Menstrual Cycle

HUMAN PHYSIOLAGY
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
The menstrual cycle is complex and controlled by many different glands
and the hormones that these glands produce
The four phases of the menstrual cycle are menstruation, the

follicular phase, ovulation and the luteal phase.
Common menstrual problems include heavy or

painful periods and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Phases of the menstrual cycle
The four main phases of the menstrual cycle are:
•menstruation
•the follicular phase
•ovulation
•the luteal phase.
Menstruation
Menstruation is the elimination of the thickened lining of the uterus (endometrium) from the body through the vagina.
Menstrual fluid contains blood, cells from the lining of the uterus (endometrial cells) and mucus.
The average length of a period is between three days and one

week.
Sanitary pads or tampons are used to absorb the menstrual flow. Both pads and tampons need to be changed regularly (at
least every four hours). Using tampons has been associated with an increased risk of a rare illness called
toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
Follicular phase
The follicular phase starts on the first day of menstruation and ends with ovulation.
Prompted by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland releases follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
This hormone stimulates the ovary to produce around five to 20 follicles (tiny nodules or cysts), which
bead on the surface.
Each follicle houses an immature egg. Usually, only one follicle will mature into an egg, while the others
die. This can occur around day 10 of a 28-day cycle. The growth of the follicles stimulates the lining of the
uterus to thicken in preparation for possible pregnancy.
Ovulation
Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from the surface of the ovary. This usually occurs mid-cycle, around two weeks or
so before menstruation starts.
During the follicular phase, the developing follicle causes a rise in the level of oestrogen.
The hypothalamus in the brain recognises these rising levels and releases a chemical called gonadotrophin-releasing hormone
(GnRH). This hormone prompts the pituitary gland to produce raised levels of luteinising hormone (LH) and FSH.
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 waves of small, hair-like projections.
The life span of the typical egg is only around 24 hours.

Unless it meets a sperm during this time, it will die.
When you want to have a baby you can improve your chance of getting pregnant if you know about ovulation and the
‘fertile window’ in the menstrual cycle.
Luteal phase
During ovulation, the egg bursts from its follicle, but the ruptured follicle stays on the surface of the ovary.
For the next two weeks or so, the follicle transforms into a structure known as the corpus luteum. This structure
starts releasing progesterone, along with small amounts of oestrogen.
This combination of hormones maintains the thickened lining of the uterus, waiting for a fertilised egg to
stick (implant).
If a fertilised egg implants in the lining of the uterus, it produces the hormones that are necessary to maintain the corpus
luteum.
This includes human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), the hormone that is detected in a urine test for pregnancy. The
corpus luteum keeps producing the raised levels of progesterone that are needed to maintain the thickened lining of the
uterus.
If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum withers and dies, usually around day 22 in a 28-day cycle. The drop
in progesterone levels causes the lining of the uterus to fall away. This is known as menstruation. The cycle then
repeats.
Common menstrual problems

Some of the more common menstrual problems include:
•premenstrual syndrome (PMS) – hormonal events before a period can trigger a range of side effects in
women at risk, including fluid retention, headaches, fatigue and irritability. Treatment options include exercise
and dietary changes
•dysmenorrhoea – or painful periods. It is thought that the uterus is prompted by certain hormones to squeeze
harder than necessary to dislodge its lining. Treatment options include pain-relieving medication and the oral
contraceptive pill
•heavy menstrual bleeding (previously known as menorrhagia) – if left untreated, this can cause anaemia.
Treatment options include oral contraceptives and a hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) to regulate the flow
•amenorrhoea – or absence of menstrual periods. This is considered abnormal, except during pre-puberty,
pregnancy, lactation and postmenopause. Possible causes include low or high body weight and excessive
exercise.

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HUMAN PHYSIOLAGY

The four phases of the menstrual cycle are menstruation, the

Common menstrual problems include heavy or

The average length of a period is between three days and one

The life span of the typical egg is only around 24 hours.

Common menstrual problems

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