The 3 most important sex hormones for girls, affecting fertility and aging, 90% of people do not know!

Author: Tan Xianjie (Peking Union Medical College Hospital)

The ovaries are female gonads, and although they are small, they occupy a dominant position in a woman's life.

During periods of vigorous ovarian function, it dominates the appearance of female characteristics, controls women's menstrual cramps, and helps women complete reproductive functions. When the ovaries gradually wither, women also gradually menopause and aging.

A woman's ovaries are able to produce 3 sex hormones: estrogen, progesterone, and androgen. These 3 sex hormones are essential for women's menstrual cramps and fertility function.

First, the function of androgens

Do not think that androgens are only available in men, which is also one of the essential sex hormones for women, which is not only the raw material for synthesizing estrogen, but also an important hormone for maintaining female physiological functions.

It can promote protein synthesis, participate in bone growth and calcification of long bones (i.e., epiphysis healing), participate in water and salt metabolism, stimulate red blood cell proliferation in bone marrow, and promote hematopoiesis.

Androgens can also maintain women's normal reproductive function and sexual desire, can promote the development of clitoris, labia, clitoris, pubic hair, has a direct effect on women's sexual behavior center, that is to say, it will help produce sexual impulses, sexual desire.

However, if androgens are secreted too much and are too strong, causing symptoms such as hirsutism, amenorrhea, and acne in women, it is necessary to be vigilant against a disease called "polycystic ovary syndrome".

Image source: Stand Cool Helo

Second, the function of estrogen

The reason why women have different postures, voices and personalities from men is related to the estrogen in their bodies, so estrogen was previously known as "feminin" and "estrogen", which not only maintains women's secondary sexual characteristics, but also does enough homework for women's pregnancy and childbirth.

First, estrogen is derived from the ovaries, but has a regulatory effect on ovarian function. It promotes the early development of follicles, regulates the secretory function of follicles and ovulation. If estrogen is insufficient, the follicles will stop developing and atresia, resulting in menstrual disorders, amenorrhea, infertility, etc., affecting women's physiological functions.

Secondly, estrogen can promote uterine development, thicken the uterine muscle wall, increase blood flow, multiply cells in the functional layer of the uterine lining, and prepare soil for embryonic development; it can also make the cervix soften and expand, increase mucus, and thin. This allows the sperm to penetrate the cervix smoothly and bind to the egg.

Third, estrogen can promote the development and contraction of the tubal muscle layer, increase the secretion of luminal epithelial cells, promote ciliary growth, and strengthen the ability of fallopian tubes to swing in the direction of the uterus.

Finally, estrogen promotes the growth and development of the breast matrix and glandular ducts, stimulates the secretion of pituitary prolactin, promotes milk production, and prepares rations for newborns who may be born.

Third, the role of progesterone

Progesterone works closely with estrogen to help women with reproductive tasks.

First of all, progesterone inhibits the contraction of the myometrium, reduces its sensitivity to oxytocin, so that the uterus does not suffer frequent "micro-earthquakes", so that the embryo has a stable living environment.

Second, progesterone can fight the proliferative effect of estrogen in the endometrium, secrete glands, and change interstitial traits. In other words, it is to make the soil more fluffy, which is conducive to the implantation and development of pregnant eggs.

Again, progesterone can inhibit the secretion of mucus by the cervical glands, making it thicker and worsening the drawing, which is not conducive to sperm penetration, allowing the embryo to monopolize the uterus and preventing other sperm from coming to make trouble.

Finally, progesterone, together with prolactin, promotes the development of acinars, prepares milk for secretion, and prepares rations for the soon-to-be-born fetus.

Image source: Stand Cool Helo

Female reproductive endocrine axis

In fact, the development of various physiological stages in a woman's life, as well as the reproductive function of women, are precisely regulated by the above hormones. The in vivo system that regulates the above processes is called the "reproductive endocrine axis", that is, the "hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis", which is composed of 3 levels of hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovaries.

1. Hypothalamus

Located at the bottom of the brain, it is a neuroendocrine organ. Some neuronal cells in the hypothalamus have a dual function, both to conduct nerve impulses and to secrete multiple hormones.

Among them, gonadotropin-releasing hormone is directly related to the physiological function of the female reproductive endocrine system, which after release, reaches the anterior pituitary lobe through vascular impulses (i.e., intermittently), excites gonadotropic cells in the anterior pituitary, and secretes the corresponding hormones from the secretory system.

2. Pituitary gland

Located in the pituitary fossa formed by the sphenoid bone at the base of the brain, it is divided into anterior and posterior lobes, in which there are gonadotropic cells in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.

The hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which in turn stimulates gonadotropin cells, thereby secreting two kinds of gonadotropins, one is follicle-stimulating hormone, which can stimulate follicle growth and development and granulocyte proliferation in the ovaries, and secrete estrogen from follicles with the participation of a small amount of luteinizing hormone;

The second is luteinizing hormone, which can lead to mature follicle ovulation, lutein formation and secretion of estrogen and progesterone under the influence of a certain proportion of follicle-stimulating hormone.

Image source: Stand Cool Helo

3. Ovaries

The ovaries are the organs of action of the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland and are called "target organs".

In the female reproductive endocrine axis, although the ovaries have the lowest status, which is equivalent to performing tasks, that is, specific work, it can affect the shape and function of the endometrium, cervix, and vagina, such as affecting menstrual cramps and reproductive function.

The above 3 parts of the tissue form a closed automatic feedback system under the regulation of the central nervous system. The hypothalamus is equivalent to an injector, the pituitary gland is equivalent to a transducer, and the ovaries are equivalent to an actuator.

As an actuator, the ovaries have biphasic functions, one is to make the follicle produce estrogen and progesterone during growth and development, and under the action of the two hormones, the function and morphology of the reproductive organs are periodically changed; the second is that estrogen and progesterone are fed back to change the secretion activity of the hypothalamus, promoting or inhibiting the secretion function of the hypothalamus.

In fact, the relationship between the three in the reproductive endocrine axis is mutually regulated and mutually restrictive, with the purpose of maintaining a relatively stable reproductive endocrine system in women, manifested by a stricter law of ovulation and menstruation, and maintaining female reproductive function.

*The content of this article is a popularization of health knowledge and cannot be used as a specific diagnosis and treatment recommendation, nor is it a substitute for face-to-face consultation by a practicing physician, for reference only.

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