Gynecologic endocrinology

Abstract

From the fetal to adult life, the normal development of the female reproductive system is under the influence of genetic, hormonal and environmental factors affecting the timing of developmental and maturational changes and leading to normal menses and fertility in adult females. Deviation in the timing of these developmental changes or abnormalities in the hormonal balance results in pathologic conditions of the female reproductive system. This discussion aims to help in understanding of the normal development, maturation, and physiologic functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and to provide a brief description of the pathologic processes in functioning of the female reproductive axis.