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Related Concept Videos

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...
Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle01:22

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The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
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Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation02:19

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation02:19

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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...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
08:36

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Published on: August 8, 2019

Rotating shift work and menstrual cycle characteristics.

Christina C Lawson1, Elizabeth A Whelan, Eileen N Lividoti Hibert

  • 1National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA. clawson@cdc.gov

Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.)
|March 3, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Rotating shift work is linked to menstrual irregularities in women. Longer durations of shift work correlate with a higher risk of irregular and very long menstrual cycles, potentially impacting fertility.

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive health
  • Chronobiology
  • Occupational health

Background:

  • Shift work, particularly involving night shifts and circadian disruption, may increase health risks.
  • Understanding the impact of shift work on women's reproductive health is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between rotating shift work and menstrual cycle patterns.
  • To assess the relationship between the duration of shift work and menstrual cycle characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized cross-sectional data from 71,077 nurses in the Nurses' Health Study II (1993).
  • Included women aged 28-45 years with regular menstrual periods and not using oral contraceptives.
  • Employed log-binomial regression to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Main Results:

  • Rotating shift work, especially for 20+ months, was associated with irregular menstrual cycles (RR=1.23).
  • Extended shift work also increased the likelihood of very short (<21 days) or very long (40+ days) menstrual cycles.
  • A dose-response relationship was observed between shift work duration and irregular/long cycles.

Conclusions:

  • Shift work shows a modest association with altered menstrual function.
  • These findings suggest potential implications for fertility and other cycle-related women's health issues.