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Ovarian Hormones

Meaning

Ovarian Hormones are a critical class of steroid and peptide signaling molecules primarily produced and secreted by the ovaries, the female gonads, playing a central, regulatory role in reproductive health, secondary sex characteristics, and systemic physiological regulation. The principal steroid hormones include estrogens, such as estradiol, and progestogens, such as progesterone, along with smaller but significant amounts of androgens. These hormones govern the menstrual cycle, support pregnancy, and exert profound, pleiotropic effects on bone density, cardiovascular function, and neurocognitive health throughout a woman’s lifespan.