Hormones can be produced by glands in the endocrine system or by specialized neurons. These chemical substances are very important for the control of several functionalities of the human body, among them the reproductive cycle. Some hormones can take on the function of messengers in the human body, passing information between the cells, while others can assume the role of regulating the functioning of an organ or a region of the body of the individual.
The female and male bodies have some hormones the same and others very specific to each one, as they are the ones that will make the organisms have feminine or masculine characteristics, such as tone of voice, presence or absence of hair, amount of muscles and also regulation of libido and production of gametes.
The female body has two hormones that are mainly produced by the ovaries and regulate a woman's reproductive life: estrogen and progesterone. In the female cycle, the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is also present. FSH is produced by a gland located at the base of the brain, the pituitary. It is the FSH hormone that stimulates the cells of the ovarian follicle which, in turn, will produce estrogen.
When estrogen production reaches its peak, the hypothalamus begins producing luteinizing hormone (LH). The LH hormone peak is the information the brain receives to release the egg. At this point the ovarian follicle transforms into the corpus luteum and starts producing progesterone.
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The production of all these hormones causes the uterine mucosa to thicken, develop many blood vessels in an attempt by the body to prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy. If fertilization (gamete union) occurs, the levels of these hormones remain elevated throughout the development of the embryo, however, if there is no fertilization, there will not be a pregnancy in that reproductive cycle and, consequently, the production of all hormones decreases. When the level of progesterone reaches its minimum, the uterine mucosa is desquamated, known as the menstrual period. With very low estrogen and progesterone levels, FSH production is induced, thus starting a new cycle.
The duration of the menstrual cycle can vary from woman to woman, the average duration is 28 days. The period of greatest activity of the luteinizing hormone, which issues information for the release of the egg, is on the 14th day of the cycle, which may vary for more or less, it is customary to adopt a margin of 3 days before and 3 days after the 14th day (the day on which the ovulation). Every woman is born with follicles that have matured into eggs throughout her life, as this amount of eggs decreases the hormone levels begin to vary and this causes the onset of menopause.
In addition to estrogen participating in the menstrual cycle influencing ovulation, conception and pregnancy, it also participates in maintaining bone integrity and controlling cholesterol levels. After menopause begins, the production of estrogen in the ovaries is greatly reduced and it is the adipose tissue that starts to produce small amounts of this hormone. Hormone replacement can prevent risks of heart and bone disease, such as osteoporosis, and controls cholesterol levels by increasing HDL ("good cholesterol") and lowering LDL ("cholesterol" bad").
Denisele Neuza Aline Flores Borges
Biologist and Master in Botany
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