The Female Reproductive System

The female reproductive system activates when the pituitary gland begins secreting the hormones FSH-which causes the follicles in the ovaries to begin maturing an egg and LH-which causes the egg to leave the ovary (this is ovulation). These two hormones activate the ovaries into producing estrogen, the main hormone of females. This process prompts puberty to begin. At this point the female will begin her monthly cycle of menstruation. During this monthly cycle, the female body will also start producing the hormone progesterone-the hormone of pregnancy (this stops the ovaries from producing any more eggs).
With all of these hormones working properly, the menstrual cycle begins. Each step in the menstrual cycle is explained below. Click on each time period to learn more about it. To learn more about the parts of the female reproductive system go on this LINK

To view the egg's path through the reproductive system click here.

MENSTRUATION-This begins the monthly cycle from days 1-4. This is the process of menstrual fluid leaving the body.

UTERINE LINING REPAIRS ITSELF-From days 5-11 the uterine lining must repair itself to prepare for a fertilized egg. The uterine lining is also called the endometrium.

OVULATION-From days 13-15 a mature egg is released from its follicle of one of the ovaries. The egg will travel through one of the fallopian tubes (where fertilization must take place) toward the uterus (where it will implant itself if fertilized).

UTERINE LINING THICKENS-From days 16-25, while the egg is still making its way to the uterus, the uterine lining is thickening so that if the egg is fertilized it can implant itself.

UTERINE LINING BREAKS DOWN-From days 25-28, if the egg was not fertilized, the uterine lining begins breaking down in preparation for menstruation and then the cycle begins all over again.