Welcome back to the EverythingABUAD study portal! This page is a complete, student-written study companion for PHS 220 – Female Reproductive Physiology, prepared for ABUAD 200 Level Pharmacy students (Second Semester).
The menstrual cycle is the centrepiece of this topic, and it rewards students who can line up the hormone changes with the ovarian and uterine events. The usual trap is losing track of what triggers ovulation. Below we break the cycle and its control down in plain language, flag the high-yield points, and give you original practice questions with worked answers. The full study guide is available in the interactive reader at the end as a free bonus.
- Course: PHS 220 – Physiology II
- College / Department: College of Pharmacy / Pharmacy
- Level / Semester: 200 Level, Second Semester
- Topics covered: The HPO axis, reproductive hormones, the menstrual cycle, oogenesis & folliculogenesis, menopause, clinical correlates
- Best for: Continuous assessment + final exam revision
Topics Covered in PHS 220: Female Reproductive Physiology
1. The Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Ovarian (HPO) Axis
Hypothalamic GnRH drives pituitary FSH and LH, which act on the ovary to produce oestrogen and progesterone, which feed back on the brain. Exam tip: the feedback switches from negative to positive just before ovulation — this switch is the single most tested idea in the topic.
2. The Reproductive Hormones
FSH stimulates follicle growth; LH triggers ovulation and supports the corpus luteum; oestrogen builds the endometrium; progesterone maintains it. Exam tip: assign each hormone one headline role so you can predict the cycle from the hormone curves.
3. The Menstrual Cycle
The ovarian cycle (follicular → ovulation → luteal) runs in parallel with the uterine cycle (menstrual → proliferative → secretory). Exam tip: the mid-cycle LH surge, caused by high oestrogen exerting positive feedback, is what triggers ovulation — be able to state the cause and the consequence.
4. Oogenesis & Folliculogenesis
Oogenesis begins before birth and arrests, completing only if fertilisation occurs; folliculogenesis is the parallel maturation of the follicle. Exam tip: know the two meiotic arrest points and what releases each, as this is a common short-answer question.
5. Menopause
Menopause is the loss of ovarian follicular activity: oestrogen falls and, with feedback removed, FSH and LH rise. Exam tip: a high FSH with low oestrogen is the hormonal signature — tie it to the symptoms (hot flushes, bone loss).
6. Clinical Correlates
Disorders such as PCOS and amenorrhoea are best understood as disruptions of the HPO axis. Exam tip: when given an abnormal hormone pattern, locate the break in the axis rather than memorising each condition in isolation.
Sample Practice Questions (With Answers)
Here are a few representative questions, written in our own words, with the reasoning explained so you understand the why — not just the answer:
Q. What hormonal event directly triggers ovulation, and what causes it?
Answer: The mid-cycle LH surge triggers ovulation. It is caused by rising oestrogen from the maturing follicle, which switches from negative to positive feedback on the pituitary once it stays high for long enough.
Q. Which hormone maintains the secretory endometrium after ovulation, and where does it come from?
Answer: Progesterone maintains the secretory endometrium. It is secreted by the corpus luteum, the structure formed from the ruptured follicle after ovulation under the influence of LH.
Q. In menopause, why do FSH and LH levels rise?
Answer: Because the ovaries stop producing oestrogen and inhibin, the negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary is removed. With the brakes off, the pituitary secretes more FSH and LH — a high FSH with low oestrogen is the hormonal hallmark of menopause.
How to Study PHS 220 (Female Reproductive Physiology) Effectively
- Draw the menstrual cycle as parallel ovarian and uterine timelines with the hormone curves underneath.
- Anchor everything to the oestrogen-driven positive-feedback LH surge that causes ovulation.
- Give each hormone one headline job so you can read the cycle from the curves.
- Understand the cycle here, then test recall with the workbook before your exam.
Download the Full PHS 220 Female Reproductive Physiology Study Guide
Ready to revise? Use the interactive reader below to read the full female reproductive physiology study guide with diagrams and worked detail. You can read it directly on the page or download it for offline revision before your exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this PHS 220 material free?
Yes — every resource on EverythingABUAD is completely free for ABUAD students.
Does this cover the full PHS 220 syllabus?
This guide covers the female reproductive physiology portion of the PHS 220 syllabus. Work through it alongside the other PHS 220 topic guides on EverythingABUAD, and always cross-check against your lecturer’s current outline.
Will these exact questions appear in my exam?
No. These are original practice questions written for revision only and are not a prediction of the actual exam.
About this resource: All summaries, explanations, study tips, and practice questions on this page were written, paraphrased, and adapted by the EverythingABUAD student team to support exam revision. This is an original study aid, not an official ABUAD document, and it is not a prediction of any future exam.
