4.

2 THE ROLE OF HORMONES IN

THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Menstrual Cycle
Menstrual cycle refers
to the changes in the
uterus wall of a
women that take
place every 28 days,
beginning from
puberty (11 years old)
until menopause (45-
50 years old).
Is regulated by
hormones.
Menstrual Cycle & Hormones
Hormones involved:
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Luteinising hormone (LH)
Oestrogen
Progesterone
The menstrual cycle occurs every 28 days.
A girl starts to menstruate when she reaches puberty.


Baby girls are born with their OVARIES
packed with all the EGGS that they will
ever produce.

These are IMMATURE
And do not develop completely until their
TEENS
When their monthly MENSTRUAL
CYCLE starts
MENSTRUATION is the blood
discharged from the vagina when the
uterine lining breaks down.

Menstruation occur when there is no
fertilisation, and it last from 3 to 5 days.
During this period, FSH stimulates the
development of the folicles and the
production of oestrogen to repair the uterus
lining
From day 5 to 13,
the FSH and
oestrogen level
continue to
increase & a
Graafian Follicle is
formed,
On day 13, the LH
level increase
rapidly causing
ovulation to take
place on day 14.
From day 15 to 25, the corpus
luteum formed secretes
progesterone which
stimulates the endometrium
of the uterusto become ticker
& filled with blood vessels.

If the ovum is not fertilised, the
uterus lining breaks down & the
corpus luteum degenerates. This
causes the progesterone level to
drop even further, follow by more
breakdown of the uterine lining,
which is discharge as menstrual
flow.
If the ovum is fertilised, the zygote developes
into an embryo, which implants itself into the
endometrium of the uterus.
The corpus luteum continues to secrete
progesterone and oestrogen until the
placenta is formed.
Progesterone inhibits the production of FSH &
LH causing the menstrual cycle to stop during
pregnancy.
PMS
Some women suffer from
Pramenstrual syndrome
(PMS) a few days before
menstrualtion, due to
imbalance in the oestrogen &
progesterone level
During this period, the are
often depressed, irritable &
tired.
Some suffer from headaches
& backaches while others
gain weight easily.
Menopause
Occurs when the menstrual cycle stops.
It occurs usually when a women reaches 45 to 50 years
of age.
During this time, very little FSH is produced, resulting in
lower levels of oestrogen.
The follicles & uterus walls do not develop;
There is no ovulation & menstrual cycle is disrupted.
The menstruation eventually stops.