Mr. Mah
Living Environment
Name: ______________________________________________ Block: _____________ Date:_____________________
LAB: Graphing the Menstrual Cycle
AIM: How do the levels of reproductive hormones influence the human menstrual
cycle?
The relative hormone levels vary greatly during the menstrual cycle. The table below
shows the relative levels of the four major hormones by day.
Day
Luteinizing
Hormone (LH)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
6
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
10
12
22
32
20
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
5
4
3
3
3
Follicle
Stimulating
Hormone (FSH)
10
11
12
13
14
12
12
12
12
13
14
16
20
15
10
9
9
8
7
7
6
6
6
6
6
8
10
10
Estrogen
Progesterone
10
10
10
10
10
16
16
10
22
28
35
28
22
19
16
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
13
10
10
10
10
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
4
5
8
10
12
15
24
24
28
28
28
24
18
12
7
2
No Excuses.
The Regents Exam can’t hear you.
Mr. Mah
Living Environment
PART ONE: In this activity you will plot two different graphs.
1. Plot FSH and LH on one graph.
2. Plot estrogen and progesterone on another graph.
3. Label the four stages on both of your graphs.
a. Follicular Phase = Days 1-13
b. Ovulation = Day 14
c. Luteal Phase = Days 15-27
d. Menstruation = Days 1-7
** Don’t forget to:




Title your graphs
Label your axes
Use an appropriate scale
Use a key
PART TWO: Answer the questions on the next page using the graphs you made and the
information in the chart below.
Day of the Menstrual Cycle
1
5
10
15
20
25
27
1
Average Thickness of the
Uterus Lining
(endometrium) in
millimeters
0.5
1.5
2.25
3.0
4.0
5.0
4.75
0.5
No Excuses.
The Regents Exam can’t hear you.
Mr. Mah
Living Environment
1. When are estrogen levels highest? What stage does this correspond to?
2. When are LH levels highest? What stage does this correspond to?
3. How does the increase in the estrogen level correspond to the change in thickness of the
uterine lining in days 1 through 10 of the menstrual cycle?
4. Compare the change in thickness of the uterine lining with change in progestrone levels
for days 10-27.
5. What happens to the uterine lining between day 27 and day 1? What is this process
called?
ONE MORE THING: Go back and summarize the menstrual cycle by answering the
questions on page 7 in your week 3 packet!
No Excuses.
The Regents Exam can’t hear you.
Mr. Mah
Living Environment
No Excuses.
The Regents Exam can’t hear you.
Mr. Mah
Living Environment
No Excuses.
The Regents Exam can’t hear you.