Explain the role of hormones in the menstrual cycle

If I asked this question of a student, I would suggest that they first try to draw a diagram to show how the various hormones relate to one another during the menstrual cycle. This is a complex topic, but visualising it helps to make sense of what is happening, and why.First, I would get you to identify the four key hormones: oestrogen, progesterone, FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (leutenising hormone), and where they are produced - either the pituitary gland (FSH and LH) or the ovaries (O and P). Then, I would draw out a basic menstrual cycle graph, and ask you to label it: time (days) on the X-axis and hormone levels on the Y-axis. I would ask you to point out at what day on the graph ovulation occurs (14), and where menstruation starts and ends in an average cycle (0-5), then label that on the graph. You would then attempt to draw out how the hormones interact with one another over the course of the cycle in accordance with follicular growth, ovulation, and the formation of the corpus luteum. I would ask about the importance of the LH surge, why FSH is called FSH, oestrogen and progesterone in relation to the endometrium. I would proceed to ask what is meant by the term 'negative feedback', and the effects of the menstrual cycle on body temperature. Once you feel relatively secure in how all of these elements fit together, I would ask you to write it as a piece of structured prose, as if you were answering a Section C longer-answer question. We would then mark it, using past paper mark schemes as a guide. Through this exercise, you would gain confidence in both understanding the menstrual cycle and translating that understanding into a well-ordered exam answer which you can use to model future longer-answer questions.