1. Female Hormone Regulation

2. Reminder Hypothalamus secretes GnRH
GnRH stimulates anterior pituitary to release FSH and LH

3. FSH function in females
Responsible for follicular phase
FSH stimulates maturation of ovum in ovary
Ie) “Stimulates follicle”

4. LH function in females
LH stimulates the follicle cells (more specifically corpus luteum) to produce progesterone and estrogen

5. Progesterone Hormone Controls the secretory phase
Stimulates maturation of the endometrium (inner lining of uterus)
Breast development

6. Estrogen Hormone Controls proliferative phase Building of endometrium
Stimulates the maturation of ovum as well
Develops 2° sex characteristics
Fat & hair
distribution
Growth of uterus & vagina
Breast development

7. Estrogen Hormone
When estrogen gets too high it creates a “-” feedback loop on anterior pituitary
Causes a decrease in LH & FSH
Ie) this is meant to prevent estrogen levels from getting too high

8. Estrogen Hormone
Day 14, when the follicle matures and estrogen levels are the highest, there is a steep spike in LH (and also FSH)
Believed that the significantly high level of estrogen creates a POSITIVE feedback on hypothalamus
This causes the surge of LH (and FSH)
= ovulation results

9. Corpus Luteum The remaining follicular tissue after ovulation
Secretes progesterone & after a few days estrogen
Progesterone stimulates the endometrium to mature and become secretory
Estrogen stimulates continual thickening of endometrium wall
This prepares the uterus for possible fertilization & pregnancy

10. Corpus Luteum Corpus luteum degenerates after 10 days if not pregnant
This reduces the estrogen/ progesterone and the endometrium sheds as a result =menstruation
Lasts ~5days and anterior pituitary begins releasing LH & FSH again
Starts new cycle

11. Ovarian Cycle Phase (Time) Events Follicular Phase Day 1-13
(ripening of follicle)
FSH & LH secreted by An Pit
Maturation of follicle
Secretion of estrogen/ progesterone to build endometrium
Ovulation
Day 14
Ovary releases ovum
Corpus luteum formed
Luteal Phase
Day 15-28
(corpus luteum in ovary)
Estrogen secreted by corpus luteum causing endometrium to continue to thicken
Progesterone secreted by corpus luteum makes endometrium secretory

12. What happens in the ovarian phase causes the uterine phase

13. Uterine Cycle Phase (Time) Events Menstrual (Flow) Phase
(shedding of endometrium)
Day 1-5
Endometrium lining breaks down & is discharged = menstruation
Proliferative Phase (rebuilding of uterine lining)
Day 6-14
Rebuilding & thickening of endometrium
Secretory Phase
Day 15-28
Endometrium continues to thicken
Maturation of secretory glands of endometrium

14. Key Ideas Hypothalamus and An Pit controls OVARY by secreting FSH & LH
Ovary ripens egg & release on day 14
Ovary secretes estrogen/ progesterone
OVARY controls UTERUS by way of estrogen/ progesterone

15. Ovarian & Uterine Cycle