menstrual cycle

Scientific  

/ mĕn′stro̅o̅-əl /

1. The recurring monthly series of physiological changes in women and other female primates in which an egg is produced in the process known as ovulation, and the uterine lining thickens to allow for implantation if fertilization occurs. If the egg is not fertilized, the lining of the uterus breaks down and is discharged during menstruation.

2. See also ovulation menstruation

---

menstrual cycle Cultural  

1. The periodic series of changes in the female reproductive system associated with the preparation of the uterus for pregnancy; the cycle is repeated roughly every twenty-eight days. During the menstrual cycle, an ovum is released from one of the ovaries (the release is called ovulation), and the uterus develops an inner lining enriched with blood to prepare it for the possible implantation of a zygote. If fertilization and implantation do not take place, the lining of the uterus is discharged during menstruation.

---

Example Sentences

Symptoms can start long before your menstrual cycle changes, but a key shift lies in increasingly irregular periods, Rowen says.

From The Wall Street Journal

Pairing the data with meal logs, for example, would help reveal how my diet—or sleep or activity or menstrual cycle—affects my gut so I can make changes.

From The Wall Street Journal

The pain was centred in her hip and initially coincided with her menstrual cycle, but developed to be a constant, agonising problem.

From BBC

This is among the ways teams have been trying to ensure their players are able to perform at the highest level throughout their menstrual cycle.

From BBC

The lack of research that includes female participants is partly down to menstrual cycles and fluctuating hormones, making it more "complicated to track", Ms Patel explains.

From BBC