Proliferative phase

Definition

The proliferative phase is the stage of the menstrual cycle during which the lining of the uterus (endometrium) regrows and thickens in preparation for a potential pregnancy. This phase follows menstruation and is driven by an increase in estrogen levels, typically occurring from day 6 to day 14 of a woman's cycle.

Related terms

Menstrual Cycle:

The monthly series of changes a woman's body goes through in preparation for the possibility of pregnancy, including menstruation, the proliferative phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase.

Estrogen:

A primary female sex hormone responsible for regulating reproductive and sexual health, playing a key role in thickening the uterine lining during the proliferative phase.

Ovulation:

The process during which an ovary releases an egg into the fallopian tube, occurring around day 14 of a typical menstrual cycle, marking the transition from the proliferative phase to the luteal phase