Menstrual Cycle

2 cycles: Ovarian & Uterine

Controlled by hormonal changes
Ovarian Cycle
Average ovarian cycle lasts 28 days
Normally interrupted only by pregnancy
Finally terminated by menopause
Consists of two alternating phases
Follicular phase
Dominated by presence of maturing follicles
Approx 14 days
Luteal phase
Characterized by presence of corpus luteum
14 days

Follicular phase

Operates first half of cycle

Granulosa cells of some primary follicles
proliferate
Oocyte inside each follicle enlarges
Thecal cells in follicle secrete increased
amounts of oestrogen
Zona pellucida and antrum form
Rapid follicular growth continues during
follicular phase

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 Follicular phase

One follicle usually grows

more rapidly & matures about
14 days after onset of follicular
development
- Graafian or mature follicle
- Oocyte surrounded by zona
pellucida and single layer of
granulosa cells

Follicular phase: hormonal control

FSH and oestrogens stimulate follicle growth and development
Flow chart shows production of oestrogen by follicle

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 Ovulation
Wall of Graffian follicle ruptures
Antral fluid with oocyte flows to ovarian
surface
Fluid and oocyte released
Oocyte enters uterine tube
Hormonal control: LH surge is trigger

2 or more follicles may become dominant and

released at ovulation
If both are fertilized fraternal twins
Also called dizygotic twins (develop from 2 zygotes)

Ovarian Cycle: Luteal phase

Last 14 days of ovarian cycle

Old follicular cells undergo structural transformation to form
corpus luteum (gland)
Becomes highly vascularized
Fully functional within four days after ovulation
Continues to increase in size for another 4-5 days
If released ovum is not fertilized and does not implant, corpus
luteum degenerates within about 14 days after formation
Hormonal control: LH causes development of corpus luteum
from empty Graafian follicle

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 Ovarian cycle: summary

Uterine Cycle
Reflects hormonal changes during ovarian cycle
Averages 28 days
Consists of three phases
Menstrual phase (decreased oestrogen & progesterone)
Uterine lining is shed. 5-7 days
Proliferative phase (oestrogen)
Endometrium renewed in preparation for possible pregnancy
Secretory or progestational phase (progesterone)
Coincides with luteal phase. Endometrium develops

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 Menstrual phase
Characterized by discharge of blood and endometrial
debris from vagina
First day of menstruation is considered start of new cycle
Coincides with end of ovarian luteal phase and onset of
follicular phase
Triggered by decreased oestrogen and progesterone:
hormones decrease when CL degenerates
Release of uterine prostaglandin
Causes vasoconstriction of endometrial vessels
Disrupts blood supply
Causes death of endometrium
Stimulates mild rhythmic contractions of uterine
myometrium
Helps expel the menstrual flow

Proliferative phase
Begins concurrent with last portion of ovarian follicular phase

Uterus prepares for fertilized ovum:

Endometrium starts to repair itself and proliferate under
influence of oestrogen from newly-growing follicles
Oestrogen-dominant proliferative phase lasts from end of
menstruation to ovulation
Peak oestrogen levels trigger LH surge responsible for
ovulation

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 Secretory phase
Endometrium prepared for implantation
Blood supply increased
Glands enlarge and secrete glycogen-rich fluids
Secretory phase conditions promoted by progesterone

Uterus enters this phase after ovulation when new corpus

luteum is formed
Corpus luteum secretes large amounts of progesterone
and oestrogen
Progesterone converts endometrium to highly
vascularized, glycogen-filled tissue
Endometrial glands actively secrete glycogen
If fertilization and implantation do not occur
Corpus luteum degenerates
New follicular phase and menstrual phase begin again

Timing of ovarian and uterine cycles

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 Hormonal control of the cycle
GnRH
Gonadotropins (FSH and LH)
Oestrogen and progesterone

FSH: follicle stimulating hormone

growth and development of follicles

LH: luteinising hormone

causes ovulation
development of corpus luteum

Inhibin: decreases FSH, not LH

Hormonal control of the cycle

Oestrogens Progesterone
Stimulate oogenesis and follicle Promotes secretory-phase uterine
development conditions

Promote proliferative-phase uterine Suppresses uterine contraction

conditions during pregnancy

Induce expression of uterine Promotes growth of glandular

progesterone receptors breast tissue but suppresses milk
production
Induce expression of granulosa
cell LH receptors

Secondary sexual characteristics

Breast growth during pregnancy

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 Oestrogen secreted first
from the follicle, then from
the corpus luteum
Progesterone secreted
from the corpus luteum
LH and FSH secreted from
the anterior pituitary
Oestrogen and
progesterone inhibit LH and
FSH secretion

Regulation of Hormone Secretion:

Mid-Follicular Phase
Permissive Effects of
Hormones during Mid-Follicular
Phase
FSH
Granulosa cells theca cells
Theca cells have LH receptors
Oestrogens
LH receptors on granulosa
cells
Progesterone receptors on
endometrial cells

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Regulation of Hormone Secretion
Late Follicular Phase

Oestrogens stimulate LH
secretion (opposite of usual
effect)

This is one of the rare

examples of positive
feedback in Physiology

Hormonal control: ovulation

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Regulation of Hormone Secretion: Luteal
Phase

Long-Term Regulation of Female

Reproductive Function
Puberty Menopause
Oestrogen Cessation of womans
secondary sex menstrual cycle
characteristics Age 45 to 55
Reproductive years Preceded by period of
progressive ovarian failure
Oestrogen levels
Increasingly irregular cycles
high to maintain
secondary sex Dwindling oestrogen levels
characteristics Loss of oestrogen
primarily affects skeleton
and cardiovascular
system (increased risk of
heart disease and
osteoporosis)

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