13.2 Control of the oestrous cycle

The menstraul cycle starts in women in puberty and continues until menopause between 45-50 years.

Hormones Involved

Two of the four hormones are released just below the brain in the pituarty gland:

Follicle Stimulating Hormone: This stimulates follicles in the ovaries which produce oestrogen and contain eggs.

Luteinising Hormone: This stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone in the ovaries, and causes ovulation.

There is then two hormones which are produced in the ovaries:

Oestrogen: This stimulates the production of luteinising hormones in the pituarty glans, and causes the rebuilding of the Uterus.

Progesterone: Maintains the Uterus in order to ready it for fertilisation of an egg. It then inhibits the…