The menstrual cycle Aims: To learn what happens during the different stages of the menstrual cycle

What is menstruation? The average menstrual cycle takes 28 days to complete. Its purpose is to produce an egg and to prepare the uterus to receive the egg if it has been fertilised

Your monthly cycle: Days 1 - 5 1 2 3 4 5 During the first part of your cycle, the lining of the uterus builds up If the egg is not fertilised, the lining of the uterus breaks down and leaves the body in a flow of blood This is called having a period

Menstruation:

Your monthly cycle: Days 6 - 15 Ovulation period 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 After the egg is released from the ovary, it moves down the fallopian tube 6 10 7 9 8 This is the repair stage of your menstrual cycle. During this time the lining starts to thicken up again 11 15 12 14 13 An egg is released every month from one of the ovaries. This happens about half way through the cycle on around day 14 Ovulation period

Ovulation:

Your monthly cycle: Days 16 - 21 20 17 19 18 21 During this time the uterus lining us ready to receive a fertilised egg

Days 16 – 21:

Your monthly cycle: Days 22 - 28 27 26 23 25 24 27 If a fertilised egg is not received, the lining starts to break down and the cycle begins all over again

Getting ready for menstruation:

Keywords: Uterus - Where the baby develops and grows Menstruation - Body getting ready for fertilisation Fallopian tube - Joins the ovaries to the uterus. Fertilisation takes place here Ovaries - Control the female sex hormone and produce and release eggs Egg - A cell containing 23 chromosomes. Once fertilised this grows into a baby