.What happens to the endometrial tissue if the egg does not get fertilized ?
It's discharged as menstrual flow.
When an egg is not fertilized during a woman's menstrual cycle, the endometrial tissue undergoes a process called menstruation, commonly known as the menstrual period. This is the shedding of the lining of the uterus, which is the endometrium.
To understand why this happens, let's break down the menstrual cycle:
1. Follicular Phase: This is the first phase of the menstrual cycle when the egg is developing inside a follicle in the ovary. At the same time, the endometrium begins to thicken and prepare for possible implantation of a fertilized egg.
2. Ovulation: Around the middle of the menstrual cycle, usually 14 days before the start of the next period, the mature egg is released from the ovary. It then travels through the fallopian tube towards the uterus.
3. Luteal Phase: After ovulation, the empty follicle within the ovary produces hormones to support a possible pregnancy. If fertilization does not occur, the levels of these hormones decrease.
4. Menstruation: If fertilization does not happen, the decrease in hormone levels triggers the shedding of the endometrial lining. The blood vessels in the uterus constrict, causing the endometrium to break down and be expelled through the . This process typically lasts for a few days and is accompanied by menstrual bleeding.
So, in summary, if the egg is not fertilized, the endometrial tissue is shed during menstruation as part of the regular menstrual cycle. The body then begins the process of building a new endometrial lining for the next potential pregnancy.