The Menstrual Cycle (Women's Health)

anovulatory

ovulation does not occur; ovum is not released from the ovary

luteinizing hormone (LH)

peaks around day 14 and is the hormone responsible for ovulation.

Endometrial Cycle - 4 Phases

1) Menstrual Phase (Time of menstruation, usually days 1-5) 2) Proliferative Phase (After day 5) 3) Secretory Phase (Just after ovulation to just before menstruation) 4) Ischemic Phase

Ovarian Cycle (cont.)

After ovulation, ESTROGEN will decrease slightly and then begin to rise in the LUTEAL PHASE the of the menstrual cycle as it prepares the endometrium for the conceptus PROGESTERONE levels rise higher as the corpus lutuem secretes this hormone in preparation of pregnancy -Progesterone is the hormone of pregnancy If conception does not take place, both estrogen and progesterone decrease and causes the endometrium to shed

Fimbriae - Ovulation Phase

Are finger-like projections located at the end of the Fallopian Tube close to the ovaries and Cilia are the slender hair like projections on them

Ovulation Phase - Day 14

Around the 14th day of the cycle, the pituitary gland secretes a surge of Lutenizing Hormone (LH) that causes the ovary to release the matured ovum. The released egg cell is swept into the fallopian tube by the cilia of the fimbriae. Fimbriae are finger like projections located at the end of the fallopian tube close to the ovaries and cilia are slender hair like projections on each Fimbria.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Cycle

At the end of the menstrual cycle (prior to the first day of menstruation), Estrogen and Progesterone levels DECREASE. -This occurs when conception has not taken place. Decreased levels of Estrogen and Progesterone stimulate the hypothalmus to secrete GnRH, which stimulates the anterior pituitary to release FSH. FSH stimulates the ovary to begin to mature follicles in preparation for possible conception. -This occurs during the FOLLICULAR PHASE of the menstrual cycle

Cycle Changes

Basal body temperature changes just after ovulation and will increase slightly Cervical mucus thins just before ovulation (to allow for easier passage of sperm through the cervix). Mittleschmerz pain occurs when some women experience lower abdominal pain during ovulation These can all be used for detection and treatment with INFERTILITY

Proliferative Phase - Phase 2: Endometrial Cycle

Begins after day five and begins to prepare for conception under the influence of Estrogen and FSH & LH. It is marked by rapid growth. This occurs during the FOLLICULAR PHASE of the menstrual cycle.

Basal body temperature

Changes just after ovulation and will increase slightly

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Cycle (cont.)

Estrogen levels begin to rise in the presence of FSH and the hypothalmus also stimulates the anterior pituitary to release Lutenizing Hormone (LH). LH peaks around day 14 and is the hormone responsible for ovulation. Estrogen levels also peak just prior to ovulation. -The role of estrogen is to prepare the endometrium for implantation of a conceptus. -LH and FSH DECREASE and level off during the LUTEAL PHASE of the menstrual cycle, as the job of ovulation as occurred. -They begin the cycle again if conception does not occur

Menarche

First menstrual cycle 1st periods are usually Anovulatory Develop into regular ovulatory cycles Occur in monthly cycles EXCEPT when interrupted by pregnancy or other reasons

Embryo (The Menstrual Cycle Across the Lifespan)

Gender is determined at conception -Internal structures are initially undifferentiated, but then organize into different structures between weeks 6 and 7.

Endometrium

Has two layers. Basal Layer - which remains constant Functional Layer - which is responsible for nurturing the conceptus when conception occurs. It is shed when conception does not occur.

Mittleschmerz pain

Occurs when some women experience lower abdominal pain during ovulation

Menopause

Period of one year after last menstrual cycle

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) - Follicular Phase

Stimulates the ovary to begin to mature follicles in preparation for possible conception.

Menstrual Cycle

The day count for the _____ _____ begins on the FIRST DAY of menstruation when the endometrium begins to shed and there is menstrual flow from the vagina

1) Menstrual Phase (From Day 1 to Day 5) 2) Follicular Phase (From Day 1 to Day 13) 3) Ovulation Phase (Day 14) 4) Luteal Phase (From Day 15 to Day 28)

The entire duration of a Menstrual Cycle can be divided into four main phases:

goal of menstrual cycle

The goal of the menstrual cycle is to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. When pregnancy does not occur, the uterine lining sheds and the cycle begins again.

28

The length of the menstrual cycle varies, but is generally counted as a ____ day cycle (which is the average among women).

1) Hypothalmic/Pituitary 2) Ovarian 3) Endometrial

The menstrual cycle has three distinct, but coordinated cycles

Cervical mucus

Thins just before ovulation (to allow for easier passage of sperm through the cervix).

Luteal Phase - Day 15-28

This phase begins on the 15th day and lasts till the end of the cycle. The following events occur during this phase: -The egg cell released during the Ovulation Phase stays in the fallopian tube for 24 hours. If a sperm cell does not impregnate the egg cell within that time, the egg cell disintegrates. -Progesterone, the hormone that causes the uterus to retain its endometrium, gets used up by the end of the menstrual cycle. This causes the menstrual phase of the next cycle to begin.

Puberty (The Menstrual Cycle Across the Lifespan)

Transition from childhood to adolescence and sexual maturity Physical and hormonal changes occur, mostly under the influence of estrogen (Menarche)

Menstrual Cycle Summary

Understanding the menstrual cycle is important in the study of pregnancy, contraception, infertility, menstrual cycle disorders, some mood disorders and other women's health issues. It is important to understand in the care of women.

Lutenizing Hormone (LH) - Ovulation Phase

Around the 14th day of the cycle, the pituitary gland secretes a surge of... This hormone causes the ovary to release the matured ovum.

Secretory Phase - Phase 3: Endometrial Cycle

Begins just after ovulation and lasts until just before menstruation. Further prepares the endometrium to receive the conceptus. The endometrium becomes edematous, glandular and blood rich. It both protects and nurtures the fertilized ovum. This occurs during the LUTEAL PHASE of the menstrual cycle

Menstrual Phase - Day 1-5

Begins on the first day of menstruation and lasts an average of 5 days but can vary in lengths from 3 - 10 days. The uterus sheds its inner lining of soft tissue and blood vessels, which exits the body from the vagina in the form of menstrual fluid (STRATUM FUNCTIONALE). -Blood loss of 10 ml to 80 ml is considered normal. -Women may experience mild to severe abdominal cramping, along with other symptoms related to moodiness, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, etc. Abdominal cramps are caused by the contraction of the uterine and the abdominal muscles to expel the menstrual fluid.

Ischemic Phase - Phase 4: Endometrial Cycle

Begins when the corpus luteum does not receive any hormonal signals from the fertilized egg. Progesterone and estrogen DECREASE, the corpus luteum regresses and MENSE OCCURS. This occurs during the LUTEAL PHASE of the menstrual cycle

Childhood (The Menstrual Cycle Across the Lifespan)

During ______, girls secrete small amounts of estrogen

Menstrual Cycle (Intro)

The _____ _______ is a complex biological event that occurs in young girls as they mature to reproductive age and continues through menopause It is an interplay of many events that include the uterus (endometrium), ovaries, hypothalmus and pituitary gland

Ovarian Cycle

-Primitive follicles (1 to 30) begin to mature in the presence of FSH and Estrogen -The surge of LH at approximately day 14 causes a selected oocyte to be release from the follicle -The empty follicle is called the CORPUS LUTEUM and is responsible for maintaining the pregnancy if conception occurs -The hormone secreted by the corpus luteum with conception is PROGESTERONE -This occurs during the FOLLICULAR PHASE of the menstrual cycle

1) Menses 2) Follicular 3) Ovulation 4) Luteal

The menstrual cycle is further divided into four phases:

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Lutenizing Hormone (LH) - Follicular Phase

The pituitary gland secretes Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH), which stimulates the release of... These hormones stimulates the development and maturation of an immature oocyte (genetic material) and follicle that will be released.

Follicular Phase - Day 1-13

This phase also begins on the first day of menstruation, but it lasts till the 13th day of the menstrual cycle. The following events occur during this phase: -The pituitary gland secretes Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH), which stimulates the release of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Lutenizing Hormone (LH) which stimulates the development and maturation of an immature oocyte (genetic material) and follicle that will be released. -It takes approximately 13 days for the egg and follicle cell to reach maturity. -Once the egg cell matures, its follicle secretes Estrogen, a hormone that stimulates the uterus to develop a lining of blood vessels and soft tissue called ENDOMETRIUM.

Menstrual Phase - Phase 1: Endometrial Cycle

Usually days 1-5 and is the time of menstruation (conception has not taken place). This occurs during the FOLLICULAR PHASE of the menstrual cycle.