All About Ovulation Pain
4. The Uterine Cycle
The uterine cycle reflects the changes in the uterus during the menstrual cycle. It can be divided into the menstruation, proliferative, and secretory phases. In the menstruation phase, the uterine lining sloughs off and is shed, resulting in menstrual bleeding. The flow of menses signifies that the woman is not pregnant. In the proliferative phase, the rising levels of estrogen causes the uterine lining to proliferate.
It also stimulates the formation of crypts in the cervix to produce cervical mucus (to help sperm swim up to the egg). When this cervical mucus is present, the woman is fertile. The secretory phase corresponds to the last phase in the ovarian cycle, the luteal phase. The progesterone produced by the corpus luteum makes the uterus receptive to the implantation of the fertilized egg. It is known as the secretory phase as there are increased uterine secretions and blood flow.
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