Introduction
The ovaries contain between 200,000 and 400,000 follicles, tiny sacks contain the materials needed to produce mature eggs, or ova. The ovaries produce two major female hormones: estrogen and progesterone.
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| The uterus is a hollow muscular organ located in the female pelvis between the bladder and rectum. The ovaries produce the eggs that travel through the fallopian tubes. Once the egg has left the ovary it can be fertilized and implant itself in the lining of the uterus. The main function of the uterus is to nourish the developing fetus prior to birth. |
Estrogen. Estrogens have an effect on about 300 different tissues throughout a woman's body:
- They are essential for the reproductive process and for the development of the female organs.
- Estrogens determine the characteristic female distribution of body fat on the hips and thighs, which develops during adolescence.
- They also are involved in tissues in the central nervous system (including the brain), the bones, the liver, and the urinary tract.
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Estrogen also has different forms:
- The most potent form is estradiol.
- The other important, but less powerful, estrogens are estrone and estriol.
Most of the estrogens in the body are produced by the ovaries, but they can also be formed by other tissues, such as body fat, skin, and muscle.
Progesterone. Progesterone, the other major female hormone, is necessary for thickening and preparing the uterine lining for the fertilized egg.
Menopause and Perimenopause
As a woman ages, her supply of eggs declines. Menopause occurs naturally after the woman's supply of follicles has been depleted and menstruation ends completely. (Menopause may also be induced if the ovaries are surgically removed.)
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