Every newsletter you'll find a quick lesson that will aid you in becoming a genius of your hormones. Last newsletter we discussed period health.
Next up: THE FOLLICULAR PHASE.
Did you know that by the time a baby girl is 20-weeks in utero, she has one million (immature) eggs. That is - a pregnant mother is carrying the eggs that will become her future grandchildren! Nearly half dissolve before puberty, leaving 400,000 eggs available for maturation and ovulation throughout the remainder of the woman's reproductive life.
Each cycle, one egg is selected as the dominant follicle for ovulation. Coordinated communication between the brain and ovaries lead to maturation of the follicle and preparation for ovulation through the hormones follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen, and luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH from the brain tells the ovaries to mature a follicle, estrogen from the growing follicle tells the brain to produce the main ovulation hormone, LH, which triggers ovulation as estrogen peaks.
After your period, you can predict increased energy levels thanks to rising estrogen. Beyond its role in reproduction, estrogen is responsible for dilating blood vessels, promoting bone formation, and stimulating brain cells - among many other important functions for overall health.
