Page 125 - The Miracle of Hormones

Sex Hormones

and created its mate from it and then disseminated many men and
women from the two of them. Heed God in Whose name you
make demands on one another and also in respect of your fami-
lies. God watches over you continually. (Qur'an, 4: 1)

Preparations to Meet the Egg Cell

When the mature egg enters the second period of its four-week life
(about 14 days later), it is released from the ovaries. Now, the egg cell be-
gins its journey to the mother's womb. If it is fertilized during this jour-
ney, it will begin a new life; if it is not fertilized it will die and be expelled
from the body.
When the egg cell leaves the ovary and starts its journey, it is still
supported by the inside of the ovary it left behind and also by the pitui-
tary gland located at a far distance from it. The pituitary gland knows
that the released egg needs help and secretes a special hormone called
LTH. This hormone travels by way of the blood to the ovaries and affects
the mass of cells called the "corpus luteum" in the ovary, which in turn
secretes progesterone.
The progesterone hormone has a special design and a very special
purpose. This hormone, although it never leaves the ovaries and never
sees the world outside them, influences cells located far distant from it,

ensuring that these cells act according to a definite plan. This is yet
another example of the wonder of creation that occurs in the human
body.
When progesterone molecules reach the uterus, they cause, as in the
case of the estrogen meeting the egg cell, that certain preparations are
made. In one sense they increase the strength of estrogen.
Progesterone also affects the ovary itself, by preventing a new egg
cell from being released. Otherwise, as an embryo was developing in the
mother's womb, a second egg cell would be fertilized, producing a great
danger both for the developing embryo and the mother.

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