[Course and regulation of the menstrual cycle from Robert Schröder to the present]

The fundamental histological findings about endometrial and ovarian changes during the menstrual cycle by Robert Schröder (1884-1959) are passed in review and some actual conceptions of the regulation of the ovarian cycle are cited. In addition, general findings of molecular processes during gonadotropin actions in follicular cells are described, e.g. activation and desensitization of adenylyl cyclase, the role of 3',5'-adenosinmonophosphate and down-regulation of gonadotropin receptors. In general, the progress in cycle research since the work of R. Schröder was done consists in the transition from the histological description of endometrial changes to recognition of intracellular events which have to be considered by gynaecologists.