The Menstrual Cycle

Question 1

What is stage one of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 1

The bleeding starts as the uterus lining breaks down for about four days

Question 2

What is stage two?

Answer 2

The lining of the uterus builds back up again

From day 4-14 into a thick spongy layer full of blood vessels ready to receive a fertilised egg

Question 3

What is stage 3?

Answer 3

An egg is released from the ovary at day 14

Question 4

What is stage four?

Answer 4

The wall is then maintained for about 14 days until day 28

If no fertilised egg had landed on the uterus wall by day 28 the lining starts to break down again

The cycle repeats

Question 5

What are the three main hormones involved?

Answer 5

FSH
LH
oestrogen

Question 6

What is FSH and what does it do?

Answer 6

Follicle-Stimulation Hormone
Produced by the pituitary gland
Causes an egg to mature in one of the ovaries
Stimulated the ovaries to produce oestrogen

Question 7

What doe oestrogen do?

Answer 7

Produced in the ovaries
Causes the pituitary gland to produce LH
Inhibits the further release of FSH

Question 8

What is LH and what does it do?

Answer 8

Luteinising hormone

Produced by the pituitary gland
Stimulates the release of an egg around the middle of the menstrual cycle (ovulation)

Question 9

What is one other hormone involved in the cycle?

Answer 9

Progesterone

Produced by the ovaries

Question 10

Why does FSH encourage oestrogen and oestrogen inhibit FSH?

Answer 10

Oestrogen ensures only one egg is matured