3rd Quarter LEARNING MATERIAL IN GRADE 10 Science

WORKSHEET1 : Describe the feedback mechanisms involved in regulating processes in the

female reproductive system (e.g., menstrual cycle)
Name____________________________________ Year and Section ______________ Score_________

Teacher__________________________________ School _____________________ Date ___________

Objective: Describe the important events of the menstrual cycle using video clip.

BIG IDEAS:

What is the menstrual cycle? The menstrual cycle refers to the regular changes in the activity

of the ovaries and the endometrium that make reproduction possible.

Overview
Each month during the years between puberty and menopause, a woman’s body
goes through a number of changes to get it ready for a possible pregnancy. This
series of hormone-driven events is called the menstrual cycle.

During each menstrual cycle, an egg develops and is released from the ovaries.
The lining of the uterus builds up. If a pregnancy doesn’t happen, the uterine
lining sheds during a menstrual period. Then the cycle starts again.

A woman’s menstrual cycle is divided into four phases:

• menstrual phase
• follicular phase
• ovulation phase
• luteal phase
 • The length of each phase can differ from woman to woman, and it can change over
time.

Menstrual phase
The menstrual phase is the first stage of the menstrual cycle. It’s also when you
get your period.

This phase starts when an egg from the previous cycle isn’t fertilized. Because
pregnancy hasn’t taken place, levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone
drop.

The thickened lining of your uterus, which would support a pregnancy, is no

longer needed, so it sheds through your vagina. During your period, you release
a combination of blood, mucus, and tissue from your uterus.

You may have period symptoms like these:

• cramps (try these home remedies)

• tender breasts
• bloating
• mood swings
• irritability
• headaches
• tiredness
• low back pain

On average, women are in the menstrual phase of their cycle for 3 to 7

days. Some women have longer periods than others.
Follicular phase
The follicular phase starts on the first day of your period (so there is some
overlap with the menstrual phase) and ends when you ovulate.

It starts when the hypothalamus sends a signal to your pituitary gland to

release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This hormone stimulates your ovaries
to produce around 5 to 20 small sacs called follicles. Each follicle contains an
immature egg.

Only the healthiest egg will eventually mature. (On rare occasions, a woman may
have two eggs mature.) The rest of the follicles will be reabsorbed into your body.

The maturing follicle sets off a surge in estrogen that thickens the lining of your
uterus. This creates a nutrient-rich environment for an embryo to grow.

The average follicular phaseTrusted Source lasts for about 16 days. It can range from 11
to 27 days, depending on your cycle.

Ovulation phase
Rising estrogen levels during the follicular phase trigger your pituitary gland to
release luteinizing hormone (LH). This is what starts the process of ovulation.

Ovulation is when your ovary releases a mature egg. The egg travels down the
fallopian tube toward the uterus to be fertilized by sperm.

The ovulation phase is the only time during your menstrual cycle when you can
get pregnant. You can tell that you’re ovulating by symptoms like these:

• a slight rise in basal body temperature

• thicker discharge that has the texture of egg whites
Ovulation happens at around day 14 if you have a 28-day cycle — right in the
middle of your menstrual cycle. It lasts about 24 hours. After a day, the egg will
die or dissolve if it isn’t fertilized.

DID YOU KNOW? Because sperm can live up to five days, pregnancy can occur
if a woman has sex as much as five days prior to ovulation.

Luteal phase
After the follicle releases its egg, it changes into the corpus luteum. This structure
releases hormones, mainly progesterone and some estrogen. The rise in
hormones keeps your uterine lining thick and ready for a fertilized egg to implant.

If you do get pregnant, your body will produce human chorionic gonadotropin
(hCG). This is the hormone pregnancy tests detect. It helps maintain the corpus
luteum and keeps the uterine lining thick.

If you don’t get pregnant, the corpus luteum will shrink away and be resorbed.
This leads to decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone, which causes the
onset of your period. The uterine lining will shed during your period.

During this phase, if you don’t get pregnant, you may experience symptoms
of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). These include:

• bloating
• breast swelling, pain, or tenderness
• mood changes
• headache
• weight gain
• changes in sexual desire
• food cravings
 • trouble sleeping
The luteal phase lasts for 11 to 17 days. The average lengthTrusted Source is 14 days.

Identifying common issues

Every woman’s menstrual cycle is different. Some women get their period at the
same time each month. Others are more irregular. Some women bleed
more heavily or for a longer number of days than others.

Your menstrual cycle can also change during certain times of your life. For
example, it can get more irregular as you get close to menopause.

One way to find out if you’re having any issues with your menstrual cycle is to
track your periods. Write down when they start and end. Also record any
changes to the amount or number of days you bleed, and whether you
have spotting between periods.

Any of these things can alter your menstrual cycle:

• Birth control. The birth control pill may make your periods shorter and
lighter. While on some pills, you won’t get a period at all.
• Pregnancy. Your periods should stop during pregnancy. Missed periods
are one of the most obvious first signs that you’re pregnant.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This hormonal imbalance prevents
an egg from developing normally in the ovaries. PCOS causes irregular
menstrual cycles and missed periods.

• Uterine fibroids. These noncancerous growths in your uterus can make

your periods longer and heavier than usual.
• Eating disorders. Anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders can
disrupt your menstrual cycle and make your periods stop.

Here are a few signs of a problem with your menstrual cycle:

 • You’ve skipped periods, or your periods have stopped entirely.
• Your periods are irregular.
• You bleed for more than seven days.
• Your periods are less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart.
• You bleed between periods (heavier than spotting).

If you have these or other problems with your menstrual cycle or periods, talk to
your healthcare provider.

The takeaway
Every woman’s menstrual cycle is different. What’s normal for you might not be
normal for someone else.

It’s important to get familiar with your cycle — including when you get your
periods and how long they last. Be alert for any changes, and report them to your
healthcare provider.

Directions: Identify the menstrual phase by the following descriptions.

______________________ 1. It is the first stage of the menstrual cycle. It’s also when you get
your period.

________________________ 2. After the follicle releases its egg, it changes into the corpus luteum. This
structure releases hormones, mainly progesterone and some estrogen. The rise in hormones keeps your
uterine lining thick and ready for a fertilized egg to implant.

________________________ 3. Rising estrogen levels during the follicular phase trigger your pituitary
gland to release luteinizing hormone (LH).

________________________ 4. The follicular phase starts on the first day of your period (so there is
some overlap with the menstrual phase) and ends when you ovulate.
________________________ 5. If you do get pregnant, your body will produce human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG). This is the hormone pregnancy tests detect. It helps maintain the corpus luteum
and keeps the uterine lining thick.

_______________________ 6. If you don’t get pregnant, the corpus luteum will shrink away and be
resorbed. This leads to decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone, which causes the onset of your
period. The uterine lining will shed during your period.

_______________________ 7. This phase starts when an egg from the previous cycle isn’t fertilized.
Because pregnancy hasn’t taken place, levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop.

_______________________ 8. It starts when the hypothalamus sends a signal to your pituitary gland to
release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This hormone stimulates your ovaries to produce around 5 to
20 small sacs called follicles. Each follicle contains an immature egg.

_______________________ 9. It is when your ovary releases a mature egg. The egg travels down the
fallopian tube toward the uterus to be fertilized by sperm.

____________________ 10. During this phase, if you don’t get pregnant, you may experience
symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Questions: What are the phases of woman’s menstrual cycle?