If You Think Female Hormones Are Trivial, You're Wrong!

Hormones play very important roles in the proper functioning of a woman's body. There are many types of female hormones, but the major ones are estrogen and progesterone. These two hormones are produced in the woman's ovaries.

Estrogen has been mainly referred to as the hormone that defines women. It is responsible for the growth of breasts in women. It also ensures that the female reproductive organs which include the uterus, fallopian tubes and the vagina will reach full development and readiness to perform their functions. Apart form these responsibilities, estrogen also makes sure that fat in a woman's body is primarily deposited on the thighs, hips and buttocks.

Progesterone, on the other hand, is mainly connected with the development of the female reproductive capacity. It is at work during the menstrual cycle. It also plays a big part during pregnancy, especially in the growth of the human embryo inside the mother's womb.

Together, estrogen and progesterone bring about all the important processes that happen inside the female body. The presence or amount of these hormones in a woman is what separates her from her male counterpart to begin with. The following are the three most important processes in a woman's life wherein the invisible hands of both estrogen and progesterone are largely at play.

Menstruation
At the onset of puberty, estrogen and progesterone start to play a more significant part in controlling the female body in a cycle known as menstruation. You see, each type of hormone has a predictable rise-and-fall pattern which gives rise to the menstrual cycle.

The events that take place inside the woman's body start off when a ripe egg is delivered from one of the ovaries into the fallopian tube and eventually into the woman's womb. If such egg remains unfertilized within a specific timeframe, estrogen and progesterone hormones secreted by the ovaries begin to decline. As this happens, the lining in the womb which is developed in preparation for pregnancy is cast off, culminating in menstrual bleeding.

Pregnancy
If the egg released from the ovary becomes fertilized, important changes still happen to a woman's estrogen and progesterone levels. But this time around, instead of a decline in the amounts of these two hormones, a dramatic increase is seen.
A hormone known as the human chorionic gonadotrophin is developed in the growing placenta; this hormone triggers the production of increased amounts of estrogen and progesterone in the ovaries. It turns out, these two hormones are crucial during pregnancy; without these two hormones, bearing a child can not be sustained.

Menopause
The last important process in women where estrogen and progesterone levels are having dramatic changes is menopause. This phase is characterized by the very last time that a woman will have her menstrual period. In reality, a few years before menopause occurs, a woman will already experience abnormalities in her monthly periods.

During menopause and even in the couple of years before it, the ovaries will experience deterioration. As this occurs, they will only be able to produce very little amounts of estrogen and progesterone. This signals that a woman is no longer capable of bearing a child in her womb.

Menopause is mainly brought about by age. Think of a woman's body like a big alarm clock, wherein a definite time is set which will bring about a stop to many of the functions and processes inside her body. When she reaches that definite time, known as menopause, countless problems can occur.

A woman's health can be at risk as menopause begins. The weakening of the heart and the bone structures are common menopausal syndromes. Vaginal dryness and uncomfortable indications like night sweating and hot flashes are also prevalent during menopause.

But the good thing is that now there are effective treatments that can help a woman cope with the problems of menopause. There are products like Zalestra which can help prevent complications and distress during this phase. Visit www.zalestra.com for more details.

About the Author
Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com.