The reproductive system of the female is indeed a very interesting as well as a complex system of body functioning. There is continuous communication between the brain centers as well as the ovary. The hormones that are secreted by the hypothalamus’’ the ovary and pituitary gland are actually the messengers that regulate the woman’s menstrual cycle.
What is there to know about the Hypothalamus and one’s Pituitary Gland?
One’s hypothalamus is actually located in one’s brain and actually communicates vial blood flow to the pituitary gland. Several of the neuroendocrine agents, as well as hormones, are basically produced by one’s hypothalamus. The important neuroendocrine agents or the hormones are actually produced by the hypothalamus. The essential hormone for the reproduction process is referred to as gonadotropin. which releases the hormone or is better known as GnRH. It is actually released in a rather rhythmic manner every 50 to 120 minutes.
What does the GnRH do?
This stimulates one’s pituitary gland in order to be able to produce the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) a hormone that is responsible for the starting of the follicle (egg) process of development. This causes the estrogen level which is the primary female hormone to rise up. The Luteinizing hormone (LH), which is the other pituitary hormone that aids egg maturation. It also provides the hormonal triggering in order to cause ovulation and also releases the eggs from the ovary.
More to know about the Ovary:
The ovaries main function is to produce oocytes (eggs) as well as hormones. At the time of one’s birth, the ovaries actually contain several of million immature type of eggs. No new eggs are developed. These eggs tend to constantly undergo a process of development as well as loss. Most of them die before they reach maturity. This process of loss of eggs is always occurring, including before one’s birth or puberty as well as with the help of birth controlling pills.
What happens to the ovary?
The ovary then undergoes a constant process of oocyte depletion (loss) throughout one’s lifetime. As one’s levels of FSH and LH in one’s blood increase with puberty, one’s egg begins to mature. Fluid gets collected in each of the egg. The first day of one’s menses is considered to be the first cycle. Estrogen remains at low levels. The pituitary then starts secreting FSH and LH which is a process that actually begins before the onset of one’s menses. These hormones tend to stimulate the growth of several ovarian follicles. Each of this follicle contains one egg. The number of follicles varies from individual to individual. One follicle will grow faster than the other which is the dominant follicle. As these follicles grow in size, the blood levels of the estrogen rise up and the seventh day of one’s cycle. This increase in the estrogen levels that tends to begin the inhibition of the secretion of FSH. The falling level of the FSH does permit the death of the smaller follicles; in other words, they are i
n dire need of FSH.
Once the estrogen level is high enough, it actually triggers off the sudden release of the LH, usually around the 13th day of the cycle. This surge in LH tends to produce rather complex events within the follicles that do result in the maturation of one’s egg. Thus, the follicular collapses on account of egg extrusion. The ovulation takes place between 28-36 hours after the onset of the surging of the LH and also after 10 to about 12 hours after LH reaches its peak. Large amounts of progesterone are produced which are termed as corpus luteum which prepares the lining of one’s uterus for implantation.
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What is there to know about Luteal Phase?
The luteal phase or rather the second half of the one’s menstrual cycle does begin with the ovulation and does last for about 14 days ( normally 12 to 15 days). Many changes take place during this stage which tends to support one’s fertilized egg in the embryo that results in pregnancy. The hormone which causes these changes is referred to as progesterone and is produced by the corpus luteum.
More about the Uterus…
The lining of one’s uterus is prepared every month for the implantation of the embryo. This occurs under the actual influence of the progesterone and estrogen produced in the ovary. If not then pregnancy occurs and the endometrium gets released as menstrual period about say 14 days after menstruation.
