Menstrual cycle

Definition

The menstrual cycle is a monthly series of hormone-driven events where the female body prepares for pregnancy, involving the thickening of the uterine lining and the release of an egg from one of the ovaries. If fertilization does not occur, the thickened lining is shed, leading to menstruation.

Related terms

Ovulation:

The phase in the menstrual cycle when an ovary releases an egg, making it available for fertilization.

Endometrium:

The inner lining of the uterus that thickens during the menstrual cycle in preparation for potential implantation of a fertilized egg.

Hormones:

Chemical substances, such as estrogen and progesterone, that regulate various stages of the menstrual cycle and affect many aspects of reproductive health