Women's beauty and health are all related to it, but it has been ruthlessly ignored.

Women's ovaries mainly secrete two sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone, as well as a small amount of androgen. The secretion of the three hormones is managed by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovary. If any link fails, the balance will be disrupted, leading to disordered hormone secretion and a host of problems, such as irregular menstruation, distorted body shape, poor skin, and difficulty in conceiving...

Estrogen - Femininity

Estrogen is what makes a woman a woman. After women enter puberty, their ovaries begin to secrete estrogen, which on the one hand promotes the development and maturation of reproductive organs such as the uterus, fallopian tubes, vagina, and vulva, allowing women to have the hard power to become a complete woman; on the other hand, it promotes breast development and the accumulation of subcutaneous fat, making women become curvaceous and graceful. Estrogen also works with progesterone on the lining of the uterus to produce menstruation.

Professor Sun Aijun from Peking Union Medical College Hospital introduced that more than 400 parts of the female body need the nourishment of estrogen. Estrogen should be in a delicate balance. Too little or too much estrogen can affect the reproductive system, cardiovascular system, urinary system, nervous system, etc.

Failure of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis, ovarian diseases, endocrine disorders, diabetes, etc. can cause estrogen deficiency. When women enter menopause, their ovarian function gradually declines and their estrogen levels decrease until they are very low after complete menopause.

Estrogen deficiency can cause atrophy of the uterus and vagina, sagging breasts, dull skin, prone to wrinkles and spots, and problems such as irregular menstruation, osteoporosis, and coronary heart disease. Their bodies are out of shape, their faces are aging prematurely, and they are becoming less and less feminine. All of this puts women under considerable psychological pressure and causes them to become depressed. If you find yourself often experiencing hot flashes, palpitations, back pain, fatigue and irritability, beware of estrogen deficiency. Abnormal estrogen levels may also lead to abnormal ovulation, difficulty in conception, endometrial thickening or uterine fibroids, and a relatively high risk of breast cancer.

Progesterone - childbearing

Professor Ren Mulan from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Zhongda Hospital said that the main function of progesterone is the "pregnancy" effect. It enables women to have children and shines with the glory of motherhood. Progesterone promotes the maturation of the endometrium so that it can accept the embryo and have fertility; it transforms the proliferative endometrium into the secretory endometrium, which is beneficial for the implantation of the fertilized egg; it inhibits uterine contractions, allowing the embryo and fetus to grow and develop safely in the uterus; it counteracts the endometrial hyperplasia effect of estrogen and prevents endometrial lesions... In clinical practice, drugs containing natural or synthetic progesterone are also used to treat threatened abortion, infertility, endometriosis, functional uterine bleeding, amenorrhea, etc.

If a woman has an ovulation disorder, such as no ovulation and no corpus luteum formation, her body will lack progesterone; if the follicles are poorly developed or in early pregnancy, the corpus luteum function is relatively insufficient and progesterone secretion is also insufficient. Insufficient progesterone directly affects the conception of new life and can also cause gynecological diseases: the embryo cannot implant, leading to infertility; the safety of the fetus in the uterus is threatened, and miscarriage may occur; the endometrium continues to proliferate and may become cancerous. Abnormal progesterone levels also bring risks such as corpus luteum cysts, hydatidiform mole, and ovarian tumors.

Androgens – Strength

Cai Yunlang, director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Zhongda Hospital, said that androgen represents male strength, but a small amount of androgen in women's bodies also plays an irreplaceable role. The secretion of androgens promotes the development of female vulva, the growth of axillary hair and pubic hair, and the synthesis of bones and hemoglobin. Moreover, it is closely related to the synthesis of estrogen.

Polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian tumors, hyperadrenocortical function, etc. can cause excessively high levels of androgen in women. When the androgen level is too high, women may suffer from "hyperandrogenism", and a nice lady will turn into a "man": the hair on the pubic area, armpits, and limbs will grow wildly, and some will even grow beards and chest hair. Breast atrophy will directly affect the beauty of the breasts, the Adam's apple will be prominent, the voice will be deep and masculine, the body will be obese, the skin will be rough and the face will be covered with pimples. These changes alone are enough to make women depressed and feel inferior, but it can also cause greater harm. It interferes with the growth and development of follicles, causes ovulation disorders, corpus luteum insufficiency, menstrual disorders, amenorrhea and even infertility. The risk of endometrial cancer is also higher than that of ordinary people. Low androgen levels will affect women's sexual desire and greatly reduce their sexual happiness index.

Advice for female friends

Experts remind that under normal circumstances, the level of sex hormones in women's bodies is in a delicate balance. Do not blindly supplement with various hormone products in pursuit of a good figure and good looks. Some beauty products of unknown origin may contain a large amount of complex hormone ingredients. Long-term use will not only disrupt normal endocrine system but also bring disease risks. Once a woman finds that her menstruation is abnormal, it may be due to abnormal hormone levels. The cause should be determined through examination and gynecological endocrine treatment should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor in accordance with strict dosage requirements.

Maintain a regular schedule, learn to relieve stress when you encounter it, keep your body and mind happy, and exercise moderately. This will also help maintain the balance of sex hormones and retain health and beauty.