Question

In human females, the ovarian cycle begins when the
(a) levels of estrogen reach their maximum
(b) Hypothalamus stimulates the anterior pituitary to increase its output of FSH and LH
(c) Level of progesterone drops precipitously
(d) Hypothalamus increases its release of FSH and LH.

Answer 1

Hint: Ovulation is the process of the ovary releasing a mature egg that travels through the fallopian tube toward the uterus for fertilization. If fertilization does not occur, the egg will not be implanted in the uterus, the degeneration of corpus luteum occurs and the amount of estrogen and progesterone will drop.

Complete answer:
The low level of progesterone causes the degeneration of endometrium and starts the menstrual cycle. The follicular phase begins on the first day of periods and this phase ends when ovulation begins. This begins when the hypothalamus delivers a certain signal to the pituitary gland to produce follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH) . Follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH) hormone stimulates the ovaries and produces almost 6 to 20 tiny sacs called follicles.

Additional information:
- Menstrual cycle is divided into four parts which are 1) menstrual phase 2) follicular phase 3) ovulation phase 4) luteal phase and the length of each phase can vary from woman to woman.
- Menopause is the end of the reproductive period of a woman or end of her child- bearing capacity resulting in certain biological changes which a woman experiences for a while and they will subside after a certain period.
- When a girl becomes reproductively active for the first time or when she gets her first period it is medically called menarche.
So, the correct answer is ‘(c) Level of progesterone drops precipitously’.

Note:
- Menopause occurs in females at the age of 50 – 55 years, where the average age of menopause is 51. Symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, irregular sleeping time, irregular and mood swings which are caused by the hormonal changes occurring in the body.
- Menarche usually occurs to girls who are between the age of 10 to 16 years old. At this period, girls often experience irregular menstruation or irregular ovulation.