NaijaSky

How Do Female Sex Hormones Affect Menstruation, Pregnancy, and Other Functions?

Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH on May 21, 2018 — Written by Ann Pietrangelo

   

What are hormones?

Hormones are natural substances produced in the body. They help to relay messages between cells and organs and affect many bodily functions. Everyone has what are considered “male” and “female” sex hormones.

Keep reading to learn more about the female sex hormones, how they fluctuate throughout your life, and signs of a hormonal imbalance.
Types of female sex hormones

The two main female sex hormones are estrogen and progesterone. Although testosterone is considered a male hormone, females also produce and need a small amount of this, too.
Estrogen



Estrogen is the major female hormone. The lion’s share comes from the ovaries, but small amounts are produced in the adrenal glands and fat cells. During pregnancy, the placenta also makes estrogen.

Estrogen plays a big role in reproductive and sexual development, including:

    puberty
    menstruation
    pregnancy
    menopause

Estrogen also affects the:

    brain
    cardiovascular system
    hair
    musculoskeletal system
    skin
    urinary tract

Estrogen levels can be determined by a blood test. While it can vary from person to person, these are what’s considered the normal ranges in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL):

    Adult female, premenopausal: 15-350 pg/mL
    Adult female, postmenopausal: <10 pg/mL
    Adult male: 10-40 pg/mL

Levels will vary greatly throughout the menstrual cycle.
Progesterone

The ovaries produce the female sex hormone progesterone after ovulation. During pregnancy, the placenta also produces some.


Read more health articles from Healthscope @ https://naijasky.com/healthscope

Linkback: https://naijasky.com/sex-hormones/1805/how-do-female-sex-hormones-affect-menstruation-pregnancy/40175/

This increase in female sex hormones results in:

    the development of breasts
    the growth of pubic and armpit hair
    an overall growth spurt
    an increase in body fat, especially in the hips and thighs
    the maturation of the ovaries, uterus, and vagina
    the start of the menstrual cycle

Menstruation

The first menstrual period (menarche) happens about two to three years after the breasts begin to develop. Again, it’s different for everybody, but most females get their first period between the ages of 10 and 16.
Follicular phase

Every month, the uterus thickens in preparation for a fertilized egg. When there’s no fertilized egg, estrogen and progesterone levels stay low. This prompts your uterus to shed its lining. The day you start to bleed is day 1 of your cycle, or the follicular phase.

The pituitary gland starts to produce a little more FSH. This spurs growth of follicles in your ovaries. Within each follicle is an egg. As sex hormone levels drop, only a single, dominant follicle will continue to grow.

As this follicle produces more estrogen, the other follicles break down. Higher levels of estrogen stimulate an LH surge. This phase lasts about two weeks.
Ovulatory phase

Next comes the ovulatory phase. LH causes the follicle to rupture and release the egg. This phase lasts about 16 to 32 hours. Fertilization can only occur for about 12 hours after the egg has left the ovary.
Luteal phase

The luteal phase starts after ovulation. The ruptured follicle closes and the production of progesterone increases. This gets the uterus ready to receive a fertilized egg.

If that doesn’t happen, estrogen and progesterone decrease again and the cycle starts all over.

The entire menstrual cycle lasts around 25 to 36 days. Bleeding lasts between 3 and 7 days. But this, too, varies quite a bit. Your cycle may be quite irregular for the first few years. It can also vary at different times of your life or when you use hormonal contraceptives.
Sexual desire and contraception

Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all play a role in female sexual desire — also called libido — and sexual functioning. Due to hormonal fluctuations, females are generally at the peak of sexual desire just before ovulation.

There’s generally less fluctuation in libido if you’re using hormonal birth control methods, which affect hormone levels. Your libido may also fluctuate less after menopause.

Undergoing surgery to remove your adrenal glands or ovaries cuts down on testosterone production, which can cause a drop in your libido.
Pregnancy

When you’ve gone 12 months without a period, you’ve reached menopause. By this time, both estrogen and progesterone are holding steady at low levels. This typically happens around age 50. But like other phases of life, there’s great variation in this.

Decreased hormones after menopause may increase your risk of conditions such as thinning bones (osteoporosis) and cardiovascular disease.
When hormones become unbalanced

Your hormones will naturally fluctuate throughout your lifetime. This is usually due to expected changes such as:

    puberty
    pregnancy
    breastfeeding
    perimenopause and menopause
    use of hormonal contraception or hormone therapy

But a hormonal imbalance can sometimes be a sign of something more serious, such as:

    Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This is the most common endocrine disorder among young females. PCOS can cause irregular menstrual cycles and interfere with fertility.
    Androgen excess. This an overproduction of male hormones. This can cause menstrual irregularities, infertility, acne, and male pattern baldness.
    Hirsutism. Hirsutism is an increase in hair growth on the face, chest, abdomen, and back. It’s caused by excessive male hormones and can sometimes be a symptom of PCOS.

Other underlying conditions include:

    hypogonadism, which is a shortage of female hormones
    a miscarriage or abnormal pregnancy
    a multiple pregnancy (having twins, triplets, or more)
    ovarian tumor

When to see your doctor

You should always see your primary care doctor or gynecologist once a year for a routine wellness exam. Your doctor can discuss these changes and answer any other questions you may have.

Don’t wait until your annual exam if you’re experiencing unusual symptoms. See your doctor as soon as you can if you’re experiencing:

    morning sickness or other signs of pregnancy
    decreased sexual desire
    vaginal dryness or pain during sex
    skipped periods or increasingly irregular cycles
    difficulty conceiving
    pelvic pain
    hair loss or hair growth on your face or trunk
    depression after giving birth
    prolonged menopause symptoms that interfere with your life