Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle01:22

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH release.
The Menstrual Cycle01:19

The Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is a recurrent sequence of changes in the uterine endometrium, specifically its functional layer, the stratum functionalis. This cycle prepares the uterus for potential pregnancy. This cycle typically spans 21–35 days, averaging 28 days, and aligns with the ovarian cycle, regulated by fluctuating levels of ovarian hormones, primarily estrogen and progesterone.
The menstrual phase occurs from days 1 to 5 and involves the shedding of the stratum functionalis, as a uterine...
Secretory Phase01:19

Secretory Phase

The secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, spanning from day 14 to 28 in a typical 28-day cycle, is a period of significant physiological changes in the female reproductive system. This phase commences immediately after ovulation and is characterized by the preparation of the endometrium for potential embryo implantation.
Following ovulation, the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine structure, produces progesterone and estrogens. These hormones stimulate the growth and coiling of endometrial...
Ovarian Cycle01:27

Ovarian Cycle

The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle length...
Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle01:30

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

The ovarian cycle is meticulously regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This cycle orchestrates the release of a mature oocyte, essential for reproduction.
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle.  At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...
Menses Phase01:18

Menses Phase

The uterine cycle begins with the menstrual phase, which is considered day one of the cycle and typically lasts about five days. This phase is characterized by the degeneration and shedding of the stratum functionalis, the functional layer of the endometrium.
When fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum deteriorates, causing a significant drop in the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body. This hormonal decrease triggers the release of prostaglandins, which cause the uterine...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Early Multimodal Motor Training After Stroke Promotes Motor Recovery and Whole-Brain Structural Remodeling.

Journal of the American Heart Association·2026
Same author

Measures Following Abnormal Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) for Trisomies 13, 18, and 21: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Billing Data of the Barmer Health Insurance Company.

Deutsches Arzteblatt international·2026
Same author

Impact of Blood Pressure Levels During Pregnancy on Postpartum Hypertensive Outcomes: Insights from a Cohort Study.

Journal of clinical medicine·2026
Same author

The Latest on Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy - Update 2026.

Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde·2026
Same author

Spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome with a previously undescribed gene mutation of the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor gene: a case report.

F&S reports·2026
Same author

Impact of an online-guided physical activity intervention on cognition, resting-state brain connectivity, and the gut microbiome in healthy older adults-a randomized controlled trial.

GeroScience·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Rodent Estrous Cycle Monitoring Utilizing Vaginal Lavage: No Such Thing As a Normal Cycle
09:05

Rodent Estrous Cycle Monitoring Utilizing Vaginal Lavage: No Such Thing As a Normal Cycle

Published on: August 30, 2021

Changes in brain size during the menstrual cycle.

Georg Hagemann1, Tarik Ugur, Ekkehard Schleussner

  • 1Hans Berger Clinic for Neurology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany. georg.hagemann@helios-kliniken.de

Plos One
|February 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Brain structure changes during the menstrual cycle. Women show a grey matter volume peak and cerebrospinal fluid loss around ovulation, indicating short-term structural plasticity.

More Related Videos

Meta-analysis of Voxel-Based Neuroimaging Studies using Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI)
06:26

Meta-analysis of Voxel-Based Neuroimaging Studies using Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI)

Published on: November 27, 2019

A Comparative Approach for Quantitative Cell Counting Studies in Widely Different Mammalian Brains
07:14

A Comparative Approach for Quantitative Cell Counting Studies in Widely Different Mammalian Brains

Published on: January 16, 2026

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Rodent Estrous Cycle Monitoring Utilizing Vaginal Lavage: No Such Thing As a Normal Cycle
09:05

Rodent Estrous Cycle Monitoring Utilizing Vaginal Lavage: No Such Thing As a Normal Cycle

Published on: August 30, 2021

Meta-analysis of Voxel-Based Neuroimaging Studies using Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI)
06:26

Meta-analysis of Voxel-Based Neuroimaging Studies using Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI)

Published on: November 27, 2019

A Comparative Approach for Quantitative Cell Counting Studies in Widely Different Mammalian Brains
07:14

A Comparative Approach for Quantitative Cell Counting Studies in Widely Different Mammalian Brains

Published on: January 16, 2026

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Human Anatomy

Background:

  • Hormonal fluctuations influence brain function and behavior cyclically.
  • Previous research indicated long-term brain volume changes in response to hormonal shifts.
  • Recent advancements allow detection of subtle, short-term brain structural changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate short-term brain volume alterations throughout the menstrual cycle.
  • To compare menstrual cycle-related brain changes in women with parallel changes in men.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized serial magnetic resonance (MR) volumetry for precise brain volume measurements.
  • Monitored brain volume changes across the menstrual cycle in women.
  • Conducted parallel 4-week observations in men.

Main Results:

  • Observed a significant peak in grey matter volume in women during ovulation.
  • Detected a concurrent loss of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume at ovulation.
  • No significant brain volume alterations were found in men during the study period.
  • Volume changes did not correlate with estradiol or progesterone levels.

Conclusions:

  • Provides evidence for short-term, hormone-dependent structural brain changes during the menstrual cycle.
  • Highlights the dynamic nature of brain structure in response to hormonal fluctuations.
  • Suggests these structural changes should be considered in functional brain research.