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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.
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...
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...
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...
Proliferative Phase01:20

Proliferative Phase

The proliferative phase typically occurs after menstruation and lasts between 6 to 13 days in a standard 28-day cycle. This phase involves the reconstruction of the endometrium, guided by estrogen produced by the developing ovarian follicle.
Notably, the stratum basale, the basal layer of the endometrium, including the basal parts of the uterine glands, remains unaffected by menstruation. Stem cells in this layer undergo mitosis, regenerating the stratum functionalis and thickening the...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

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Ex Vivo Method for Assessing the Mouse Reproductive Tract Spontaneous Motility and a MATLAB-based Uterus Motion Tracking Algorithm for Data Analysis
06:22

Ex Vivo Method for Assessing the Mouse Reproductive Tract Spontaneous Motility and a MATLAB-based Uterus Motion Tracking Algorithm for Data Analysis

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Menstruation: a nonadaptive consequence of uterine evolution

C A Finn1

  • 1Department of Veterinary Preclinical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, South Wirral, United Kingdom. FINN@LIV.AC.UK

The Quarterly Review of Biology
|June 10, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Menstruation is not an adaptive trait but a consequence of the coevolution between the embryo and the female reproductive tract. The inflammatory response and tissue breakdown are necessary outcomes of this evolutionary process.

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Gynecology

Background:

  • Current hypotheses on menstruation's adaptive value (pathogen cleansing, energy saving) are questioned.
  • Menstruation is viewed as a byproduct of reproductive evolution, not an independent adaptation.
  • The evolution of the female reproductive tract and its interaction with the embryo is crucial for understanding menstruation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the evolutionary origins of menstruation.
  • To explain menstruation as a consequence of the coevolution of the embryo and uterus.
  • To challenge existing adaptive explanations for menstruation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of the evolutionary history of the female vertebrate reproductive tract.
  • Analysis of the coevolutionary relationship between the embryo and the maternal uterus.
  • Examination of the role of progesterone in pregnancy and uterine changes.

Main Results:

  • The coevolution of invasive embryos and the uterus led to specialized endometrial development.
  • Progesterone plays a role in suppressing inflammatory responses to the embryo.
  • Menstruation results from tissue breakdown when progesterone levels fall, a consequence of evolutionary adaptations.

Conclusions:

  • Menstruation is an unavoidable outcome of the evolutionary process shaping mammalian reproduction.
  • The adaptive value of menstruation is not required for its evolution.
  • Understanding the sequential functions of the female reproductive tract clarifies menstruation's origin.