Ovaries are found only in females and located in the abdominal region of the female body.
They secrete three hormones namely:
(1) Oestrogen: FSH, from the anterior pituitary, controls the secretion of oestrogen by acting on the Graafian follicles. This hormone effects the development of female secondary sex characters. The oestrogen secretion influences the follicular phase. Its secretion is maximum during the ovulation period. Moreover, during pregnancy, the oestrogen secretion by placenta keeps on increasing till full term.
(b) Progesterone: It is secreted by corpus luteum. This hormone in contrast to oestrogen, which is producted continuously during the reproductive years, secreted only after ovulation. Progesterone prepares the uterus for receiving the embriyo. It prepares the inner lining of the uterus. This hormone is essential for the maintenance of pregnancy and is therefore called pregnancy hormone. If pregnancy does not follow ovulation, corpus luteum degenerates and breaks down for lack of progesterone.
(c) Relaxin: This hormone is secreted during later stages of pregnancy and leads to relaxation of muscles of the pelvic area, so as to enable easy childbirth end no pressure on the foetus.
