How do female hormones affect menstruation, pregnancy, and other functions?

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Huynh Thi Hien - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

Female hormones affect all stages of a woman's life from infancy, menstruation to pregnancy. It helps to regulate the development of the sex organs to match the normal development of the body.

Hormones are hormones that are produced naturally in the body. They are responsible for exchanging information between cells and organs, so they affect many important life functions. Everyone's body produces male and female sex hormones. When these hormones are not working properly, they cause a hormonal imbalance.

There are two main types of female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. In addition, there is a small amount of testosterone in the female body.

Estrogen is the main female hormone in the female body. It is mainly produced from the ovaries and in small amounts from the adrenal glands and fat cells. Estrogen is also produced in the placenta during pregnancy. It plays an important role in sexual function and reproduction through the periods:
Puberty Menstruation Pregnancy Menopause In addition, estrogen also affects the functioning of the brain, cardiovascular system, hair, musculoskeletal system, skin and urinary tract.
Estrogen levels can be determined by blood tests, the normal range is limited as follows:
Adult, premenopausal female: 15-350 pg/mL Adult, menopausal female: < 10 pg/ mL Adult males: 10 - 40 pg/mL Levels of the hormone estrogen vary greatly throughout the menstrual cycle.

Progesterone is produced mainly in the ovaries. In addition, it is also produced during pregnancy through the placenta. The role of progesterone includes:
Prepares the lining of the uterus for a fertilized egg to move down for implantation Improves chances of pregnancy Inhibits estrogen production after ovulation Progesterone levels can be determined by testing blood. Normal range is in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL):

Progesterone levels through the stages of a woman's development

Testosterone is secreted in the adrenal glands and ovaries. This hormone plays an important role in a number of body functions, including:
Sex drive Regulating the menstrual cycle Bone and muscle strength Blood tests can determine testosterone levels, range Normal for women is 15-70 ng/dL.

Female sex hormones have many important functions in the body. It changes from childhood to puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, to menopause. These changes are natural, not pathological abnormalities.

Female hormones stimulate the female body to enter puberty (usually from 8-13 years old). Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are produced in the pituitary gland and increase production as a woman enters puberty, thereby stimulating the production of sex hormones especially estrogen.
Increased levels of female hormones, which stimulate the body:
Grow breasts Grow pubic and armpit hair Helps the body grow quickly Increase body fat, especially in hips and thighs Helps complete Improve the structure and function of the ovaries, uterus and vagina Start the menstrual cycle

The first menstrual cycle occurs about 2 - 3 years after the breasts start to develop, mainly between the ages of 10 and 16.
Follicular phase Every month, the uterus thickens in preparation for a fertilized egg. . If not fertilized, estrogen and progesterone levels will be low, causing the uterus to begin to separate leading to menstruation, the first day of menstruation is the day the follicular phase begins.
At this stage, the pituitary gland begins to produce more FSH to promote the growth of the follicles. Each follicle contains an egg. When sex hormone levels drop, only a single, dominant follicle continues to develop. Other follicles are disrupted as this one produces more estrogen, stimulating LH to increase accordingly. The follicular phase lasts about two weeks.

Ovulation phase During ovulation, the hormone LH causes the follicle to burst and release an egg. This phase lasts about 16 - 32 hours. Fertilization can only happen about 12 hours after the egg has left the ovary.
Luteal phase The luteal phase begins after ovulation. The ruptured follicles close and progesterone production increases to prepare the uterus to receive a fertilized egg. If that doesn't happen, estrogen and progesterone drop again and the menstrual cycle begins again.
The entire menstrual cycle lasts about 25 - 36 days. Bleeding lasts 3-7 days. Cycles can fluctuate greatly during the first few years or in other circumstances such as hormonal contraceptive use.

Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone have all been linked to female sex drive. Due to hormonal fluctuations, women are often at the peak of their sex drive just before ovulation.
Sexual desire is also affected by many other factors. It can go down when you use hormonal birth control methods, when you go through menopause, have surgery to remove your adrenal glands or ovaries.

During the luteal phase, progesterone rises, preparing the uterus to receive a fertilized egg. The uterine wall thickens, filling with nutrients and other fluids to sustain the embryo. Increased levels of progesterone and estrogen also work to protect the uterus from bacteria and sperm. Both of these hormones also help dilate the milk ducts in the breast.
As soon as conception takes place, the body begins to produce the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Hormones appear in the urine and are used to test for pregnancy. It also helps increase the production of estrogen and progesterone, prevents menstruation and helps maintain pregnancy. The hormone hPL is secreted from the human placenta. In addition to providing nutrients to the baby, it also helps to stimulate lactation.
Relaxin hormone levels also increase during pregnancy. It helps support placental growth and prevents contractions from occurring too soon. During labor, this hormone helps relax ligaments in the pelvis.

When pregnancy ends, hormone levels begin to drop immediately back to pre-pregnancy levels. The sudden, dramatic drop in estrogen and progesterone may be a contributing factor to the increased risk of postpartum depression.
Breastfeeding lowers estrogen levels and can prevent ovulation. This isn't always the case, you still need to combine it with other birth control methods for birth control.

During menopause, hormone production in the ovaries slows down. Estrogen levels begin to fluctuate while progesterone levels begin to gradually decrease.
As hormone levels decrease, the vagina may become less lubricated. Some people experience decreased sex drive and irregular menstrual cycles. A drop in hormones after menopause can increase the risk of conditions like osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Going 12 months without a period is a sign that you have reached menopause. By this point, both estrogen and progesterone have remained steady at low levels. It usually comes when a woman is 50 years old and varies according to each person's living conditions and ability to take care of themselves.

Levels of female hormones fluctuate naturally throughout life. Especially during important transitional periods such as puberty, pregnancy, lactation, perimenopause and menopause.
However, a female hormone imbalance can sometimes be a sign of an illness, such as:
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): This is the most common hormonal disorder in women. young female. It can cause irregular menstrual cycles and interfere with fertility. Excess Androgen: Overproduction of male hormones causes menstrual irregularities, infertility, acne, and baldness. Hirsutism: Hirsutism is manifested by excessive hair growth on the face, chest, abdomen, and back. It occurs due to an overproduction of male hormones. It can also be a symptom of polycystic ovary disease. In addition, female hormones are out of balance due to the following reasons:
Decreased fertility due to female hormone deficiency Miscarriage or abnormal development Multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets or more) ) Ovarian tumor

You should go to a gynecologist once a year for a regular check-up or go to the doctor right away if you notice unusual symptoms, especially in the following cases:
Morning sickness or other signs of pregnancy Decrease sex drive Vaginal dryness or pain during sex Irregular menstrual cycles Difficulty conceiving Pelvic pain Hair loss or hair growth on the face or body Depression after childbirth Persistent menopause symptoms interfere Life Female hormones affect all stages in a woman's life. Therefore, you should go to the gynecological examination periodically to recognize the signs of hormone decline for timely adjustment.
Vinmec International General Hospital is a medical facility that not only meets these requirements, but also has outstanding advantages in service quality, professional and dedicated patient care, and always strives for the goal. The goal is to bring the highest satisfaction to customers when visiting Vinmec.

Reference source: healthline.com