Upon first hearing the term "prostaglandin," many people believe it's a male-only phenomenon, as only men have prostates and secrete prostaglandins. However, prostaglandins are present in almost all tissues of the human body, including the kidneys, lungs, heart, spleen, nervous system, thymus, iris, and thyroid gland. Furthermore, prostaglandins are also found in women's menstrual blood, as well as in the placenta and amniotic fluid during pregnancy. Clearly, both men and women have prostaglandins in their bodies. So, where do women's prostaglandins come from, and what effects do they have on women?
In fact, prostaglandins have a close relationship with women. For example, most cases of dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) in women are caused by prostaglandins. During menstruation, under the influence of estrogen, the uterine lining thickens. This thickening process produces prostaglandins, molecular compounds secreted by multiple organs, including the uterus, which have the function of causing smooth muscle contraction. Therefore, when prostaglandins are released by shed uterine lining cells, they cause uterine contractions, leading to dysmenorrhea.
Prostaglandins not only affect the uterus, but can also act on the intestines, causing diarrhea. This is why some women experience diarrhea during their menstrual period – it's because of prostaglandins.
In addition, prostaglandins also have a certain impact on the female reproductive system, and their impact is no less than that on the male reproductive system.
(1) Effects on hypothalamic-pituitary function: Prostaglandins act on the hypothalamus or higher centers and have the function of inducing the release of gonadotropins, and the secretion of gonadotropins affects ovulation.
(2) Effects on ovarian function: It can promote follicle development, ovarian hormone secretion, induce ovulation, maintain the corpus luteum and dissolve the corpus luteum.
(3) Effects on uterine muscle: The effects of prostaglandins on uterine muscle vary depending on its type and physiological state. Prostaglandin E can relax non-pregnant uterine muscle and contract pregnant uterine muscle; prostaglandin F can cause contraction of both non-pregnant and pregnant uterine muscle.
(4) Effects on the fallopian tubes: The fallopian tube mucosa contains a high concentration of prostaglandin F, which promotes fallopian tube contraction. Prostaglandin E, on the other hand, inhibits this contraction. Prostaglandins regulate oocyte transport by affecting the activity of the fallopian tubes.
(5) Contraceptive and anti-early pregnancy effects: Prostaglandins promote corpus luteum dissolution; enhance uterine contractions, which is not conducive to conception and implantation; can cause early embryonic death and promote the expulsion of the embryo from the uterus.
