Topic: Female sex hormones, and the menstrual cycle

Target group

7th‑grade students of elementary school

Core curriculum

Specific requirements:

12. Reproduction and development. Student:

1) recognizes the elements of the male and female reproductive system (in the scheme, as described, etc.) and names their functions;

2) describes the phases of the women's menstrual cycle.

General aim of education

You will learn what the menstrual cycle is and how it goes

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• interpret the course of the menstrual cycle based on the illustration;

• read from the diagram the influence of hormones on the menstrual cycle;

• describe the development of the ovarian follicle;

• explain the meaning of the corpus luteum.

Methods/techniques

• activating

  • discussion.

• expository

  • talk.

• exposing

  • film.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers.

Lesson plan overview

Before classes

• Volunteers prepare papers dedicated to issues included in the abstract.

Introduction

• The teacher explains the aim of the lesson and together with students determines the success criteria to be achieved.

• Volunteers present their papers. After each of them, the other students ask questions to the speakers or supplement their colleagues' statements. If necessary, the teacher gives additional explanations.

Realization

• Based on the illustration, the teacher discusses the cyclical nature of changes in the uterine mucous membrane and in the gonads of women and the role of female sex hormones in the regulation of this cycle.

• The teacher informs students that they will watch the animation „Inhibition of secretory function of the pituitary gland by estrogens and progesterone”. Before publishing, students write down the research question and the hypothesis. After the issue, the teacher initiates a discussion about the information provided. At the end of the task, the students complete the observations and save the conclusions.

• The teacher asks pupils in pairs to analyze illustrations concerning the course of the menstrual cycle and prepare statements on this subject. Eager / selected couples present their studies: periodicity of changes occurring in the uterine mucosa and in the gonads of the woman and the role of female sex hormones in the regulation of this cycle. Other students can complement information provided by colleagues.

• The teacher initiates the discussion and asks the students questions:
  - In which phase of the cycle is the woman most likely to become pregnant and why?
  - What symptoms may indicate that a woman is in this phase of the cycle?
  The students are discussing, the teacher watches over the correctness of the information presented. Finally, he asks the willing / selected student to summarize the discussion.

• The teacher initiates the discussion and asks the students questions:
  - In which phase of the cycle is the woman most likely to become pregnant and why?
  - What symptoms may indicate that a woman is in this phase of the cycle?
  The students are discussing, the teacher watches over the correctness of the information presented. Finally, he asks the willing / selected student to summarize the discussion.

• Students carry out the interactive exercises checking the level of knowledge learned during the lesson. The teacher initiates a discussion during which the correct solutions for all the exercises performed by the students are discussed.

Summary

• At the end of the class, the teacher asks the students questions:

  • What did you find important and interesting in class?

  • What was easy and what was difficult?

  • How can you use the knowledge and skills you have gained today?

  Willing/selected students summarize the lesson.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Female sex hormones, and the menstrual cycle

In the woman's body, within the ovary and endometrium, there are a number of regularly repeated changes. They are very precisely regulated by the hormones of the female reproductive system – estrogen and progesterone. The secretion of these hormones is controlled among others by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), produced by the pituitary gland. Under the influence of FSH in women, the egg cell matures and every month is released from the ovary stimulating the gonads to secrete estrogens. This occurs in women between 10 and 50 years of age. After this time, the function of the ovaries expires. Estrogens during puberty are responsible for the growth and change of figure, the development of secondary sexual characteristics, the appearance of pubic hair, breast development. Estrogen interact on the uterus, preparing it for embryo adoption.

Changes in the functioning of the ovary and endometrium are subject to hormonal regulation and make up the menstrual cycle. It repeats every 28 days on average and consists of three phases. The first day of the cycle is the beginning of the bleeding (menstruation), which lasts from one to five days. Menstruation is the elimination of the exfoliative endometrium with a small amount of blood from the body. Exfoliation and removal of the mucosa support uterine muscle contractions, which can be felt as abdominal pain. At the same time, under the influence of FSH hormone, maturation of the ovarian follicle begins. The level of estrogen in the blood increases. In the preovulatory phase, which lasts about 8‑9 days, due to the increasing level of estrogen, the endometrium grows and its blood supply increases. In this way, the uterus prepares to receive a fertilized egg. In the ovary, ovarian follicle growth and egg cell maturation take place. This is a period of relative infertility that continues to release the reproductive cell. The process of releasing a mature egg cell from the ovarian follicle is called ovulation.

The broken ovarian follicle is transformed into corpus luteum. The longest phase of the cycle – postovulatory begins, which lasts about 14 days and is the period of female infertility. At this time, the corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which inhibits the maturation of subsequent follicles. High levels of estrogen and progesterone cause further intensive development of the endometrium. If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum disappears, estrogen and progesterone levels decrease. Their low concentration in the blood causes the uterine mucosa to begin to exfoliate and menstrual bleeding begins.

• During puberty, girls develop sexual characteristics and menstrual cycle occurs.

• The menstrual cycle includes changes in hormone levels as well as the structure and physiology of the ovary and endometrium.

• Estrogens and progesterone affect the uterus, preparing it for embryo adoption.

• The menstrual cycle is controlled by the pituitary and ovarian hormones.

• The first day of menstrual bleeding marks the first day of the cycle.

• In each cycle, one ovarian follicle containing an egg cell is usually matured.

• The release of the egg cell from the ovarian follicle is called ovulation.