MESTRUATION / Female Anatomy maria PSY215
ALESSANDRO BIEN
03/02/16

Menstruation: The sloughing off of the built-up uterine lining that takes place if concepine

lining that takes place if conception has not occurred. The menstrual cycle is the process of

ovulation and menstruation in women and other female primates.

It is regulated by intricate relationship between the hypothalamus and ovarious endocrine

glands, including the pituitary gland, the adrenal glands, and the throughout the cycle,

releasing chemicals that stimulate the pituitary to produce two hormones that affect the

ovaries: follicle-stimulating hormone and luteingzing hormone.

Our menstrual cycle phases occur each month when your reproductive system repeats a

regular pattern of events, all controlled by hormones. There are four parts, or phases, that

repeat.

Here’s what you need to know about each: The menstrual phase is the part commonly referred

to as “your period.” The official start of your cycle is the first day of your menstrual phase the

first day of your period.

You may be thinking, “Where is this stuff coming from?” Menstrual blood is shed from the

lining of your uterus. It goes from your uterus through your cervix, vagina and out through

your vaginal opening.

A period usually lasts about three to seven days. It may seem like more, but the average

amount of menstrual flow for your entire period is about a quarter of a cup.

Ovulation is one part of the female menstrual cycle whereby a mature ovarian follicle

(part of the ovary) discharges an egg (also known as an ovum, oocyte, or female

gamete). It is during this process that the egg travels down the fallopian tube where it

may be met by a sperm and become fertilized. The menstrual cycle can be divided up into 4

stages; Luteal (often know as the Secretory stage) The entire cycle usually lasts 28 days. It can

however last for as little time as 21 days or as many as 31. The only interval which is fairly

Constant in all women is the time from ovulation to the start of menstruation which is almost

Always 14 or 15 days.

For simplicity sake, I have used the average cycle length throughout my assignment.
The main changes occur in the ovaries and uterus and are directed by 4 hormones Lutenising
Hormone (LH); Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) - both released by the pituitary glands
And Oestrogen and Progesterone which are released by the ovaries.
MENSTRUATION (DAYS 0-5*) ;Day 0 of the entire cycle is generally considered to be the first day of your period. This is where you uterus lining breaks down and becomes detached thereby causing bleeding for between 3-5 days. This is known as menstruation.
Concurrently, secretion of FSH and LH from the pituitary gland begins to encourage the maturing of a ovarian follicle.
FOLLICULAR PHRASE (DAYS 6-13*) Around the 6th day the follicle begins to develop . As it grows it starts to produce increasing amounts of oestrogen. This travels through the blood to the uterus and encourages the endometrium lining of the uterus to start to thicken again in preparation of a possible fertilization.
OVULATORY PHRASE (DAY 14*); Around day 14 the FSH and LH production peaks and the follicle bursts releasing an ovum into the oviduct. This is known as ovulation.
LUTEAL PHRASE (DAYS 15-28*); The ruptured follicle which produced the ovum does not simply die it becomes a functioning gland known as a corpus luteum.

Most scientific research about menstruation has focused on negative effects.
The researchers concluded that the way menstruation is portrayed by research and popular culture affects how women think about their menstrual cycles.(chrisler et al., 1994).
Premenstrual syndrome is a catchall term used to identify myriad physical and psychological symptoms that can occur before each menstrual period.(O’Brien et al 2000),Premenstrual symptoms severe enough to significantly functioning.
Dysmenorrhea is a painful menstruation it occurs during menstruation and is usually caused by the overproduction of prostaglandins, chemicals that cause the muscles of the uterus to contract.
Besides discomfort or pain, another fairly common menstrual difficulty is amenorrhea , the absence of menstruation. There are two types of amenorrhea, primary and secondary.
Primary amenorrhea is the failure to begin to menstruate at puberty.
Secondary amenorrhea involves the disruption of an established menstrual cycle, with the absence of menstruation for 3 months or more.(hormone foundation 2011)
There are also self-help for menstrual problems. for example, increasing fluids and fiber helps with the constipations that sometimes occurs before and during menstruation. Decreasing salt intake and avoiding foods high in salt (salad dressing, potato chips, bacon and pickles). - sexual health-

Women’s respond emotionally when they are on their period of the menstrual cycle ,
They can be sad and minutes after they get angry , most of them change their mood at least maybe 5 times in a day.
When I’m in my period I don’t like to exercise, I like to watch movies and eat a lot.
I think it is a good think to get your period because when you don’t get it on time you could start getting head ages, nausea, get dizzy , stomach age and a bloated stomach, like I did.
Some women and men avoid sexual activity because of culturally included shame about menstruation. Religious beliefs can also be a factor. Uncomfortable physical symptoms of breast tenderness and pelvic discomfort can reduce sexual desire or pleasure, and the messiness can inhibit sexual playfulness. Most scientific research about menstruation has focused on negative effects. (most of these points of this reflexion paper is focused on the book, chapter 3)