Find out about the hormones involved in Birth & Lactation

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Fiona White

Physiology & Anatomy

Hormones in Reproduction

Find out about the hormones involved in Birth & Lactation. For each one, state where it is secreted from and what its effects are. Describe whether the mechanisms involved are negative or positive feedback.

There are several different hormones that influence the female reproductive system and the two most fundamental hormones are progesterone and oestrogen. Progesterone is a steroid hormone and has a number of physiological effects on the body such as normalising blood clotting and vascular tone, zinc and copper levels, cell oxygen levels, and the use of fat stores for energy and it also assists in the thyroid function. It is usually required to normalise or restore changes caused by oestrogen. It affects all aspects of pregnancy, prepares breasts for lactation and the relaxation of joints and ligaments in preparation of childbirth. It can affect bowel movements usually causing constipation and back pain and raises the body temperature.

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Oestrogens are a group of steroid compounds that function as the primary female sex hormone. Developing follicles in the ovaries, the corpus luteum and the placenta primarily produces them and some secondary sources in smaller amounts can be found in the liver, adrenal glands and breasts. Although oestrogen is present in both male and females, it is found to be significantly higher in women and is involved in controlling the menstrual cycle. As does progesterone, oestrogen also affects all aspects of the pregnancy and is particularly important in maintaining the health of the genital track, the reproductive organs and ...

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