M3

• Menstrual cycle

  Episodic uterine bleeding in response to cyclic hormonal changes
• Purpose of menstrual cycle

  To bring an ovum to maturity and renew a uterine tissue bed that will be necessary for the ova's growth should it be fertilized
• Menstruation

  • Occurs as early as 9 years of age
  • Important to include health teaching information on menstruation to both school-age children and their parents as early as fourth grade as part of routine care
  • Poor introduction to sexuality and womanhood for a girl to begin menstruation unwarned and unprepared
• Length of menstrual cycles

  Average 28 days, can range from 23-35 days
• Length of menstrual flow

  Average 4-6 days, can range from 2-9 days
• Amount of menstrual flow

  Difficult to estimate, average 30-80 ml per period, heavy bleeding is saturating a pad or tampon in less than 1 hour
• Color of menstrual flow

  Dark red, a combination of blood, mucus, and endometrial cells
• Odor of menstrual flow


  Similar to marigolds
• Physiology of menstruation

  1. Hypothalamus releases GnRH

  2. Pituitary gland sends gonadotropic hormones to ovaries

  3. Ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone

  4. Uterus undergoes changes in response to hormones
• Hypothalamus

  Releases GnRH to initiate menstrual cycle<|>GnRH stimulates pituitary gland to send gonadotropic hormones<|>Estrogen feedback suppresses GnRH release<|>Diseases of hypothalamus can cause delayed or precocious puberty
• Pituitary gland

  Produces FSH and LH hormones under influence of GnRH<|>FSH responsible for ovum maturation<|>LH responsible for ovulation and growth of uterine lining
• Ovaries

  1. FSH activates oocyte growth and maturation

  2. Follicle develops around oocyte, producing estrogen and progesterone

  3. LH surge causes follicle rupture and ovulation

  4. Follicle becomes corpus luteum, producing progesterone
• Uterus

  Endometrium proliferates under estrogen influence in first half of cycle<|>Endometrium becomes secretory under progesterone influence in second half of cycle<|>Endometrium degenerates and sheds if no fertilization occurs
• Cervical mucus changes

  Thick and scant at start of cycle<|>Thin, stretchy, and copious at ovulation<|>Thick again after ovulation
• Fern test

  Cervical mucus forms fernlike patterns when dried at high estrogen levels
• Spinnbarkeit test

  Cervical mucus can be stretched into long strands at high estrogen levels
• Menstrual cycle

  Episodic uterine bleeding in response to cyclic hormonal changes
• Purpose of menstrual cycle

  To bring an ovum to maturity and renew a uterine tissue bed that will be necessary for the ova's growth should it be fertilized
• Menstruation

  • Occurs as early as 9 years of age
  • Important to include health teaching information on menstruation to both school-age children and their parents as early as fourth grade as part of routine care
  • Poor introduction to sexuality and womanhood for a girl to begin menstruation unwarned and unprepared
• Length of menstrual cycles

  Average 28 days, can range from 23-35 days
• Length of menstrual flow

  Average 4-6 days, can range from 2-9 days
• Amount of menstrual flow

  Difficult to estimate, average 30-80 ml per period, heavy bleeding is saturating a pad or tampon in less than 1 hour
• Color of menstrual flow

  Dark red, a combination of blood, mucus, and endometrial cells
• Odor of menstrual flow


  Similar to marigolds
• Physiology of menstruation

  1. Hypothalamus releases GnRH

  2. Pituitary gland sends gonadotropic hormones to ovaries

  3. Ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone

  4. Uterus undergoes changes in response to hormones
• Hypothalamus

  Releases GnRH to initiate menstrual cycle<|>GnRH stimulates pituitary gland to send gonadotropic hormones<|>Estrogen feedback suppresses GnRH release<|>Diseases of hypothalamus can cause delayed or precocious puberty
• Pituitary gland

  Produces FSH and LH hormones under influence of GnRH<|>FSH responsible for ovum maturation<|>LH responsible for ovulation and growth of uterine lining
• Ovaries

  1. FSH activates oocyte growth and maturation

  2. Follicle develops around oocyte, producing estrogen and progesterone

  3. LH surge causes follicle rupture and ovulation

  4. Follicle becomes corpus luteum, producing progesterone
• Uterus

  Endometrium proliferates under estrogen influence in first half of cycle<|>Endometrium becomes secretory under progesterone influence in second half of cycle<|>Endometrium degenerates and sheds if no fertilization occurs
• Cervical mucus changes

  Thick and scant at start of cycle<|>Thin, stretchy, and copious at ovulation<|>Thick again after ovulation
• Fern test

  Cervical mucus forms fernlike patterns when dried at high estrogen levels
• Spinnbarkeit test

  Cervical mucus can be stretched into long strands at high estrogen levels