The menstrual cycle & puberty

• What is puberty?

  The period of developing secondary sexual characteristics
• What triggers the process of puberty?

  Reproductive hormones
• What hormone is mainly responsible for male puberty?

  Testosterone
• Where is testosterone produced in men?

  In the testes
• What hormone is primarily responsible for female puberty?

  Estrogen
• Where is estrogen produced in women?

  In the ovaries
• What are the four stages of the menstrual cycle?

  1. Menstruation
  2. Uterus lining buildup
  3. Ovulation
  4. Uterus lining maintenance
• What is the average length of a menstrual cycle?

  Around 28 days
• What does the red line in the menstrual cycle graph represent?

  The thickness of the uterus lining
• What happens during stage one of the menstrual cycle?

  Menstruation occurs with bleeding
• How long does menstruation typically last?


  About 5 days
• What occurs during stage two of the menstrual cycle?

  The uterus lining builds up again
• How long does stage two last?

  Around 10 days
• What is the purpose of the thick spongy layer in stage two?

  To prepare for a fertilized egg
• What happens during stage three of the menstrual cycle?

  Ovulation occurs with egg release
• How long does ovulation last?

  1 day
• What occurs during stage four of the menstrual cycle?

  The uterus lining is maintained
• How long does stage four last?

  Up to day 28
• What happens if no fertilized egg reaches the uterus?

  The uterus lining breaks down
• What happens if a fertilized egg implants in the uterus?

  The menstrual cycle stops
• What hormones are involved in the menstrual cycle?

  • Estrogen
  • Progesterone
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
• What hormone stimulates the uterus lining to grow?

  Estrogen
• When does progesterone increase during the menstrual cycle?

  In stage four
• What happens if progesterone levels drop?

  The uterus lining breaks down
• Where are LH and FSH produced?

  In the pituitary gland
• What is the role of FSH in the menstrual cycle?

  To stimulate egg maturation
• What does LH stimulate on day 14?

  The release of the egg
• How do the hormones interact during the menstrual cycle?

  • FSH stimulates estrogen production
  • Estrogen inhibits FSH (negative feedback)
  • High estrogen levels stimulate LH release
  • Progesterone inhibits both LH and FSH
• What is the effect of high estrogen levels on FSH?

  It inhibits FSH production
• What does progesterone inhibit?

  Both LH and FSH
• What happens to the menstrual cycle if a woman becomes pregnant?

  The cycle stops