What Hormones Do The Ovaries Produce In Women And Their Functions

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 19:51

Ovarian hormones and their functions in the body

The content of the article:

What hormones do the ovaries produce?
Effect of ovarian hormones on the regulation of the menstrual cycle
Endocrine infertility
Norms of ovarian hormones in women
Video

Ovarian hormones play a key role in maintaining women's health and fertility. Their release is controlled by luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH) hormones of the pituitary gland. In turn, the secretion of pituitary gonadotropins is regulated by hypothalamic releasing factors and feedback. The main feature of this regulatory system in women is its cyclical nature.

The ovaries function cyclically, the content of hormones in the blood, produced by them, depends on the phase of the menstrual cycle

What hormones do the ovaries produce?

In the tissues of the ovaries, secretion is carried out:

estrogens;
gestagens;
androgens.

The table provides a brief description of these hormones and their function.

Sex hormone	Fractions	Functions
Estrogens	Includes three main fractions: estrone, estriol and estradiol. The most active is estradiol. Estrone is 25 times weaker than him, and estriol is 200 times weaker.	The main functions of estrogens are: • development of secondary sexual characteristics; • development and growth of the endometrium; • secretion of cervical mucus; • change in metabolism towards catabolism; • decrease in basal temperature.
Gestagens	The main progestogen is progesterone, which is secreted by the ovaries as two isomers.	Contribute to the onset and normal course of pregnancy. Their functions are: • preparation of the endometrium for implantation of a fertilized egg; • suppression of uterine contractility; • an increase in the extensibility of the myometrium; • strengthening of anabolic processes; • increased basal temperature.
Androgens	In the ovaries, testosterone precursors are formed in very small quantities: androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.	Androgens have the following effects on a woman's body: • regulation of fat, protein and water-electrolyte metabolism; • nitrogen retention in the body. With an increase in the level of androgens, virilization develops, the signs of which are: • male pattern hair growth; • hypertrophy of the clitoris; • the appearance of acne; • overgrowth of the cricoid cartilage of the larynx. In addition, a high level of androgens contributes to the suppression of ovulation and the development of follicular atresia.

Effect of ovarian hormones on the regulation of the menstrual cycle

The menstrual cycle is a cyclical change in the female body, which outwardly manifests itself in the form of bleeding from the genital tract that occurs at regular intervals. The day of its beginning is considered the first day of menstruation.

There are three periods in the menstrual cycle:

The phase of growth and development of the dominant follicle. During this period, under the influence of FSH of the pituitary gland, the follicle matures. At the same time, the ovaries synthesize estrogens that contribute to the development of the endometrial layer.
Ovulation phase. A significant increase in the level of pituitary LH in the blood leads to rupture of the dominant follicle and the release of the egg into the abdominal cavity, from where it enters the fallopian tubes. This process is called ovulation. The day of ovulation is considered the most favorable moment for conception.
Luteal phase. At the site of the ruptured follicle, a temporary endocrine gland is formed - the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone. If a woman does not become pregnant, then 10-12 days after ovulation, the corpus luteum undergoes reverse development and a scar forms in its place. With the onset of pregnancy, it functions until the 16th week of pregnancy, that is, until the placenta is fully formed.

Endocrine infertility

Endocrine infertility is understood as a complex of disorders leading to the absence or irregularity of ovulation. This process may be based on disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary regulation, functions of the thyroid gland and / or ovaries.

The cause of ovulation disorder	Development mechanism	Symptoms
Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction	It develops after craniocerebral trauma and trauma to the organs of the chest cavity, against the background of tumors of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland.	In the blood, the content of prolactin increases (hyperprolactinemia). This disrupts the process of secretion of FSH and LH, which leads to ovarian hypofunction, anovulation, and menstrual irregularities.
Hyperandrogenism	Most often observed against the background of polycystic ovary syndrome.	The main features are: • hirsutism; • obesity; • infrequent menstruation; • lack of ovulation. Cystic ovarian damage is paired.
Thyroid dysfunction	Hyperthyroidism often leads to the development of secondary hyperprolactinemia, which, in turn, causes the absence of ovulation.	The symptoms of hyperthyroidism are: • tachycardia; • weight loss; • fragility of hair; • increased appetite; • muscle weakness; • sleep disorders; • irritability; • insomnia.
Luteal phase failure	With an underdeveloped corpus luteum or its early regression, progesterone production decreases. This causes spontaneous abortion in the early stages.	Luteal phase failure can be suspected based on the following signs: • irregularity of the menstrual cycle; • too abundant or, conversely, scanty menstruation; • habitual miscarriage; • infertility.
Savage Syndrome (Resistant Ovary Syndrome)	The development of this syndrome is based on a violation of the connection between the pituitary gland and the ovaries. Against this background, the receptor apparatus of the ovaries loses sensitivity to FSH and LH of the pituitary gland. In this regard, menstrual cycles become anovulatory and conception does not occur.	The secondary sexual characteristics are developed correctly. Menses are rare. By the age of 30-35, secondary amenorrhea develops. At the same time, there are no vegetative-vascular disorders characteristic of the syndrome of depleted ovaries and menopause.
Wasted ovarian syndrome (premature menopause)	Earlier cessation of menstrual function associated with the depletion of the ovarian reserve, which is formed at the stage of the girl's intrauterine development.	It is characterized by persistent cessation of menstruation in women under 40. This is accompanied by the appearance of the following symptoms: • feeling of a surge of heat; • irritability; • weakness; • cardialgia; • osteoprosis; • atrophic colpitis.

Norms of ovarian hormones in women

The secretion of sex hormones in women depends on the phase of the menstrual cycle and age. So, the normal values of the level of estradiol in the blood are:

Age, phase of the menstrual cycle, or gestational age	Refrence value, pg / ml
First year of life
1-3 years	0 to 22
4-6 years old	15 to 22
7-14 years old	22 to 30
14-54 years old	55 to 480
Over 55 years old	Less than 85
Follicular phase	65 to 1 270
Ovulation	125 to 1,660
Luteal phase	90 to 865
I trimester	210 to 6,290
II trimester	780 to 19,000
III trimester	From 11,700 to 37,000

Normal values for progesterone levels:

Phase of the menstrual cycle or gestational age	Refrence value, nmol / l
Days of menstruation (1-5 days of the cycle)	0.32-2.23
Follicular phase	0.37-4.41
Ovulation	0.41-4.81
Luteal phase	0.51-56.93
Postmenopause	Less than 0.6
I trimester	11.20–90
II trimester	25.5-89.4
III trimester	48.5-422.5