Here's a simplified hormone 101 lesson when it comes to your reproductive system.
Hormones are like "text messages" that direct actions throughout the body. The reproductive system and the brain communicate via hormones throughout a woman's ovulation cycle.
The pituitary gland in the brain has constant communication with the ovaries - this connection in medical terms is coined the "HPG axis" (hypothalamic - pituitary - gonadal axis).
In simple terms, there are four main hormones that direct the events of the ovulation cycle:
👉 Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from the brain, stimulates follicular development in the ovary.
👉 The dominant growing follicle produces increasing estrogen.
👉 When the egg inside the follicle is fully mature, estrogen is at highest levels and stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone from the brain.
👉 LH triggers the follicle to rupture (ovulation) and the egg is released into fallopian tube.
👉 The empty follicle transforms into the "corpus luteum," which produces progesterone during the second half of the cycle.
The delicate interplay of these hormones (and numerous others systemically throughout the body) facilitate the event of ovulation every cycle.
OVULATION IS A SIGN OF HEALTH.
Regular ovulation indicates that hormones are communicating properly.
Did you know? Hormones produced in the reproductive system have effects throughout the body. More to come on this topic.
You can learn more about the physiology of reproductive hormones in every TrueFem education course offered! Link in bio 😊
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