Female Hormones Overview

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• Page 520 Textbook (Section 16.2)

1. Follicular Phase

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   • 5-13 days
   1. Hormones

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      • - Estrogen low -> high (no granulosa cells or GnRH) - FSH high -> low (Hypothalamus trying to create an egg = more GT hormones) All FSH bathing the follicle cells to stimulate formation of an egg and release estrogen
   2. Ovarian Event

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      • - Development of egg - Follicle cells (granulosa cells) release estrogen)
   3. Uterus Event

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      • Uterus begins to form
2. Ovulatory Phase

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   • Half-way point (usually 14 days)
   1. Uterus Event

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      • Endometrium continues to form
   2. Ovarian Event

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      • Egg released from the ovary
   3. Hormones

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      • - LH spikes - Estrogen dips, FSH also spikes but that is non-functional
3. Luteal Phase

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   • 15-28 days
   1. Ovarian Event

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      • Corpus Luteum forms (from reformed granulosa cells) and produces estrogen and progesterone
   2. Uterus Event

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      • Endometrium continues to form
   3. Hormones

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      • - Progesterone rises (To maintain endometrium because might be pregnant so must get uterus ready) - Estrogen rises (To build endometrium, made by Corpus Luteum)
4. Flow Phase

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   • 1-5 days
   1. Hormones

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      • Estrogen and Progesterone drop (no Corpus Luteum to make it) Have no need to maintain or develop Endometrium 
   2. Ovarian Event

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      • Corpus Luteum degenerates (if not pregnant)
   3. Uterus Event

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      • Endometrium is shed (if not pregnant)
5. Hormones
6. Hormone Graph
7. Feedback Look