Puberty and the menstrual cycle

• What is puberty?

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

  Testosterone produced in the testes
• What hormone is primarily responsible for female puberty?

  Estrogen produced by the ovaries
• What are the four hormones involved in the menstrual cycle?

  • Estrogen
  • Progesterone
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
• 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 for about four days
• What occurs during stage two of the menstrual cycle?

  The uterus lining builds up and thickens
• How long does stage two of the menstrual cycle last?

  Around ten days
• What is ovulation?

  The release of an egg from the ovaries
• How long does stage three of the menstrual cycle last?

  One day
• What happens in stage four of the menstrual cycle?

  The uterus lining is maintained until day 28
• What happens if a fertilized egg reaches the uterus?

  It implants into the uterus lining
• What hormone stimulates the uterus lining to grow?

  Estrogen
• What role does progesterone play in the menstrual cycle?

  It maintains the lining of the uterus
• Where are luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) produced?

  In the pituitary gland
• What is the function of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)?

  To stimulate egg maturation in the ovaries
• What does luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulate?

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

  • FSH stimulates ovaries to produce estrogen
  • Estrogen inhibits FSH through negative feedback
  • High estrogen levels stimulate LH release
  • Progesterone inhibits both LH and FSH
• What happens if progesterone levels drop?

  The uterus lining breaks down
• What occurs if a woman becomes pregnant?

  The menstrual cycle stops