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The ovaries are held by a membrane beside the uterus on each side of the lower abdomen.

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The ovaries produce the sex hormones progesterone and estrogen. They prepare the uterus for menstruation. The release of these hormones is triggered by the hypothalamus.

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The hypothalamus directs the interactions among the genital organs, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands to regulate the female reproductive system.
These parts interact with each other by releasing hormones.

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The ovaries produce:

estrogen: plays a role in the development of breasts and armpit hair and helps regulate the menstrual cycle, controlling the growth of the uterine lining during the first part of the cycle.

progesterone: contributes to abnormal menstrual periods and menopausal symptoms, necessary for implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus and for maintaining pregnancy.

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Estrogen

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Progesterone

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The hypothalamus interacts with the genital organs, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands. They interact with each other by releasing other hormones. The hypothalamus produces gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which causes the pituitary gland to produce a luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. These hormones stimulate the ovaries to produce the female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone. After childbirth, the hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland to produce prolactin, a hormone that stimulates milk production.

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Estrogen:

bloating

swelling and tenderness in breasts.

irregular menstrual periods.

increased symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

mood swings.

Headaches.

Progesterone:

breast tenderness

mood swings

Sedation

fatigue

bloating

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Estrogen:

irregular or absent periods.

mood swings.

hot flashes.

breast tenderness.

headaches or accentuation of pre-existing migraines.

depression

Progesterone:

headaches or migraines

mood changes, including anxiety or depression

lhot flashes

irregular menstrual cycle

weight gain

fibroids, endometriosis

thyroid dysfunction

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Case Study #1: Addison's Disease (Hyposecretion)

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Case Study #1: Addison's Disease (Hyposecretion)

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Symptoms:

Weight loss and decreased appetite

Hyperpigmentation

Low blood pressure; leads to fatigue

Hypoglycemia; leads to salt craving

Nausea, diarrhea or vomiting

Abdominal pain

Muscle/joint pains

Irritability

Depression

Diagnosis:

Blood test. Measuring your blood levels of sodium, potassium, cortisol and ACTH is an indication of adrenal insufficiency. A blood test can also measure antibodies associated with autoimmune Addison's disease.

ACTH stimulation test. Measuring the level of cortisol in your blood before and after an injection of synthetic ACTH. It signals your adrenal glands to produce cortisol

Imaging tests. CT scan of your abdomen to check the size of your adrenal glands and look for abnormalities. An MRI scan of your pituitary gland if testing indicates you might have secondary adrenal insufficiency.

Insulin-induced hypoglycemia test. Pituitary disease is a possible cause of adrenal insufficiency (secondary adrenal insufficiency). The test involves checking your blood sugar (blood glucose) and cortisol levels at various intervals after an injection of insulin.

Possible Treatments:

Oral corticosteroids: Hydrocortisone, prednisone or cortisone acetate may be used to replace cortisol.

Corticosteroid injections: If a patient continuously vomits oral prescriptions, then injections are required.

Current Research:

Prevention may include treating underlying conditions and limiting risk factors like autoimmune diseases.

Treating fungal infections.

Controlling diabetes.

Identify cancer symptoms to prevent spread of cells into adrenal glands and bloodstream.

Treating bacterial infection

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Case Study #2 - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Hyposecretion)

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Case Study #2 - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Hyposecretion)

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Symptoms: (more severe if overweight or obese)

Irregular periods. Infrequent, irregular or prolonged menstrual cycles are the most common sign of PCOS. For example, you might have fewer than nine periods a year, more than 35 days between periods and abnormally heavy periods.

Excess androgen. Elevated levels of male hormone may result in physical signs, such as excess facial and body hair (hirsutism), and occasionally severe acne and male-pattern baldness.

Polycystic ovaries. Your ovaries might be enlarged and contain follicles that surround the eggs. As a result, the ovaries might fail to function regularly.

Diagnosis: A diagnosis of PCOS is made when the person experiences at least two of these symptoms

Some diagnostic tests include:

A pelvic exam. The doctor visually and manually inspects the reproductive organs for masses, growths or other abnormalities.

Blood tests. The blood may be analyzed to measure hormone levels. This testing can exclude possible causes of menstrual abnormalities or androgen excess that mimics PCOS. There might have additional blood testing to measure glucose tolerance and fasting cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

An ultrasound. The doctor checks the appearance of your ovaries and the thickness of the lining of your uterus.

Treatments: Treatments include birth control pills to regularize periods, a medication called metformin to prevent diabetes, statins to control high cholesterol, hormones to increase fertility, and procedures to remove excess hair.

Current Research: This month, a study was published in the journal Nature Medicine that might have found a treatment for PCOS. The research was lead by Dr. Paolo Giacobini at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research.This study suggests that we might be able to stop PCOS before it develops by treating pregnant women with GnRH antagonist drugs , and we can potentially use it to treat women who currently have PCOS.