1. The Menstrual and Ovarian Cycles The Truth behind PMS!!

2. What is going on all at once?

3. The Beginning and the End: Menstruation Occurs if egg is not fertilized Days 1- 5 Corpus luteum (yellow body) breaks down – –This causes drop in estrogen and progesterone Uterine lining sheds FSH increases during

4. Phase 2: Follicular Phase Days 5 –13 Low estrogen = FSH to be released This stimulates growth of follicle – –Egg begins to mature Follicle matures causing estrogen levels up – –Uterine lining begins to thicken again

5. Phase 3: Ovulation Days 13-15 Sudden rush of FSH Major SPIKE of LH – –This causes follicle to break and release egg into fallopian tube FERTILIZATION MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR AT END OF OVULATION!

6. Phase 4: Luteal Phase Days 15-28 LH and FSH levels crash Corpus luteum forms from broken follicle Corpus luteum secretes estrogen and progesterone ––T––This thickens uterine lining to prepare for egg