The Menstrual Cycle

A look at the phases of the menstrual cycle

and the roles of hormones

HEALTH | GRADE 10

TEACHER ZOLA BEKKER

Today’s learning goals

Understand the phases of the menstrual cycle

Learn how hormones affect each phase

Identify the common changes in each stage

What’s not quite right?

Look at the diagram. Can you find any parts with the wrong label or function? Explain what should be corrected.

passageway for eggs

where a fertilized egg implants and grows into a fetus during pregnancy

produces eggs and female sex hormones

OVARY

VAGINA

FALLOPIAN TUBE

Look at the diagram. Can you find any parts with the wrong label or function? Explain what should be corrected.

passageway for eggs

where a fertilized egg implants and grows into a fetus during pregnancy

produces eggs and female sex hormones

FALLOPIAN TUBE

UTERUS

OVARY

What’s not quite right?

The menstrual cycle

It is an approximately 28-day cycle involving a series of changes in the female body to prepare for a possible pregnancy.

​

Hormone levels rise and fall to trigger each phase of the cycle.

Role of hormones

Understand the phases of the menstrual cycle

Repairs and thickens the lining of the uterus

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

Estrogen

Luteinizing

hormone (LH)

Progesterone

Triggers the release of

a mature egg

Maintains the uterine lining during the part of the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy

PRODUCED IN

THE PITUITARY GLAND

PRODUCED

IN THE OVARIES

Phases of the menstrual cycle

Menstruation

The uterus sheds its lining, and bleeding begins.

​

Common symptoms include cramps, fatigue, and mood swings.

​

DAYS 1-5

The follicular phase

Bleeding stops. The uterine lining thickens and an egg starts to mature.

​

Estrogen levels rise during the mid-follicular phase.

​

DAYS 6-13

Ovulation

The ovary releases the egg, which travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus.

This is the time when pregnancy is most likely.

​

Estrogen drops quickly after ovulation.

DAYS 14

The luteal phase

The mature egg travels through the oviduct towards the uterus. There is also an increase in the progesterone level during this stage to maintain uterine lining.

​

If the egg isn’t fertilized, the lining breaks down and the cycle starts again.

DAYS 15-28

A recap

The cycle has four phases: menstruation, follicular, ovulation, and luteal.

Each phase has different hormone levels and involves specific body changes.

Ovulation usually happens around day 14. This is when pregnancy is most likely.

Keeping track of the cycle helps reveal patterns in hormone levels and body changes.

Mapping the Menstrual Cycle

Create a 28-day cycle chart and label the four phases. Include also:

• hormone levels per phase (estrogen, progesterone, LH, FSH)
• common symptoms or body changes in each phase
• approximate days each phase typically occurs

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