Menstrual cycle
Read the following passage carefully and answer the given questions.
The reproductive cycle in the female primates is called menstrual cycle. The first menstruation begins at puberty and is called menarche. The cyclical changes in the ovary and the uterus during menstrual cycle are induced by changes in the levels of pituitary and ovarian hormones. One ovum is released during the middle of each menstrual cycle. The cycle starts with the menstrual phase, when menstrual flow occurs and it lasts for 3-5 days. Menstruation only occurs if the released ovum is not fertilised. Lack of menstruation may be indicative of pregnancy. The menstrual phase is followed by the follicular phase. During this phase, the primary follicles in the ovary grow to become a fully mature Graafian follicle and simultaneously the endometrium of uterus regenerates through proliferation. The secretion of gonadotropins increases gradually during the follicular phase, and stimulates follicular development as well as secretion of estrogens by the growing follicles. Both LH and FSH attain a peak level in the middle of cycle. Rapid secretion of LH leading to its maximum level during the mid-cycle called LH surge which induces rupture of Graafian follicle and thereby the release of ovum. The ovulation is followed by the luteal phase.
When the menstrual cycle ceases around 50 years of age, it is called:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Menopause
The menstrual cycle continues through the reproductive years of a woman. It begins at puberty with the first menstruation, called menarche. In human beings, the menstrual cycles stop around 50 years of age, and this is called menopause. Regular cyclic menstruation between menarche and menopause is a sign of the normal reproductive phase.
(1) Menarche — Incorrect. Menarche is the first menstruation, at puberty. It is the start of the cycles, not their end.
(2) Senescence — Incorrect. Senescence means ageing of the body in general. It is not the term for the stopping of menstrual cycles.
(3) Menopause — Correct. The stopping of menstrual cycles around 50 years of age is menopause.
(4) Lactation — Incorrect. Lactation is the production of milk by the mammary glands after childbirth.
Note 1: The passage is taken from NCERT. NTA has put lines of the NCERT text together to make it. Most CUET (UG) questions come straight from NCERT, so study the book line by line, including figures and their titles.
Note 2: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 15-05-2026 (Slot 1).
NCERT Extract:
Menstrual Cycle – “… The corpus luteum secretes large amounts of progesterone which is essential for maintenance of the endometrium. Such an endometrium is necessary for implantation of the fertilised ovum and other events of pregnancy. During pregnancy all events of the menstrual cycle stop and there is no menstruation. In the absence of fertilisation, the corpus luteum degenerates. This causes disintegration of the endometrium leading to menstruation, marking a new cycle. In human beings, menstrual cycles ceases around 50 years of age; that is termed as menopause.”