Female sex hormones, or sex steroids, play vital roles in sexual development, reproduction, and general health.
Sex hormone levels change over time, but some of the most significant changes happen during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
A note about sex and gender
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Learn more.
Hormones are chemical messengers that the endocrine glands produce and release into the bloodstream. Hormones help regulate many bodily processes, such as appetite, sleep, and growth.
Sex hormones are those that play an essential role in sexual development and reproduction. The main glands that produce sex hormones are the adrenal glands and the gonads, which include the ovaries in females and testes in males.
In females, the ovaries and adrenal glands are the main producers of sex hormones. Female sex hormones include:
- estrogen
- progesterone
- small quantities of testosterone
Estrogen
Estrogen is one of the more well-known female sex hormones.
Although the majority of estrogen production occurs in the ovaries, the adrenal glands and fat cells also produce small amounts of estrogen. Estrogen plays an important role in reproductive and sexual development, which begins when a person reaches puberty.
Progesterone
The ovaries, adrenal glands, and placenta
Progesterone helps stabilize menstrual cycles and prepares the body for pregnancy. Having a low level of progesterone can lead to:
- irregular periods
- difficulty conceiving
- higher risk of complications during pregnancy
Testosterone
Although testosterone is the main sex hormone in males, it is also present in lower amounts in females.
In females, testosterone affects:
- fertility
- sexual desire
- menstruation
- tissue and bone mass
- red blood cell production
Females typically enter puberty between the ages of
During puberty, the pituitary gland starts producing larger quantities of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates the production of estrogen and progesterone.
Increased levels of estrogen and progesterone initiate the development of secondary sexual characteristics, which include:
- breast development
- hair growth on the underarms, legs, and pubic region
- increased height
- increased fat storage on the hips, buttocks, and thighs
- widening of the pelvis and hips
- increased oil production in the skin
Menarche is the first time a person gets their menstrual period, and it typically occurs between the ages of
After menarche, many people have regular menstrual cycles until they reach menopause. Menstrual cycles are usually around
The menstrual cycle occurs in three phases that coincide with hormonal changes:
- follicular phase
- ovulatory phase
- luteal phase
Pregnancy
- progesterone
- relaxin
- human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Progesterone levels steadily rise during the first few weeks of pregnancy, thickening the cervix and forming the mucus plug.
The production of relaxin prevents contractions in the uterus until the end of pregnancy, at which point it then helps relax the ligaments and tendons in the pelvis.
Rising hCG levels in the body then stimulate further production of estrogen and progesterone. This rapid increase in hormones leads to early pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and the need to urinate more often.
Estrogen and progesterone levels continue to rise during the second trimester of pregnancy. At this time, cells in the placenta will start producing a hormone called human placental lactogen (HPL). HPL regulates metabolism and helps nourish the growing fetus.
Hormone levels decline when a pregnancy ends and gradually return to prepregnancy levels. When a person nurses, it can lower estrogen levels in the body, which may prevent ovulation from occurring.
Menopause occurs when a person stops having menstrual periods and is no longer able to become pregnant. In the United States, the average age at which a woman experiences menopause is
Perimenopause refers to the transitional period leading up to a person’s final period. During this transition, large fluctuations in hormone levels can cause a person to experience a range of symptoms.
Symptoms of perimenopause can include:
- irregular periods
- hot flashes
- sleeping difficulties
- mood changes
- vaginal dryness
A person reaches menopause when they have gone a full year without having a period. After menopause, the ovaries will only produce very small but constant amounts of estrogen and progesterone.
Lower levels of estrogen may reduce a person’s sex drive and cause bone density loss, which can lead to osteoporosis. These hormonal changes may also increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all affect sexual desire and arousal. Having higher levels of estrogen in the body promotes vaginal lubrication and increases sexual desire. Increases in progesterone can reduce sexual desire.
There is some debate around how testosterone levels affect female sex drive.
Low levels of testosterone may lead to reduced sexual desire in some women. However, testosterone therapy appears ineffective at treating low sex drive in females.
According to a
These side effects can include:
- weight gain
- irritability
- balding
- excess facial hair
- clitoral enlargement
Hormonal balance is important for general health. Although hormonal levels fluctuate regularly, long-term imbalances can lead to various symptoms and conditions.
Signs and symptoms of hormone imbalances can include:
- irregular periods
- excess body and facial hair
- acne
- vaginal dryness
- low sex drive
- breast tenderness
- gastrointestinal problems
- hot flashes
- night sweats
- weight gain
- fatigue
- irritability and irregular mood changes
- anxiety
- depression
- difficulty sleeping
Hormonal imbalances can be a sign of an underlying health condition. They can also be a side effect of certain medications. For this reason, people who experience severe or recurring symptoms of hormonal imbalances should speak with a doctor.
In females, potential causes of hormonal imbalances include:
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- primary ovarian insufficiency
- hormonal birth control
- hormone replacement therapy
- excess body weight
- ovarian cancer
- stress
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Hormones are chemical messengers that help regulate bodily functions and maintain general health. Sex hormones play a crucial role in sexual development and reproduction.
In females, the main sex hormones are estrogen and progesterone. The production of these hormones mainly occurs in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and, during pregnancy, the placenta.
Female sex hormones also influence body weight, hair growth, and bone and muscle growth. Although these hormones naturally fluctuate throughout a person’s lifetime, long-term imbalances can cause a range of symptoms and health effects.