Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Estrogen Mimiking 
Name: Christina
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
I am currently taking abiology course in which I need to do a project about estrogen mimiking chemicals. Can you name some for me? Also, how does estrogen apply to reduced fertility? These answers would be greatly appreciated.


Replies:
A woman's fertility cycle is tied to the amount of estrogen in her system. Its on a negative feedback system similar to what happens with your home's thermostat. When the house is warm, the heat stays off. As soon as the temperature drops below a certain point, the furnace turns on. The hormone LH, or lutenizing hormone is the one that causes ovulation each month. During the middle of a woman's menstrual cycle, the estrogen level drops suddenly. When this happens its a signal to the pituitary gland to release LH. Then a woman ovulates. IF the estrogen level is kept high all month, LH is never released and there is no ovulation. I'm not sure about estrogen mimics.

Van Hoeck


Click here to return to the Biology Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory