Ovulatory phase The ovulatory phase is the midpoint of the menstrual cycle, with the next menstrual period start two weeks after and it is when a matured egg is released from an ovary into the fallopian tube. The rise in estrogen from the dominant follicle generates a flow in the amount of luteinizing hormone, produced by the brain, which causes the dominant follicle to release its egg from the ovary. When the egg is released, which is a process called ovulation, it is captured by the fallopian tube. “Also during this phase, there is an increase in the amount and thickness of mucous produced by the cervix (lower part of the uterus).” (WebMD, LLC, 2012). If a woman has a sexual intercourse at this time, the thick mucus will capture the man’s sperm, nurtures it and move towards the egg for fertilization, which is when the sperm cell joins the egg cell. Follicular phase The follicular phase starts on the first day of a woman’s period. During the follicular phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle, two hormones called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are released from the brain and they travel in the blood to the ovaries, which are glands that produce egg cells and hormones. The hormones arouse the growth of about 15 to 20 eggs in the ovaries, each in its own shell called a follicle. Both hormones trigger an increase in the production of the female hormone estrogen, which is a hormone, produced in the ovaries. When estrogen levels rise, like a switch, it turns off the production of the follicle-­‐stimulating hormone. This precise balance of hormones allows the body to limit the number of follicles that will mature. As this phase progresses, one follicle in one ovary becomes dominant and continue on to mature itself. This dominant follicle destroys the other follicles in the group and as a result they stop growing and die, as the dominant follicle continues to produce estrogen. When is the highest probability of becoming pregnant during a woman’s menstrual cycle? A woman’s menstrual cycle takes approximately about 28 days and it occurs in three phases, the follicular phase, the ovulatory phase and the luteal phase. By: Nadine Sumedi Luteal phase References
The last phase of the menstrual cycle is the luteal phase. It begins right after ovulation and once it releases its egg, the empty follicle begins to develop into a new structure called the corpus luteum as it conceals the hormone progesterone, which is a steroid hormone that kindles the uterus to prepare for the fertilized egg to implant. If a sexual intercourse has taken place during this time and a man’s sperm has fertilized the egg, the fertilized egg will travel through the fallopian tube to implant in the uterus, making the woman pregnant. If the egg is not fertilized, it passes through the uterus, as the lining of the uterus breaks down and sheds, and the next menstrual period begins. [Menstrual cycle]. Retrieved May 22,
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When is the highest probability of becoming pregnant during the woman’s menstrual cycle? Ovulation occurs around the middle of a woman’s menstrual cycle, when a matured egg is released from an ovary into the fallopian tube. Commonly, women have a 28-­‐day cycle, and they usually have their period between 1 to 7 days. On the 14th day of the woman’s menstrual cycle an egg is released from the ovary, therefore the 14th to the 28th day of the menstrual cycle has the highest probability of a woman to become pregnant. The 14th to 28th day of the women’s menstrual cycle is not a safe time for women to have a sexual intercourse, as the eggs are exposed therefore the women’s egg and the men’s sperm can unite, leading to pregnancy. Phases Follicular phase Average Average start day (28-­‐ end day day cycle) 1 13 2012, from:
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