Surgical menopause is a process in which a surgical procedure induces menopause. The procedures that do this are an oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries), hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), and salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes). These surgeries create a decrease in hormone levels that bring about menopausal symptoms.

During the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle during the menstrual cycle, progesterone levels can either maintain pregnancy or prepare the female human for menstruation. High FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) levels stimulate the formation of the corpus luteum from the follicle. The corpus luteum then secretes progesterone. In a negative feedback loop, the high levels of progesterone inhibit FSH and LH production, degrading the corpus luteum. The drop in progesterone levels leads to menstruation.

After the oocyte is fertilized, the outer layers of the blastocyst secrete human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The hCG stimulates the corpus luteum to keep secreting progesterone in order to maintain a thick endometrial lining to support the developing embryo.

In some women, ovulation is accompanied by abdominal cramping. The pain is typically sudden and lasts no more than a few days.

Most pregnancy tests look for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The hormone hCG is secreted by the outer layer of the blastocyst, called the synctiotrophoblast, and later the placenta.

The menstrual cycle is the process of preparing the human female body for potential pregnancy. The cycle can be divided into two stages—the ovarian cycle and the uterine cycle. The uterine cycle has three phases that are called menstruation, the proliferative phase, and the secretory phase.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a set of physical and emotional symptoms that occur 1 to 2 weeks before menstruation. The exact cause of PMS is not known but most likely involves hormonal changes, with the severity of PMS being influenced by environmental factors. Common symptoms include acne, bloating, and mood changes.

Menstruation is the part of the female reproductive cycle in which the uterine lining is expelled through the vagina when the released oocyte is not fertilized. The onset of menstrual periods is called menarche and the cessation is called menopause. Menstruation occurs due to a decrease in progesterone levels and is often accompanied by cramping.

During the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle, the high levels of estrogen cause the development of the uterine lining and fertile cervical mucus. This fertile cervical mucus is alkaline and thin to allow for sperm penetration.

Progesterone birth control pills function to increase progesterone levels in the individual. This inhibits the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which, in turn, inhibits luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion. The drops in LH and FSH levels halt follicle development, thereby preventing ovulation.