What Are the Different Menstrual Cycle Hormones?
Every woman’s body contains hundreds of different hormones, but there are a few that work together in complex ways to cause normal menstrual cycles. The menstrual cycle hormones include estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Each of these has a different effect on the body and a specific role to play in the menstrual cycle. The first of the menstrual cycle hormones to come into play is the gonadotropin-releasing hormone. It is released in the brain by the hypothalamus, and it starts a chain reaction for the rest of the menstrual cycle hormones. When gonadotropin-releasing hormone is released, it stimulates the production of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in the pituitary gland.