puberty and the menstrual cycle

• Puberty is the period during which adolescents start to develop secondary sexual characteristics
• In men, puberty is mainly triggered by testosterone, produced in the testes, which also stimulates sperm production
• In women, puberty is triggered by estrogen, produced by the ovaries
• The menstrual cycle consists of four stages
• Stage 1: Menstruation, lasting about four days due to the breakdown of the uterus lining
• Stage 2: Uterus lining starts to build up again, becoming a thick spongy layer with blood vessels, preparing for a fertilized egg
• Stage 3: Ovulation, involving the release of the egg from the ovary
• Stage 4: Maintaining the uterus lining until day 28, if no fertilized egg, the lining breaks down and the cycle repeats
• Hormones involved in the menstrual cycle
• Estrogen, produced in the ovaries, stimulates the uterus lining to grow
• Progesterone, also produced in the ovaries, maintains the uterus lining
• Luteinizing hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) are produced in the pituitary gland
• FSH stimulates egg maturation, LH stimulates egg release during ovulation
• Interactions of hormones in the menstrual cycle
• Estrogen inhibits FSH when its levels increase
• High estrogen levels stimulate the release of LH, causing ovulation
• Progesterone inhibits both LH and FSH