The Menstrual Cycle

• 4 Phases of the Menstrual Cycle:

  1. Menstrual Phase
  2. Follicular phase
  3. Ovulation
  4. Luteal Phase
• Menstruation or period is the monthly changes that take place in a woman's uterus.
• The average length of the menstrual cycle is usually 28 days.
• Menstrual Phase: This is the first stage of the menstrual cycle, where the uterine lining sheds and is expelled from the body through the vagina. This usually lasts around 3-7 days.
• Follicular Phase: This stage begins after menstruation and involves the development of follicles in the ovaries, which contain eggs. The follicular phase is characterized by the thickening of the uterine lining in preparation for a potential pregnancy.


  The pituitary gland produces follicle- stimulating hormone o(or FSH) to produce and mature follicles(small sacs in the ovary that contain an immature egg or ovum).
• Ovulation: occurs around the middle of the menstrual cycle, typically around day 14 in a 28-day cycle.
• During ovulation, a mature egg is released from one of the ovaries and travels down the fallopian tube, where it may be fertilized by sperm.
• The pituitary gland releases luteinizing hormone(LH), which causes the release of the mature ovum from the follicle.
• Luteal Phase: The luteal phase begins after ovulation and lasts until the start of the next menstrual cycle. During this phase, the empty follicle in the ovary transforms into a structure called the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone to support the uterine lining in case of a fertilized egg.