BBC - GCSE Bitesize Science - The menstrual cycle and fertilisation : Revision, Print

Sign in

News

Sport

Weather

iPlayer

TV

Radio

More

Search

BBC Radio 1

BBC 1Xtra

Science
The menstrual cycle and fertilisation

The menstrual cycle is a monthly cycle in which a womans uterus prepares for a fertilised egg to settle and grow into a baby. Human fertility is controlled by four hormones and involves specialised cells. Chromosomes carry the genetic information for the formation of offspring including gender. Chromosomes can also pass on genetic disorders. Fertility treatment is used to treat difficulties with conception.
The menstrual cycle A woman is fertile, on average, between the ages of 12 to 50. During these fertile years, a recurring process - known as the menstrual cycle - takes place each month. This involves the lining of the uterus[uterus : Also known as a womb. This is where the fertilised egg (ovum) develops. ] preparing for pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the lining breaks down and the woman has a period. This is also known as menstruation . The following diagram illustrates the menstrual cycle. It also shows the changing levels of the two hormones involved in the process.

The menstrual cycle

The menstrual cycle usually lasts approximately 28 days. The first day of the cycle is the first day of a womans period (menstruation). The period which usually lasts for 3-7 days - is made up of blood and the uterus lining. It passes out of the body through the vagina [vagina: The muscular passage that leads from a woman's vulva to the cervix. During sexual intercourse, the erect penis is inserted into the vagina. During vaginal childbirth, the baby passes through the vagina from the uterus. ]. Robert Winston describes the menstrual cycle In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/triple_edexcel/control_systems/menstrual_cycle_fertilisation/revision/print/[10/21/2013 8:23:19 PM]

BBC - GCSE Bitesize Science - The menstrual cycle and fertilisation : Revision, Print

After menstruation, the lining of the uterus builds up again (thickens) in preparation for a fertilised egg. Around day 14 of the cycle, an egg is released from a follicle [follicle : A small spherical group of cells containing a cavity. Follicles may produce hairs, for example. ] in the ovaries - this is ovulation . If this egg is fertilised and embeds itself in the thickened lining of the uterus, the lining is maintained and the woman becomes pregnant. If a fertilised egg does not embed itself, the lining breaks down and menstruation occurs - and so the cycle repeats itself. Robert Winston describes ovulation in humans In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. The role hormones play The menstrual cycle is controlled by the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen is produced by the ovaries and makes the lining of the uterus repair itself and grow again after menstruation. Progesterone is produced by the empty follicle in the ovary after the egg has been released. This hormone maintains the lining of the uterus during the second half of the menstrual cycle. If a woman becomes pregnant the follicle continues to produce progesterone and a placenta [placenta : The organ in the uterus of pregnant mammals that allows the transfer of nutrients and waste products between the mother and the foetus through the umbilical cord. ] is formed. If pregnancy does not occur, then both hormone levels drop towards the end of the menstrual cycle, the lining breaks down and menstruation occurs. Hormones and the menstrual cycle - Higher tier If you are doing the higher exam papers you need to know the roles of oestrogen and progesterone (see previous page) and also two other hormones: follicle stimulating hormone (FSH ) and luteinising hormone (LH ). FSH and LH are both produced by the pituitary gland[pituitary gland : An endocrine gland that is located just below the centre of the brain. It releases a number of important hormones.] in the brain and are transported in the blood. Low progesterone levels allow FSH levels to stimulate an egg (in a follicle in the ovary) to be matured. This encourages the production of oestrogen which repairs the uterus wall and stimulates a surge of LH. This triggers ovulation[ovulation : Release of a mature egg from an ovary. ]. After the egg is released from the follicle, it develops into the corpus luteum [corpus luteum : The remains of the follicle in a mammalian ovary after it has released an ovum (egg) into the fallopian tube. The corpus luteum secretes hormones involved in the menstrual cycle. ]. This produces progesterone which maintains the lining of the uterus and so stops menstruation. Progesterone inhibits FSH and LH and so remains high during pregnancy. This animation shows how the levels of FSH and LH change during the menstrual cycle.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed.

The menstrual cycle is an example of a negative feedback mechanism. This is when a substance is produced in our bodies to return a system to normal. Negative feedback is also seen in the formation of ADH (anti-diuretic hormone)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/triple_edexcel/control_systems/menstrual_cycle_fertilisation/revision/print/[10/21/2013 8:23:19 PM]

BBC - GCSE Bitesize Science - The menstrual cycle and fertilisation : Revision, Print

in the kidneys. In this case, ADH is produced when the brain detects too little water and so the kidney reabsorbs more water. The opposite happens when the brain detects too much water. Eggs and sperm Eggs (ova) and sperm have half the number of chromosomes[chromosome : One of the rod shaped bodies found in the nucleus of cells that contain genetic information (DNA). ] of normal body cells. They are called haploid cells rather than diploid[diploid : An organism or cell that contains two copies of each chromosome.] cells. A single egg cell is called an ovum . Collectively, eggs and sperm are called gametes or sex cells. When fertilisation occurs, an egg (ovum) and a sperm fuse to form a zygote. Eggs and sperm have several important adaptations linked to their structure.

Humans reproduce through sexual reproduction

Eggs An egg cell (ovum) is one of the largest cells in the human body and can just be seen without using a microscope. Each egg cell has a haploid nucleus - containing only half the number of chromosomes of a normal cell nucleus. It has a large cytoplasm which contains the nutrients and mitochondria [mitochondria: Structures in the cytoplasm of all cells where respiration takes place (singular is mitochondrion). ] needed for mitosis (cell division) after fertilisation. And each egg has a special cell membrane which only allows one sperm to fertilise it.

Process of fertilisation

Sperm Each sperm cell also has a haploid nucleus . It has a tail (for motility [motility : The ability to move from one place to another. ]) which propels it through the cervix [cervix : In a human, the cervix is the neck of the womb, where the vagina joins the uterus. ], uterus[uterus : Also known as a womb. This is where the fertilised egg (ovum) develops. ] and fallopian tube [fallopian tube: The tube leading from the ovary to the uterus. ] towards the egg. And each one has many mitochondria (where respiration[respiration : Chemical change that takes place inside living cells, which uses glucose and oxygen to produce the energy organisms need to live. Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of respiration.] occurs) to release the energy needed for its journey. Sperm cells also have special enzymes[enzyme : Proteins which catalyse or speed up chemical reactions inside our bodies. Enzymes are a vital in chemical digestion of food in the gut. ], called acrosomes , which allow them to break through the cell membrane of the egg. Infertility treatments There are many reasons why both men and women are unable to have children.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/triple_edexcel/control_systems/menstrual_cycle_fertilisation/revision/print/[10/21/2013 8:23:19 PM]

BBC - GCSE Bitesize Science - The menstrual cycle and fertilisation : Revision, Print

There are a number of ways of helping with infertility problems. Egg donation Some women donate a small number (usually about ten) of their eggs (ova). Women are given hormones to help their eggs mature before they are removed during an operation. The medical risk is small. Donated eggs are normally then fertilised in vitro (see below). In vitro fertilisation (IVF) If a man is unable to produce enough sperm of suitable quality, IVF can be used. An egg (ovum) is removed from the woman (or a donor egg is used), and sperm is introduced to it outside of the body. The fertilised egg is then returned to the womans uterus. Babies born from this process are sometimes called test tube babies. This is an expensive procedure with a low medical risk.

IVF - In vitro fertilisation

Some people are worried about the ethical implications of IVF, and are concerned that couples may only want fertilised eggs with desirable qualities. For example, they might want a girl if there are lots of boys in the family, or they may wish to avoid producing a baby with an inherited defect. Surrogate mothers Surrogate mothers agree to become pregnant for another couple who are infertile. There are different laws that relate to this process in different countries. Surrogate mothers can become pregnant from IVF treatment (see above). Use of hormones Follicle stimulating hormone ( FSH [FSH : Follicle Stimulating Hormone, which stimulates oestrogen production and the growth of follicles (egg-sacs) in the ovary. It is secreted by the pituitary gland. ]) can be given to women to help them mature and then release their own eggs. It can also be used to encourage the production of several mature eggs before they are removed for IVF treatment. The genetics of fertilisation Fertilisation occurs when a haploid [haploid: A cell with only one set of genetic information - a sex cell or gamete.] egg (ovum) cell is fertilised by a haploid sperm cell to form a diploid[diploid : An organism or cell that contains two copies of each chromosome.] zygote cell. This then grows into an adult organism. Genetic material ( DNA [DNA: The material inside the nucleus of cells, carrying genetic information. DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid. ]) from both parents is combined in the zygote. Offspring are therefore similar to their parents, but not identical. This is called sexual reproduction and leads to genetic variety in offspring. In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans (23 single chromosomes from each of their parents). The 23rd pair are called the sex chromosomes, and the

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/triple_edexcel/control_systems/menstrual_cycle_fertilisation/revision/print/[10/21/2013 8:23:19 PM]

BBC - GCSE Bitesize Science - The menstrual cycle and fertilisation : Revision, Print

combination of these determines whether offspring are male or female.

Male sex chromosomes

Female sex chromosomes

In women, both sex chromosomes are the same and are therefore called XX. In males they are different and called XY. When sperm and eggs (ova) are made during meiosis[meiosis: Type of cell division which forms sex cells (gametes), each with half the usual number of chromosomes. ] they separate to form different gametes[gamete: A sex cell, such as an egg (ova) or sperm. ]. As women have XX, their eggs always carry the X chromosomes. As males have XY, approximately half their sperm carry the X chromosome while the remainder carry the Y chromosome. The gender of any baby is determined by whether an egg is fertilised by an X or Y sperm.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed.

Gender-linked genetic disorders The gender of a baby is determined by the combination of the sex chromosomes inherited from the egg (ovum) and sperm. All eggs (ova) are referred to as X and approximately half of sperm are X and the other half are Y. A baby that develops from an X sperm is female, while a baby that develops from a Y sperm is male. There are a number of genetic disorders that are linked to the sex chromosomes, and so are inherited in different frequencies by men and women. The probabilities of inheriting these can be calculated in a similar way to the way you would work out the chances of inheriting other monohybrid inheritance [monohybrid inheritance: Genetic crosses which only involve characteristics controlled by one pair of genes (eg blood group). ] disorders.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/triple_edexcel/control_systems/menstrual_cycle_fertilisation/revision/print/[10/21/2013 8:23:19 PM]

BBC - GCSE Bitesize Science - The menstrual cycle and fertilisation : Revision, Print

Haemophilia People with haemophilia have problems forming blood clots. This disorder is caused by a recessive [recessive : Describes the variant of a gene for a particular characteristic which is masked or suppressed in the presence of the dominant variant. A recessive gene will remain dormant unless it is paired with another recessive gene] gene on the X chromosome. Men only have one X chromosome, so they are more likely to have this disorder. Women with only one copy of this disorder do not have the symptoms - but are able to pass it to their children. Queen Victoria was a carrier of this disorder and passed it to her son Leopold.

Historical artwork of Queen Victoria in a carriage

Colour blindness There are varying degrees of colour blindness - the inability to see colour or colours. A common example is red-green colour blindness, where people would not be able to see the number in the picture below. Colour blindness is also caused by a recessive allele[allele : One of a number of forms of a particular gene. ] on the X chromosome, so men are more likely to have this disorder too.

Colour blindness test

Family pedigree charts show how a genetic disorder is passed through a family. This shows the probabilities of inheriting a condition. Both haemophilia and colour blindness are recessive genes found on the X chromosome. If a male inherits the recessive chromosome they do not have a dominant X and so develop the condition. You may be asked to describe the offspring from a genetic cross like this one as a probability, ratio or percentage. For example, there is a one in four, 1:3 or 25% chance of having an infected son if an unaffected father and carrier mother have children.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/triple_edexcel/control_systems/menstrual_cycle_fertilisation/revision/print/[10/21/2013 8:23:19 PM]

BBC - GCSE Bitesize Science - The menstrual cycle and fertilisation : Revision, Print More from The menstrual cycle and fertilisation

CBBC CBeebies Comedy Food History

Learning Music Science Nature Local

Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Full A-Z

Mobile site

Terms of Use Privacy Cookies

BBC 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the

content of external sites. Read more.

About the BBC Accessibility Help Contact the BBC Parental Guidance

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/triple_edexcel/control_systems/menstrual_cycle_fertilisation/revision/print/[10/21/2013 8:23:19 PM]