Puberty and the Menstrual Cycle

• What is part of the menstrual cycle?

  Monthly release of an egg
• What triggers secondary sexual characteristics at puberty?

  Release of sex hormones
• What is the main reproductive hormone in men?

  Testosterone
• How is testosterone produced in men?

  By the testes and stimulated by sperm production
• What is the main reproductive hormone in women?

  Estrogen
• What does estrogen cause in women?

  Development of secondary sexual characteristics
• How does estrogen affect the menstrual cycle?

  It is involved in the menstrual cycle stages
• What are the four stages of the menstrual cycle?

  1. Menstruation starts on Day 1
  2. Uterine lining builds up from Day 4 to Day 14
  3. An egg develops and is released on Day 14
  4. Uterine wall maintained until Day 28
• How long does menstruation last?

  About four days
• What happens to the uterine lining from Day 4 to Day 14?

  It builds up into a thick sponge layer
• What is ovulation?

  Release of an egg from the ovary
• What is the significance of Day 14 in the menstrual cycle?

  It is when ovulation occurs
• What happens if a fertilized egg does not implant by Day 28?

  The uterine lining breaks down
• What hormone controls the menstrual cycle?

  Four hormones
• What role does estrogen play in the menstrual cycle?

  It stimulates the growth of the uterine lining
• What hormone stimulates the release of LH?

  Estrogen
• What is the role of LH in the menstrual cycle?

  It stimulates ovulation
• How does the menstrual cycle restart?

  After the uterine lining breaks down
• What are the effects of hormones on the menstrual cycle?

  • Estrogen: stimulates uterine lining growth
  • Progesterone: maintains uterine lining
  • LH: triggers ovulation
  • FSH: stimulates follicle development
• What starts the whole cycle in the process described?

  It breaks down and starts again
• What controls the cycle mentioned in the material?

  Four hormones
• Which hormone is produced in the ovaries?

  Oestrogen
• What does oestrogen cause in the cycle?

  Lining of the uterus to grow
• What does oestrogen stimulate the release of?

  LH (luteinizing hormone)
• What does LH cause the release of?

  An egg
• What hormone is produced by the corpus luteum?

  Progesterone
• What does progesterone maintain during the cycle?

  Lining of the uterus
• What happens when progesterone levels fall?

  Lining breaks down
• What does the release of LH and FSH stimulate?

  Release of oestrogen and progesterone
• Which hormone stimulates the release of an egg?

  LH
• What hormone is produced in the male body?

  FSH
• Where is FSH produced?

  In the pituitary gland
• What does FSH stimulate in males?

  Sperm production
• What is the relationship between LH and testosterone?

  LH stimulates testosterone production
• What hormone is responsible for stimulating the growth of the uterine lining?

  Oestrogen
• What is the role of the pituitary gland in hormone production?

  It produces FSH and LH
• What are the main hormones involved in the reproductive cycle?

  • Oestrogen
  • Progesterone
  • LH (luteinizing hormone)
  • FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)
• What are the effects of oestrogen and progesterone in the reproductive cycle?

  • Oestrogen: stimulates growth of uterine lining
  • Progesterone: maintains uterine lining during the cycle
• What happens when hormone levels fall in the reproductive cycle?

  • Lining of the uterus breaks down
  • Cycle restarts
• How do LH and FSH interact in the reproductive cycle?

  • LH stimulates release of an egg
  • FSH stimulates sperm production