SCIENCE 3RD QUARTER - THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Menstruation - also called the monthly period

 The monthly event in the female reproductive system which happens every month
 Occurs because estrogen and progesterone disintegrate

Menstrual Cycle
 the body's way of preparing for pregnancy (main function)
 It only happens in females
 It is controlled by chemicals called hormone
 One of the signs that you can be reproductive (reproduce)
 Divided into 4 phases: Menstruation, Follicular, Ovulation, and Luteal
 Average of 28 days to cycle through the 4 phases

There are two (2) options that will happen on reproductive system
1. No fertilization = menstruation - -sometimes if there is no menstruation there is something wrong with the reproductive
organs
2. Fertilization = pregnancy

Egg cell
 One of the largest cells in the body
 Ovum (1 egg cell)
 Ova (many egg cells)
 When the sperm cell enters the egg cell, the egg cell would produce an enzyme that signals that it is now closed

Hypothalamus
 It will release Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to the Pituitary gland. It will stimulate the Pituitary gland to
release Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Pituitary gland
 Under control of the small area of the brain (hypothalamus).
 Cells in the pituitary that release Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
 The FSH will travel to the bloodstream going to the ovary.
 This will stimulate the follicle to mature.
 Follicle (nourishing cell that supports the egg) consists of the egg and few other hormones

When the follicle becomes matured, the egg will also mature. Then, the mature follicle will release estrogen going to the uterus.

Estrogen
 it will stimulate the uterus to develop endometrium (a lining with blood vessels and soft tissue)
 It will cause the endometrium to thicken in preparation for the fertilized egg to be attached in it if ever there is. (the uterus is
anticipating that pregnancy)
 Also the reason for the pituitary gland to stop producing FSH; cause the inhibition of FSH (negative feedback mechanism)

It takes 13 days for the egg to mature.

Whenever the estrogen is released after going to the uterus, it will go back to the hypothalamus. Hypothalamus will continue
producing GnRH. The GnRH will stimulate the pituitary gland to stop producing FSH, and instead produce luteinizing hormone.

Luteinizing hormone

 Will go to the ovary, trigger the release of the egg cells and that releasing of the egg is what we call ovulation.
 Reason for ovulation
Ovulation
 the time the egg would be release - the time the female is fertile
 process in which the egg is released and the time when the egg can meet the sperm cell
 Ovulation will be the time that a female is fertile (there is a chance of fertilization). Egg will travel and stay for 12-24 hours
in the fallopian tube.
 One of the signs the female is having ovulation- high temperature

Whenever an egg is released, the mature follicle becomes a ruptured follicle. It will release progesterone.
Progesterone
 It will cause the uterus to maintain its thickness in preparation for the implantation of fertilized egg, if ever there is.
  It will cause the endometrium to retain
 Inhibit the Luteinizing hormone (LH)
The ruptured follicle becomes corpus luteum.

Corpus luteum
 mass of yellow tissue from the ruptured follicle
 Produce progesterone
 Will be present, waiting for the time that there is pregnancy

If there is no pregnancy, the estrogen and progesterone will disintegrate.

 Lower amount or no amount of estrogen and progesterone
When there is no estrogen and progesterone, there is no hormone that will maintain the uterine lining, the endometrium will shed out
(menstruation)

SUMMARY: Hypothalamus will produce GnRH which will stimulate the pituitary to release FSH which causes the follicle to mature.
The mature follicle will produce estrogen going to the uterus creating endometrium. Estrogen goes back to the hypothalamus which
again releases GnRH to inhibit the release of FSH. GnRh will stimulate the pituitary to release Luteinizing hormone (LH) which will
trigger the egg to release. When the egg is released, the mature follicle becomes a ruptured follicle. The ruptured follicle becomes
corpus luteum and will release progesterone going back to hypothalamus to inhibit the release of LH.
THE CYCLE CONTINUES!

SCIENCE - MENSTRUAL CYCLE CONTINUATION

*If you consider those processes, the menstrual cycle will take 28 days.

28 days
- the normal or average number of days for a menstrual cycle.

*The menstrual cycle is divided into 4 phases / stages.

Menarche
 The first ever menstruation of the female.
 During this you follow some beliefs from your mother such as jumping on the stairs with four steps for the body to be used to
(masanay) the pain, taking a bath after, ect.

There are myths and facts about menstruation!

STAGES OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE:

1. Menstruation or Menstrual Phase
 Starts with the first day when the blood comes out from the vagina in a form of menstrual fluid.
 Day 1 up to Day 5 (this is the normal number of days but it could be beyond 5 days)
 Uterus sheds its inner lining (special event)
 Endometrium sheds out in a form of menstrual fluid that will consists the blood vessels and the tissues
 10 mL – 80 mL of blood will come out during this phase is normal
(Beyond 80 mL is not normal)

EXPERIENCES OF THE FEMALE DURING MENSTRUAL PHASE

 Tenderness of the breast
 Cramps (Abdominal Cramps)
 Mood Changes
 Bloating
 Headaches
 Irritability
 Low back pain
 Tiredness
 2. Follicular Phase
 From Day 1 to Day 13
The egg matures for 13 days.
 The pituitary Follicle-Stimulating Hormone stimulates the maturation of the egg and the follicle
 And that matured follicle will release estrogen and that estrogen will make the uterus to develop the endometrium
making it thicker
 Cells around egg enlarge/mature, releasing estrogen
 Prepares to release ovum

Negative Feedback
 The FSH resulted to have the estrogen but it is estrogen that will be the cause of the inhibition of FSH

3. Ovulation
 Day 14 (the day when the egg will be released)
 The mature egg is released
 Where the Luteinizing hormone makes the egg to be released
 Increases estrogen from the follicle stimulates the pituitary gland to produce LH, the LH surge causes the follicle to
rapture and the egg cell is sent to the oviduct
 Ovum is released
When the egg is released by the ovary, the egg will be guided by the Fimbriae.

Fimbriae
 Sweeps the egg from the ovary to the fallopian tube

4. Luteal Phase
 Day 15-28
 14 days average kuno
 There will be ruptured follicle that becomes Corpus Luteum
 Wherein the Corpus Luteum is developed, then there will be progesterone, and that progesterone will retain the
endometrium.
 If pregnant: embryo will release hormones to preserve corpus luteum
 If no embryo: the corpus luteum begins to disintegrate
 Progesterone level drop, uterine lining detaches, menstruation can begin
 Sign that the menstrual cycle is about to begin
 PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME:
 Headaches, mood changes, weight gain, bloating, cravings
(skyflakes akon), difficulty in sleeping (ako eun da), swelling of the breasts, changes in sex drive
So when there’s no pregnancy, the estrogen and progesterone will disintegrate.
After the luteal, the menstrual cycle begins again

Fertile Time or Fertility Period

 Days before and after day 14

 Day 11 - Day 15 (?)

The Menstrual Cycle

 exists in scope for the female to be prepared for pregnancy (the main reason)
 Only happens in the female
 Controlled by the hormones: Gonadotropin Releasing Hormones, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, Estrogen, Luteinizing
Hormone, and Progesterone

Several hormones involved in menstrual cycle:

  Follicle stimulating hormone
- maturation of the egg and the follicle
- secreted by the pituitary gland
- makes egg mature and stimulates the ovary to produce estrogen

 Luteinizing hormone
- stimulate the release of the egg, triggers the ovulation
- secreted by the pituitary gland
When its level reaches a peak it stimulates the release of a mature egg from the ovary, and this process is called ovulation.

 Estrogen
- responsible for the development of the endometrium, the thickening of the lining of the uterus (endometrium)

 Progesterone
- maintaining the uterus lining, causes the uterus to retain its endometrium