Lesson aim
As far as science knows, women are born with a finite number of ovarian follicles. These follicles contain or develop the cells known to produce important hormones such as androstenedione, testosterone, estradiol and progesterone.
Understanding female sex hormones requires a deep understanding of the dynamic dance between the brain, theca, granulosa and lutein cells of the ovary.
This lecture will serve to provide practitioners with the more complex physiology of sex hormone production so that they can truly address female complaints from the teenage years through menopause.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss follicular progression from preantral to ovulation
- Understand the physiology of theca cell development and hormones produced
- Understand the physiology of granulosa cell development and the hormones produced
- Understand the physiology of lutein cell development and hormones produced
- Discuss common issues that arise with dysfunction in the theca, granulosa and lutein cells.