The ovary is responsible for secreting the female sex hormones
estrogen,
progesterone and
inhibin in female humans of reproductive age. Estrogen, progesterone, and inhibin, in addition to
GnRH (
gonadotropin releasing hormone) from the
hypothalamus and
FSH and
LH from the
anterior pituitary are responsible for regulating the
menstral cycle, in which a mature
follicle in the ovary expells an egg (or if you prefer, an
oocyte) through the
fallopian tubes into the
uterus to await
fertilization.
I saw my ovary when I went in for my
gynocologist exam yesterday. The doctor stuck in an
ultrasound stick in me and probed around til my right ovary came on the screen. She suspects that I have
polycystic ovary syndrome or
PCOS for short.
My doctor offered to give me an ultrasound printout of my right ovary. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world and decided to scan it in. It is at
http://geocities.com/weezers562/lou.jpg
for your viewing pleasure.
The 4 dark spots in the blurry field are the follicles in my right ovary. My left one was a little shy and could not be found, perhaps because I was in the waiting room so long that my bladder felt as if it might burst.