The Menstrual Cycle/birth

Question 1

Menstrual cycle

Answer 1

A repeating series of changes that take place in the female body to prepare it for pregnancy. Ranges from 21 to 40 days,average is 28

Question 2

Ovulation

Answer 2

An egg is released from the ovary an average of every 28 days,approximately day 14 of the cycle

Question 3

Fertile period

Answer 3

These are the days of the menstrual cycle when the woman is most likely to become pregnant. Intercourse 2 or 3 days before,during or after ovulation could lead to fertilisation because sperm cells can survive for this long.

Question 4

Menstruation

Answer 4

The lining and a small amount of blood pass through the vagina(days 1-5)this is called menstruation or a period

Question 5

Pregnancy

Answer 5

If an egg is fertilised,the menstrual cycle is paused for the duration of pregnancy is often that menstruation does not happen

Question 6

Menopause

Answer 6

Signals the end of a females ability to reproduce and also the end of her menstrual cycle. It happens at different ages for different people,typically around late 40s early 50s

Question 7

Implantation

Answer 7

The embryo embeds itself into the uterus wall

Question 8

Zygote-embryo-foetus

Answer 8

Egg and sperm fuse to form a single-zygote
Cell division occurs and growth-embryo,which attaches to the lining of the uterus(implantation)grows more,and after 8 weeks looks like a human-foetus

Question 9

Umbilical cord

Answer 9

A tube joins the embryo to the placenta

Question 10

Placenta

Answer 10

Rich in blood vessels,food and oxygen from the mothers blood pass into the baby’s blood,also wastes such as carbon dioxide pass from the baby’s blood into the mothers

Question 11

Birth

Answer 11

The birth of a baby begins when the uterus muscles start to contact,this is called labour,the bag of amniotic fluid bursts”water break” and further contractions push the baby out usually head first,through the vagina,the umbilical cord is cut and the placenta(afterbirth)comes out after

Question 12

Lactation

Answer 12

The mother may choose to breastfeed he infant,the production of breast milk is called lactation,the first 3 days of milk is called colostrum-very nutritious,and helps protect the baby from infection.

Question 13

Family planning

Answer 13

To control the number of children you have you need to control the number of times fertilisation takes place
Natural methods of contraception aim to detect the day ovulation takes place and avoid intercourse during the fertile period

Question 14

Artificial methods of contraception

Answer 14

Preventing the sperm and egg meeting
Example of this is a condom which prevents sperm entering the vagina
Another example is the contraceptive pill which prevents ovulation
It is important to realise no 100% reliable