Patient's question:
NoDoctor's answer:
After a girl enters puberty, due to changes in the endocrine system, the ovaries begin to release eggs outward around the age of 13. The eggs travel through the fallopian tubes into the uterus. At the same time, the uterine lining becomes thicker, softer, and more nutrient-rich. If the egg does not meet with sperm and become fertilized, the uterine lining will shed and bleed. This cycle of uterine lining shedding and bleeding is what is referred to as menstruation. Female ovulation typically occurs 14 days before the next menstrual period.