Female Sex Hormones: Names, Effects On The Body

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

Female hormones and their effect on the body

The content of the article:

1. Female hormones: names and descriptions

   1. Estrogens
   2. Progestins
   3. Prolactin
   4. Follicle-stimulating hormone
   5. Luteinizing hormone
2. Hormonal imbalance and its manifestations

3. Sex hormone tests

   1. Indications for testing
   2. The norms of the content of sex hormones in women
   3. Rules for preparing for laboratory research
4. Video

Female sex hormones are biologically active substances that are responsible for the presence of primary and secondary sexual characteristics, the functioning of the reproductive system and affect other organs and systems of the body, metabolism, and emotional background.

Sex hormones include estrogens, androgens, and progestins (gestagens). Male and female sex hormones are present in the blood of both sexes, but in different quantities.

Many other biologically active substances also have an effect on reproductive function, but they are not classified as sex hormones, since their participation in the regulation of reproductive function is not their main biological role. For example, the pancreatic hormone insulin affects steroidogenesis in the ovaries, the thyroid hormone thyroxine thickens the lining of the uterus, etc.

Progesterone is one of the main hormones of the female reproductive system

Female hormones: names and descriptions

Estrogens

Estrogens are a group of female sex hormones that are produced mainly by the follicular apparatus of the ovaries in women (testes in men). Also, estrogens are produced by the adrenal cortex, adipose tissue, skin and a number of other extragonadal tissues in people of both sexes.

Estrogens contribute to the development of the uterus, vagina, and labia. In girls, under their influence, secondary sexual characteristics develop:

• the shape of the pelvis;
• typical distribution of subcutaneous fat;
• hair growth in the armpits, pubic hair;
• enlargement of the mammary glands.

Estradiol is the most active estrogen produced by the ovarian follicular apparatus. It supports the regular course of the menstrual cycle, and also reduces the risk of developing diseases of the cardiovascular system, osteoporosis.

Progestins

The main function of progestins, or gestagens, is to enable the onset and maintenance of pregnancy. The main one is progesterone.

Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum, placenta, adrenal glands and ensures the normal course of pregnancy. It plays an important role in preparing the lining of the uterus for implantation of a fertilized egg, as well as in preparing the mammary glands to produce breast milk after childbirth.

Together with estradiol, progesterone regulates the menstrual cycle.

Prolactin

Prolactin is produced in the pituitary gland, its main biological role is participation in the development of the mammary glands and milk production during lactation. In nonpregnant women, normal prolactin levels maintain adequate progesterone production. During puberty, women have an increase in prolactin levels, during menopause - its decrease.

Follicle-stimulating hormone

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a gonadotropin that is produced in the pituitary gland, stimulates the growth of the gonads during puberty, the production of sex hormones, and the growth of follicles in the ovaries.

Luteinizing hormone

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is also a gonadotropin and is produced in the pituitary gland.

The biological role of this substance is as follows:

• stimulation of progesterone production;
• stimulation of ovarian estrogen secretion;
• the formation of the corpus luteum.

Hormonal imbalance and its manifestations

The lack of biologically active substances in the body that affect the reproductive system can lead to underdevelopment of the uterus, cystic degeneration of the ovaries and a number of other pathologies.

Hormonal disruption has external manifestations:

• unhealthy skin (acne, oily shine of the face);
• increased hair greasiness;
• excess body hair growth (hirsutism);
• headaches;
• swelling;
• drops in blood pressure;
• digestive disorders;
• fast fatiguability.

In the case of an increase in the level of male hormones in the blood in women, masculinization occurs (underdevelopment of the mammary glands, increased hair growth on the body, a low voice, the predominance of muscle mass over fat), in men, with an increase in the concentration of women, feminization is observed (obesity, gynecomastia, hair loss) …

Sex hormone tests

The reproductive panel refers to laboratory tests that are performed to assess the condition of a woman's body. In this case, it is important to properly prepare for the delivery of tests.

Basically, the concentration in the blood in women of LH, FSH, estradiol, prolactin, progesterone and testosterone is determined.

Blood for analysis is donated on certain days of the menstrual cycle. So, the level of FSH and LH is usually examined on the 3rd-7th day, testosterone - on the 8-10th day, and estradiol and progesterone - on the 21-22nd day of the cycle.

Indications for testing

The need for laboratory research usually appears when hormonal disorders are suspected. The most common reasons for the appointment of such an analysis:

• disorders of the menstrual cycle (scanty or excessively heavy menstrual flow, painful, irregular menstruation, etc.);
• infertility;
• miscarriage;
• monitoring the effectiveness of hormone therapy.

An analysis for the content of hormones is carried out if hormonal disorders are suspected

Indications for the study of certain hormones:

1. LH and FSH - with decreased libido, hirsutism, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, growth retardation.
2. Prolactin - with galactorrhea, mastopathy, pain in the mammary glands, impaired lactation, as well as in the diagnosis of chronic inflammatory diseases of the internal genital organs, sexual infantilism, with severe menopause, obesity, decreased sex drive, osteoporosis, hirsutism.
3. Progesterone - is determined to assess the state of the placenta during pregnancy, when diagnosing a true prolongation of pregnancy.
4. Testosterone - for hirsutism, acne, endometriosis, uterine myoma, breast tumors, polycystic ovary syndrome.

The norms of the content of sex hormones in women

The table provides a list of the most frequently assigned biologically active substances and their norms in the blood of women.

Name	Reference values
LH, U / l	Follicular phase - 1.9-12.5 The middle of the cycle - 8.7-76.3 Luteal phase - 0.5-16.9 Postmenopause - 15.9-54.0 Taking oral contraceptives - 0.7-5.6
FSH, U / l	Follicular phase - 2.8-11.3 The middle of the cycle - 5.8-21.0 Luteal phase - 1.2-9.0 Postmenopause - 21.7-153 Oral contraceptive use <4.9
Prolactin, ng / ml	For women of reproductive age - 2.8-29.2 For women during menopause - 1.8-20.3
Progesterone, ng / ml	Follicular phase - 0.2-1.4 Luteal phase - 3.34-25.6 Postmenopause <0.73 Taking oral contraceptives - 0.34-0.92
Estradiol, pg / ml	Follicular phase - 19.5-144.2 The middle of the cycle - 63.9-356.7 Luteal phase - 37.0-280 Postmenopause <32.2
Testosterone, nmol / l	0.38-1.97

Rules for preparing for laboratory research

Inadequate preparation for the analysis can cause inaccurate results and, accordingly, the appointment of the wrong treatment. Unless otherwise indicated by your doctor, it is recommended:

1. Donate blood in the morning on an empty stomach. After the last meal, 8-12 hours should pass, during this time it is allowed to drink water.
2. During the day, you cannot smoke, consume alcoholic beverages, drugs that can affect the test result (after consulting a doctor).
3. Avoid sexual intercourse, intense physical activity per day.
4. A day before taking the analysis for prolactin, exclude the thermal effect on the body (hot bath, bath, sauna).
5. Immediately before taking blood, it is necessary to be in a state of complete rest for some time.

When taking the analysis, you should indicate the day of the menstrual cycle, the duration of pregnancy or the onset of menopause. When using drugs (especially hormonal and antibacterial drugs), you should also inform your healthcare professional.

Video

We offer for viewing a video on the topic of the article.

Anna Aksenova Medical journalist About the author

Education: 2004-2007 "First Kiev Medical College" specialty "Laboratory Diagnostics".

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