Module 3 Lesson 5 - 2

Hormonal Regulation of the Female Reproductive System

Read pages 495 - 499

For both men and women, the beginning of puberty is defined by the hypothalamus beginning to produce more gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). Then, GnRH stimulates the anterior pituitary to start producing both follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

In women, FSH and LH act on the female gonads, the ovaries, to produce the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone cause the maturation and development of the female primary and secondary sex characteristics (development of the breasts, broadening of hips, growth of pubic hair, etc.), and the beginning of the menstrual cycle.

Two additional female hormones are discussed later in the unit: oxytocin released from the posterior pituitary, and prolactin produced from the anterior pituitary. Oxytocin has an important role in childbirth and milk secretion. Prolactin is involved in milk production.

The hormonal control of the female reproductive system is much more complex than it is in the male reproductive system. Read pages 495 to 499 of the textbook to understand how puberty begins, to understand the control of the menstrual cycle, and to understand what happens at the end of the reproductive years in a female.

Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle varies considerably among females, but it lasts about 28 days on average. The menstrual cycle is controlled by reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone, whose effects divide the event into the follicular stage (which includes the flow phase and ovulation), and luteal stage.

Watch and Listen

Try This

Use the following drag-and-drop activity to determine whether you understand the female sex hormone production function and control in the body.   The answer box you are dragging a term to needs to be outlined before you "drop" the term.  Only correct terms will stay in an answer box.