Name: _____________________________________________________ Grade and Section: __________________

5
Puberty is the process of body changes that causes a child’s body to become capable of reproduction.
Every adolescent boy and girl who is about to enter puberty should be taught or should know the basic
medical definition of menstruation and that it is a normal process that females go through as their bodies
prepare themselves for potential pregnancy. It is a part of the monthly menstrual cycle that occur in the
female reproductive system that makes pregnancy possible.
Phases of the Menstrual Cycle
1. Menstrual Phase (Menstruation)
This is commonly referred to as “period” or the woman’s monthly bleeding. The first menstrual bleeding
of a woman is called Menarche. It signals the possibility of getting pregnant. Menstrual blood, known as
menses, is shed from the thickened lining of the uterus, known as endometrium. Menstrual blood from the
uterus passes through the cervix, to the vagina, and out through the vaginal opening. This fluid may be bright
red, light pink, or even brown. During menstruation, some eggs begin to mature in the ovaries. As the eggs
develop, the surrounding cells release the estrogen hormone into the bloodstream. This is the time when
cramping and the abdominal pains occur. The contraction of the uterine and the abdominal muscles that help
in expelling the menstrual fluid also causes the cramps to be felt.
There are also different types of menstrual disorder that can be felt during menstruation. First is the
Dysmenorrhea which is the medical term for painful menstrual periods which are caused by uterine
contractions. It has two types: the primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is common menstrual
cramps that are recurrent while secondary dysmenorrhea results from reproductive system disorders. Second
is the Menorrhagia that is a prolonged and excessively heavy menstrual bleeding at regular menstrual cycle
intervals. Third is the Oligomenorrhea which is defined irregular and inconsistent menstrual blood flow in a
woman. It is also about missing a period or occasional irregularity of a menstrual cycle. Lastly is the
Polymenorrhea which is a term used to describe a menstrual cycle that is shorter than 21 days. It is a form
of abnormal uterine bleeding. For some women, a shorter cycle length may just be normal, but for others it
can be caused by certain medical condition. Women with polymenorrhea may also find that their periods are
irregular or unpredictable.

Figure 1: Menstrual Phase

2. Follicular Phase
This phase also starts on the first day of menstruation, but it ends up to the thirteenth day of
menstrual cycle. In this phase, the lining of the uterus starts to grow or proliferate due to hormone known
as estrogen. As the estrogen level increases, menstrual bleeding stops, and the lining of the uterus thickens
in preparation for receiving a fertilized egg. The increase in estrogen also causes the pituitary gland to
release a hormone that travels to the ovaries, stimulates the egg cells in the ovaries to grow, and causes the
most mature egg to be released. One of these egg cells starts to mature in a sac-like structure called follicle.
Each follicle contains an egg. It takes 13 days for the egg cell to reach maturity. As the egg cell matures,
its follicle secretes a hormone stimulating the uterus to develop a lining of blood.

eg

1
Figure 2: Follicular Phase
3. Ovulation Phase (Day 14)
In the regular 28-day menstrual cycle, the ovulation usually occurs on day 14. The pituitary gland
secretes a hormone that causes the ovary to release the matured egg cell. 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.
When a mature egg (ovum) is released from the ovarian follicle to the nearest fallopian tube during the
menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs. As the egg moves down the fallopian tube for several days, the lining
of the uterus continues to grow thicker and and thicker. The egg then travels into the uterus. It takes
about three to four days for the egg to travel toward the uterus. If fertilization is to occur, it must happen
within 24 hours of ovulation or the egg’s life lapses.
egg

Figure 3: Ovulation Phase

4. Luteal Phase (Day 15-28)

This phase starts on the fifteenth day and lasts up to the end of the cycle. After the ovulation occurs,
the follicle develops into a hormone-producing structure called the corpus luteum. This is a yellow structure
in the ovary that produces estrogen and large amounts of progesterone. This hormone signals the uterus to
thicken. The walls of the uterus thicken with many blood vessels to provide nutrients for the coming baby
if in case a sperm fertilizes the egg. If the egg is not fertilized, the thickening of the uterus breaks down
and comes out of the body through the menstruation. Then, the menstrual cycle repeats itself. For females
who have normal periods, the cycle is repeated four weeks or 28 days. However, the cycle varies and is
affected by a lot of factors.

Figure 4: The Luteal Phase

Activity 1
Directions: Match the concepts about menstruation in Column A with the terms in Column B. Write
the letter of your answer in the space provided.
A B
____1. This is the lining of the uterus that becomes thicker in a. follicle
preparation for the implantation of the fertilized egg.
____2. The first occurrence of menstruation b. endometrium
____3. The process when the matured egg cell is released from the ovary c. menstrual cycle
____4. It is commonly known as period or the d. ovulation
woman’s monthly bleeding
____5. Sac-like structures where egg cells mature e. menarche
Egg
Activity 2
Below are the phases of menstrual cycle. Read each statement and rearrange the letters of
the jumbled word to form the word described in each item.

1. LEULTA ESPHA - ________________________

After ovulation occurs, the follicle develops into a hormone producing structure called
corpus luteum
2. LAUVOITNO SEHAP - _______________________
If you have regular 28-day menstrual cycle, this phase usually occurs on day 14
3. CURALLLIOF ESPHA - _____________________
This phase also starts on the first day of menstruation, but it ends up to the thirteenth
day of menstrual cycle.
4. STLUAEMNR EPAHS - ______________________
It is a woman’s monthly bleeding, commonly referred to as your period. 2