Menstrual Cycle

Facts about You

As a fetus, you have more than 7 million eggs!At birth, 1-2 million are leftAt puberty, about 300,000 are left.Only 300-400 eggs ever mature…

Compare to men:Men don’t produce sperm until pubertyCan produce up to 300 million sperm per

day!!!!!!!!!!!More than a quadrillion in a lifetime!

1,000,000,000,000

How Eggs Begin…

Eggs begins within folliclesFollicle: cluster of cells that surround an

egg Function: to help an egg mature Location: in the ovaries

Egg

Menstrual Cycle

Average cycle = 28 days1 egg per cycle4 parts in cycle:

1. Menstruation (Flow Phase)2. Follicular Phase3. Ovulation4. Luteal Phase

Menstruation (Flow Phase)

Starts on Day 1 (approx. 5 days)Uterine lining shed Low levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone

(FSH) and Leutenizing Hormone (LH) released Hypothalamus stimulates pituitary gland to release

them Begins to prepare/develop new follicle

Follicular Phase

Day 6 to 14Estrogen is released

Prepare lining of uterus Causes FSH to start to decrease LH levels remain low

Follicle is getting ready to release an egg

Ovulation

Around day 14Estrogen reaches max levelTriggers peak of LHFollicle ruptures to release the egg

Luteal Phase

Immediately after ovulation (14 days long)

FSH, LH, and estrogen decrease

Ruptured follicle becomes corpus luteum

This produces progesterone

Progesterone

Thickens & maintains uterine liningStimulates growth and development of

blood supplyPrepares you for pregnancyIf no pregnancy, levels drop! Cycle

ends! Period begins again.

Menopause

Permanent stopping of the menstrual cycle Production of estrogen drops, ovulation & menstruation

stopsTriggered by:

Age (usually occurs around age 50) genetics environment (smoking, drinking, stress, emotional

abuse, etc)Symptoms:

hot flashes, fatigue, sleep problems depression, mood swings weight increase vaginal dryness

Menstrual Symptoms

Cramps! Cause: contraction of uterus & movement of clots through

cervixHeadaches/Dizziness

Cause: sudden drop in hormones, loss of bloodBloating

Cause: sudden change in hormonesMood Swings

Cause: change in hormonesBreast tenderness

Cause: progesteroneAcne

Cause: increase in estrogen

PMDD

Premenstrual Dysphoric DisorderMight have heard it on commercials?Very severe disorderSymptoms are similar to what we all feel but

much more severe Have to be debilitating enough to interfere with your

ability to carry on with social or job-related activities. Often accompanied by suicidal thoughts

Other Female Reproductive Issues

Cervical Cancer Can be ID’ed by Pap Smear Pap Smear: doctor takes a small sample of cells Treatable Preventable: vaccine

Ovarian Cancer The “silent killer” → usually, few symptoms until its too

late Treatment: can include Hysterectomy (removal of organs) Spreads easily

Uterine Cancer Symptoms include irregular bleeding Treatment: Hysterectomy