1. Ovulation

2. “The Talk” Have you had “the talk” with your parents?
How old were you?
What did you talk about?
What questions did you ask?
Ted Talk Video

3. Female System

4. Female System

5. What is the Menstrual Cycle?
Every month, a woman’s body prepares for a potential pregnancy, whether that is the goal of the female and her partner or not.
Menstruation – periodic shedding of the uterine linining
Average menstrual cycle is about 28 days while the average length of menstruation is about 3-7 days

6. Female System Hormones
There are 4 hormones within the female system.
1. FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) – ripens about 6-8 eggs in month
2. LH (Lutenizing Hormone) – this hormone triggers the release of one egg during ovulation (sometimes more than one!) 
3. Estrogen – follicle starts to release estrogen as it ripens
4. Progesterone – tells the body not to shed the uterine lining
If an egg is fertilized, estrogen and progesterone levels continue to stay high. If an egg is not fertilized, levels drop and you go through the cycle again.

7. Phases of Menstrual Cycle
1st Phase (Follicular)
Days 1-7
Females have their period in this first phase
2nd Phase (Ovulatory)
Starts on Day 14.
Also during this phase, there is an increase in the amount and thickness of mucous produced by the cervix (lower part of the uterus). If a woman were to have intercourse during this time, the thick mucus captures the man's sperm, nourishes it, and helps it to move towards the egg for fertilization.

8. Phases of Menstrual Cycle Continued
3rd Phase (Luteal)
Day 18-25
If intercourse has taken place and a man's sperm has fertilized the egg (a process called conception), the fertilized egg (embryo) will travel through the fallopian tube to implant in the uterus. The woman is now considered pregnant.
If the egg is not fertilized, it passes through the uterus. Not needed to support a pregnancy, the lining of the uterus breaks down and sheds, and the next menstrual period begins.

10. Ovulation
Ovulation is when an egg (and, occasionally, more than one egg) is released from the ovary, and it's the fertile time of your menstrual cycle. Each month, an egg matures inside your ovary. Once it reaches a certain size, the egg is released from the ovary and is swept into the fallopian tube toward the uterus.
How can you tell if you are ovulating?
Figure out when your next period is due to begin and count back 12 to 16 days. This will give you a range of days when you will probably be ovulating. For women with a 28-day cycle, the 14th day is often the day of ovulation.

11. Signs of Ovulation Change in cervical mucous Rise in Body Temperature
You are considered most fertile when the mucous becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy. Normally mucous is a protective barrier, but during ovulation it allows sperm to pass through the cervix (caused by estrogen).
Rise in Body Temperature
After an egg is released, you’re normal body temperature rises (caused by progesterone).
Abdominal Discomfort
Some women, not all, experience mild to moderate cramping.

12. Ovulation Red = Menustration (Follicular Phase)
Green = Ovulation (Ovulatory Phase)
Blue = Fertilization in hopes of implantation (Luteal Phase)

13. Egg & Sperm
Eggs
At birth, there are approximately 1 million eggs; and by the time of puberty, only about 300,000 remain. Of these, 300 to 400 will be ovulated during a woman's reproductive lifetime. The eggs continue to degenerate during pregnancy, with the use of birth control pills, and in the presence or absence of regular menstrual cycles.
Sperm
The average male will produce roughly 525 billion sperm cells over a lifetime and shed at least one billion of them per month. A healthy adult male can release up to 250 million sperm in one ejaculation.

14. Fertilization

15. Implantation

16. Ovulation & Reproductive Review
Ovulation Video
Individually, complete the Ovulation and Reproductive Worksheet.
When everyone is finished, we will go through the answers together as a class.

17. Infertility
On the back of your worksheet, create a chart covering at least 5 methods for dealing with infertility. You can choose what criteria you want to cover in the headings (you need to have at least three). For this part, you can work with a partner (no more than 3 please!), you can use prior knowledge, the book, the internet (on phone or iPad), or books in the back of the room.
Method
Description
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