle
h) Ischeamic h) Secondary follicle
i) Menstral i) Graffian follicle
j) Corpus luteum
 5. Ovulation does not take place in  7. During ovarian cycle follicles
anovulatory cycle. This is due to grow and secondary oocyte is
inadequate production of: formed. This oocyte is present in
a) Estrogen which of the ovarian follicle?
b) Progestron a) Primordial
c) Prolactin b) Primary
d) Gonadotrophins c) Secondary
e) Human chorionic gonadotrophins d) Tertiary
e) Corpus luteum
6. Ovulation occurs on 14th day of the cycle.
8. Oocyte after ovulation enters
What is expelled out during this
process? fallopian tube. The part which
captures oocyte is:
f) Primordial follicle
f) Fimbria
g) Primary follicle
h) Primary oocyte g) Ampulla

i) Secondary follicle h) Isthmus

j) Secondary oocyte i) intramural

 KEY
1. D
2. B
3. C
4. E
5. D
6. E
7. D
8. a