menstrual cycle

• Menstrual Cycle


  A sequence of events that occurs in females from the age of puberty
• The Menstrual Cycle takes 28 Days
• Menstrual Cycle


  1. Body acts on the uterus in case it receives a fertilised egg

  2. If no fertilised egg, the egg and uterus lining break down and are passed from the body over a period of 3-7 days
• Menstrual Cycle


  • Involves the body acting on the uterus (womb)
• The Four Stages of the Menstrual Cycle

  • Lining of uterus breaks down
  • Lining of the uterus builds up
  • Egg released
  • Lining of uterus maintained
• Bleeding starts as lining of uterus breaks down and passes out of vagina (period)


  Day 1
• Lining of uterus starts to build up again

  Day 4
• Egg is released from ovaries (most likely time for pregnancy)


  Day 14
• Wall remains thick awaiting fertilised egg, if none then lining breaks down and cycle starts again

  Day 28
• Don't confuse menstruation with "mensuration"
• You must know the four stages of the menstrual cycle and when they occur
• You should be able to draw the diagram of the menstrual cycle from memory