All About Mittelschmerz
2. The Ovarian Cycle
The ovarian cycle describes the changes in the ovary and can be further divided into the follicular, ovulation, and luteal phase. During the follicular phase, the increasing level of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates the growth of several follicles. These follicles are already present at birth in all female babies. With the influence of hormones, only one follicle will continue to grow until it reaches maturity.
This matured follicle is called the Graafian or tertiary follicle. It contains the ovum. The ovulation phase occurs when the luteinizing hormone (LH) surges and helps the egg to mature while weakening the walls of the follicle. This results in the release of the secondary oocyte (egg). In the luteal phase, the hormones FSH and LH causes the remaining follicle to transform into the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone. Gradually as the levels of FSH and LH drops, the corpus luteum atrophies.
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