• MENSTRUAL PHASE
MENSTRUATION IS THE ELIMINATION OF THE THICKENED LINING OF THE UTERUS {ENDOMETRIUM}
FROM THE BODY THROUGH THE VAGINA. THE FLUIDS CONTAINS BLOOD,CELLS FROM THE LINING OF UTERUS {ENDOMETRIAL CELLS} AND MUCUS. AVERAGE LENGTH OF A PERIOD IS BETWEEN 3 DAYS TO 1 WEEK.
• FOLLICULAR PHASE
THESE PHASE STARTS ON THE 1ST DAY OF MENSTRUATION AND THE END WITH OVULATION. PROMPTED BY THE HYPOTHALAMUS, THE PITUITARY GLAND RELEASE FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE {FSH}. THE HORMONE STIMULATES THE OVARY TO PRODUCE AROUND 5-20 FOLLICLES {TINY NODULES OR CRYST} THAT BEADS ON THE SURFACE.
• OVULATION PHASE
THESE ARE THE RELEASE OF A MATURE EGG FROM THE SURFACE OF THE OVARY. THAT USUALLY OCCURS IN A MID-CYCLE, AROUND 2 WEEKS OR BEFORE THE MENSTRUATION STARTS.
• LUTEAL PHASE
DURING THE OVULATION, THE EGG BURST FROM ITS FOLLICLE, BUT THE RAPTURED FOLLICLE STAYS ON THE SURFACE OF THE OVARY. FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS OR SO ON THIS FOLLICLE TRANSFORM INTO A STUCTURE KNOWN AS {CORPUS LUTEUM}. THEN THE STUCTURE STARTS RELEASING {PROGESTERONE} ALONG THE TINY AMOUNTS OF {OESTROGEN}. THE COMBINATION OF HORMONES MAINTAINS THE THICKENED LINING OF THE UTERUS, WAITING FOR A FERTILISED EGG TO STICK {IMPLANT}.
