What Is the Most Abundant & Biologically Active Female Hormone?
Along with other hormones, female sex hormones have an essential role in body development and reproduction. Their production and activity vary with life stages.
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Types
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The anterior pituitary gland produces prolactin, while the ovary produces estrogens and progestagens. Estrogens include: estradiol, estrone, and estriol. Progestagens include progesterone and progestins striker.
Function
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Progesterone is essential to the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, while prolactin stimulates breast enlargement. The functions of estrogens include: the maturation of the female body, regulation of the menstrual cycle, breast development, fetal development and mood stabilization.
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Infancy & Childhood
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While estrogen (from the mother's body) stimulates breast development within the first few weeks of life, the most abundant female hormone in newborns is prolactin. Very little hormone production occurs during childhood, but between the ages of six and 11, progesterone activity is greater than prolactin and estradiol. .
Puberty and Beyond
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Endocrinology data from Drs. David Gardner and Francis Greenspan indicate that, in women of childbearing age, the most abundant female sex hormone is progesterone.
Pregnancy
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According to Drs. David Gardner and Francis Greenspan, the most abundant sex hormones during pregnancy are progesterone and prolactin. Unlike other female hormones, their activity steadily increases throughout pregnancy, peaking at its term.
Menopause
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The production of estrogens (estradiol, estrone) is drastically diminished during menopause. During this period, progesterone is the most abundant and most biologically active female hormone.
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References
- Basic & Clinical Endocrinology;" Francis Greenspan, M.D. and David Gardner, M.D.; The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2001
