Hormones are chemical substances produced in different glands of the body that serve to modulate or activate functions in different organs. In other words, they are responsible for sending messages throughout our body. They travel through the bloodstream to convey signals from one part of the body to another and enable communication between different organs in the body.

During the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, hormones play a very important role: they regulate the growth of follicles in the ovaries, the maturation of oocytes (eggs prepared for fertilization), and are also responsible for regulating ovulation and allowing the implantation of the embryo.

This hormonally named hormone is primarily produced during pregnancy. Its function is to maintain progesterone levels and allow the embryo to continue implantation. Hormones can be found in the blood and urine, which is why it is used to diagnose pregnancy: the typical tests we buy at pharmacies can detect their presence in urine and provide results in the early stages of pregnancy.

Estrogens are hormones secreted by the ovarian follicles—small sacs of fluid containing immature eggs— as they develop in the early part of the menstrual cycle.

These hormones are responsible for preparing the endometrium making it grow so it can facilitate embryo implantation.

Progesterone is also produced in the follicles. This hormone is secreted after ovulation and is responsible for allowing correct implantation and maintaining pregnancy during the early weeks of gestation.

It’s not only the ovaries that come into play to facilitate pregnancy; these two hormones are released in the brain and are responsible for the growth, development, and maturation of follicles in the ovary. Proper regulation of these hormones is essential for achieving adequate ovulation.

It is produced in the follicles found in the ovary and serves as a marker to assess ovarian reserve. Its value varies throughout a woman’s life, with its decline becoming more pronounced after the age of 35.