3.10 Menstrual Cycle

describe the role of oestrogen and progesterone in the menstrual cycle

-oestrogen and progesterones are types of hormones
-they are produced in endocrine glands
-they are specific to a certain tissue and affects them accordingly
-the ovary is an endocrine gland which produces oestrogen
-oestrogen affects the uterus wall by:
1. thickening the uterus wall in the first 14 days of cycle
2. oestrogen also affects the brain by making it release another hormone known as the liutenising hormone which then makes the ovary release an egg

after ovulation the follicle which once contained the egg will take on a yellow colour called corpus liuteum

this then becomes a progesterone producing gland and progesterone maintains the uterus wall thickness to prevent it breaking down.