Hormones: the key points of the menopause

Behind the menopause, there is a cascade process leading to the total cessation of menstruation. These engines are the action items of the main sex hormone produced by the ovaries. What are these hormones? Estrogen is what? Estrogen is a sex hormone. It is mainly secreted periodically and regularly by the ovaries. However, a small amount of estrogen is also produced by the adrenal glands, liver, breast and adipose tissue. The placenta also produces during pregnancy. Estrogen is normally excreted in the urine. This hormone plays an important role in the menstrual cycle by preparing the gynecological unit for possible fertilization and pregnancy preparation of the uterine lining, preparation of the vaginal mucosa, and mammary gland growth. Thus, estrogen is involved primarily in the development of sexual characteristics of women such as libido, and development of the vagina, vulva, the lining of the uterus, fallopian tubes and breasts. Estrogen is also involved in - Maintenance of the tonicity and elasticity of the skin, - Calcium regulation at the bone tissue and joints, - The maintenance of vascular elasticity to prevent and protect against cardiovascular disease, - The synthesis of body proteins The estrogen is particularly high just before ovulation and decreases during the second half of the menstrual cycle. During perimenopause, estrogen has the fluctuations to decrease completely during menopause. Progesterone, what is it? Progesterone is a sex hormone secreted by the ovaries (including the corpus luteum). The testes and adrenal glands also occur, but in small quantities. Progesterone plays essentially a "buffer" role in order to counteract and regulate the action of estrogen on the gynecological system. Thus, progesterone is also involved in the preparation of the uterine lining for implantation in case of pregnancy. It causes changes in the structure of the uterine lining to facilitate the implantation of the egg. Progesterone is also involved in the development of mammary glands to prepare for lactation. The progesterone is slightly elevated after ovulation and decreases when fertilization has not occurred.