Learn about the hormone Relaxin

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Relaxin is a hormone secreted by the corpus luteum in the ovaries. When a woman is pregnant, the placenta also secretes hormones, as does the lining of the uterus. Men also have relaxin, which comes from the prostate gland and is found in semen, but in men it doesn't circulate in the blood.

1. What is the hormone relaxin?

In women, the hormone relaxin is secreted into the circulation by the corpus luteum in the ovaries. During pregnancy, it is also released from the placenta, the membranes surrounding the fetus, and the lining of the uterus. In men, relaxin is secreted by the prostate gland and can be found in semen, but is not normally found in the circulatory system.
The role of relaxin in men is less clear. However, there is evidence that it can increase the movement of sperm cells in semen.
Relaxin belongs to the same family of hormones as insulin . During the past decade, a number of relaxin-like peptides have been discovered, although the function of these peptides remains unclear.
Recent studies have revealed the effects of relaxin on other systems in the body. Relaxin reduces tissue fibrosis in the kidneys, heart, lungs and liver, and promotes wound healing. Tissue fibrosis is the formation of hard tissue due to inflammation that can lead to scarring and loss of organ function. This has made scientists interested in studying how the heart heals after it is damaged, which could help in the future treatment of heart failure. In addition, relaxin may affect blood pressure by dilating blood vessels; promotes the growth of new blood vessels; and also has anti-inflammatory properties. All of these properties could make it a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of certain diseases.

2. How does relaxin hormone work?

The hormone relaxin is important for the female reproductive process. Relaxin levels increase after ovulation during the second half of a woman's menstrual cycle, where it is thought to relax the uterine wall and prepare it for pregnancy. If a woman does not conceive, levels will drop until the next cycle.
The effects of relaxin are most clearly described in the reproductive cycle and pregnancy of women. Relaxin levels in the circulation increase after ovulation, during the second half of the menstrual cycle. At this stage, it is thought to relax the uterine wall by inhibiting contractions, and it also prepares the uterine lining for pregnancy. If you don't get pregnant, relaxin levels drop again. During pregnancy, relaxin levels are at their highest during the first trimester. At this time, it was believed that it would promote the implantation of the developing fetus into the uterine wall and the growth of the placenta. During early pregnancy, relaxin also inhibits contractions in the uterine wall, to prevent premature birth. Relaxin can regulate the mother's cardiovascular and renal systems to help them adapt to the increased demand for oxygen and nutrients for the fetus, and to process waste products from the body. It is thought to do this by dilating the mother's blood vessels to increase blood flow to the placenta and kidneys.

Towards the end of pregnancy, the hormone relaxin promotes the rupture of membranes surrounding the fetus and the growth, opening and softening of the cervix and vagina to aid in the delivery process. There's also some evidence that relaxin can relax the ligaments in the front of the pelvis to ease childbirth. There are several other factors involved in labor, but the exact cause is still unclear.
If a woman conceives, relaxin levels will continue to rise during the first trimester, supporting the implantation and development of the placenta. This hormone also stops contractions as the fetus grows to prevent premature delivery. Towards the end of pregnancy, when labor begins, relaxin helps relax the ligaments in the pelvis to allow it to relax as the baby leaves your body.
Other effects of relaxin have emerged in recent studies, as new relaxin peptides have been discovered. Relaxin has been shown to reduce tissue fibrosis in many organs and may also promote wound healing. Relaxin has also been shown to lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels. This has led to more research on the benefits of relaxin peptide treatment for a number of diseases.

3. How is the relaxin hormone controlled?

The control of relaxin release in humans is not fully understood. It is believed that the production of relaxin by the ovaries during the menstrual cycle is stimulated by luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland and its release during pregnancy is also stimulated by human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) from the placenta. pregnant. It remains unclear whether relaxin can return to the pituitary gland or the fetus to affect luteinizing hormone or hCG levels in humans and thereby control its own release.
Relaxin exerts its actions on the reproductive system and other organs by activating specific receptors on these tissues.

4. What happens if I have too much relaxin hormone?

Disorders of relaxin hormone secretion have not been described in detail. Studies have suggested that high maternal levels of circulating relaxin are associated with preterm birth, perhaps due to its effects on rupture of membranes and cervical dilation. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings.

5. What if I have too little relaxin hormone?

There is some evidence that low levels of relaxin may contribute to a condition known as scleroderma, where the skin thickens and stiffens. It is caused by the development of fibrosis and scarring in the skin, which also occurs in the lungs, stomach, and blood vessels.

6. Problems related to the hormone relaxin

Very few studies have looked at the side effects of relaxin at high or low levels. Some have suggested that high levels of relaxin can cause membranes to rupture, leading to premature birth in pregnant women, however this has not been proven. Low levels of relaxin can cause scleroderma - a type of skin that thickens and hardens - but again, this needs more research.
If you have questions about relaxin levels in your body, discuss them with your endocrinologist. Some questions may include:
Do I need to care about relaxin levels? Can relaxin levels affect my pregnancy? Could relaxation be a treatment option for my condition? Although relaxin levels are not associated with any specific disease, treatment with relaxin is beginning to be offered as a solution for a number of diseases. If you don't have an endocrinologist, find one today. To ensure the best health of pregnant women and fetuses, you should choose to register for maternity packages at reputable medical facilities to be regularly examined and monitored by doctors for timely handling. Risks occur during pregnancy and after labor.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, there is a package maternity service as a solution to help pregnant women feel secure because of the companionship of the medical team throughout the pregnancy. When choosing Maternity Package, pregnant women can:
The pregnancy process is monitored by a team of highly qualified doctors Regular check-ups, early detection of abnormalities The package pregnancy helps to facilitate convenient for the birthing process Newborns get comprehensive care

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

References: hormone.org, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov