Page 122 - The Miracle of Hormones

THE MIRACLE OF HORMONES

A Four Week Period of Life

Every four weeks in the body of a healthy woman, a comprehensive
preparation occurs. This preparation is brought about by cells in the
woman's body in order to bring a new human being into the world.
As a mother considers her child's every need, its health and devel-
opment and makes long-term plans for it, the cells that make up the
mother's reproductive organs show the same degree of care for the egg
cells. In order to ensure the fertilization of the egg cell, they carry out
long-term plans, and the most important factors affecting this plan are
hormones.
Just before this four-week period, the pituitary gland secretes the
LH hormone. After this hormone leaves the skull, it sets out on its long
journey via the blood stream and reaches the ovaries. Now the time has
come for the ovaries to go into action.
Inside the ovaries are thousands of immature egg cells. Under the
influence of the LH hormone from the pituitary gland, part of these egg
cells begins to mature. Normally, only one of these developing cells will
fully mature and be released from the ovary as an egg cell. (If two cells
are released and each one is fertilized, twins will be born)
The egg cell in process of development with its surrounding nutri-
tive layers is called a "follicle." The FSH hormone sent by the pituitary

gland has a major effect on the follicle, suddenly causing it to produce a
special molecule. This molecule is the estrogen hormone.
How is it that the follicle, which is itself not fully developed, has
begun to produce a hormone? What is the purpose of this production?
The answers to these questions bring us to another proof of creation.
The estrogen produced by the follicle shows once again the wonder
of creation. Let us look briefly at its functions:
1. One of the targets of the estrogen hormone is the "uterus." This is
where the fertilized egg will lodge, multiply and grow. The influence of
estrogen causes the uterus to prepare for pregnancy; its wall increases 3-
4 times in thickness and is surrounded by capillary vessels. If fertilization

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