The Menstrual Cycle Phases printable pdf download

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THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Menstruation, or having periods, begins during puberty. For most girls, periods start sometime

between ages 9 and 16. The average age to start is 12 to 13.

The menstrual cycle is the monthly cycle of changes that happens in the female reproductive

system. During the menstrual cycle, an egg develops in an ovary. At the same time, the uterus prepares

for the arrival of a fertilized egg. Because each body is different, the time it takes to complete one

menstrual cycle is different between different women. Cycles vary from 20-40 days. The average cycle

is 28 days.

The menstrual cycle has 4 main stages:

Stage 1: Menstruation

This is the time of bleeding, or the period.

The inner lining of the uterus (the endometrium)

flows out of the body through the vagina. Periods

usually last between 3 to 7 days. About 4

tablespoons of fluid leaves the uterus during a

period. The first day of a woman’s period is

considered “Day 1” of her menstrual cycle.

Stage 2: Egg Ripening and Uterus Lining

Buildup

This phase begins when the period is over.

As the egg matures, the lining of the uterus gets

thicker. This takes 6 to 12 days.

Stage 3: Ovulation

This is the midpoint of the menstrual cycle.

Hormones cause the chamber around the egg

(called the follicle) to break open and release the

mature egg into the fallopian tube. This is called

ovulation. Now the woman can become pregnant.

Ovulation usually occurs on Day 14 of a woman’s

menstrual cycle. Some women experience slight

discomfort, such as

cramps, during ovulation.

Stage 4: Egg Travels to Uterus

This is the most stable part of the menstrual cycle. It last about 14 days for most women.

During this stage, the uterus is ready to receive a fertilized egg. The egg usually takes 3 to 4 days to

reach the uterus. If the egg has been fertilized by a sperm cell, it attaches to the thick, blood-filled lining

of the uterus. This is the start of pregnancy. If an egg is not fertilized, the egg and the lining of the

uterus breaks down. The extra blood and tissue of the uterus begins to pass out of her body through the

vagina, and the woman begins her period.

Menopause

A women’s menstrual cycle continues during the years that she can reproduce, except during

pregnancy, when she has no periods. This is because the uterus lining must stay thick and healthy for 9

The Menstrual Cycle Phases

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