Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are produced in the ovaries and have specific functions in the female reproductive system. Testosterone affects sex drive, while estrogen and progesterone are responsible for most female functions. Hormone replacement therapy can relieve menopausal symptoms but may increase cancer risk.
There are two hormones associated with women: estrogen and progesterone. These hormones, along with the traditionally male testosterone, are produced in the ovaries. They all work together with unisex follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). All of these hormones together have specific functions in a normal female reproductive system.
Testosterone is usually only associated with males, but it plays an important function in females as well. This steroid hormone affects sex drive in women. Women between the ages of 20 and 20 seem to have the highest levels of testosterone in their system. Studies have shown that, in small doses, testosterone therapy can help women with low sex drive, particularly after menopause. Too much testosterone can reshape the female body and produce other negative effects, such as unwanted hair growth.
The female hormones estrogen and progesterone are responsible for most of the functions associated with the female sex. Levels of these hormones rise and fall with ovulation, menstruation, and pregnancy. These rises and falls can cause some mood changes, including the occurrence known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Progesterone stimulates the uterine lining during the second half of the menstrual cycle to prepare for potential implantation. It also appears to protect the fetus as it grows and prevents the mother’s immune system from rejecting the fetus as foreign. Women who have had repeated late miscarriages sometimes require progesterone therapy in order to carry a baby to term. Progesterone levels drop just before labor, allowing the uterine muscle to contract and lactation to begin.
Estrogen is the best known of the female hormones. It is produced in the ovaries when FSH and LH stimulate the ovaries. This most influential of female hormones is responsible for forming the female shape, including factors such as limiting muscle mass and height, as well as breast formation.
Estrogen has a precarious link to breast cancer. Although estrogen is required for normal female sexual function, it has been shown to increase the risk of some types of breast cancer, as it stimulates growth of breast tissue. Some studies suggest that estrogen suppression may be successful in slowing the growth of these cancers.
Hormone replacement has become a popular option for menopausal women. Female hormones such as estrogen are replaced using patches, topical creams and injections. These therapies reportedly relieve some of the more common menopausal ailments such as hot flashes and night sweats. Some women even report that their skin becomes younger and more moist, and their bone mass has improved. Those considering this treatment, however, should be aware that some studies indicate it may increase the risk of cancer.
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