The importance of the ovaries for women

  The human ovaries are the main organs of the female reproductive system, also known as the female gonads. It is located on both sides of the upper pelvis and is connected to the uterus and pelvic wall with the help of ligaments. It grows slowly from birth to about 10 years of age, gradually develops after 10 years of age, and rapidly matures by puberty (about 13-16 years of age), when it begins to produce ovarian hormones and ovulate. Its main functions are: 1. To produce solid hormones and various proteins that locally regulate egg development and ovulation.  2. These hormones are released into the blood circulation and act on many target organs such as the uterus, fallopian tubes, vagina, vulva, mammary glands, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, fat, bone, kidney and liver. These two functions are closely related to the processes of connection, cyclic follicular maturation, ovulation, luteal production and degeneration.  The follicle is the basic unit of female reproduction and consists of germ cells, i.e. the egg, and its surrounding endocrine cells. Throughout a woman’s life, follicles only decrease and do not increase. At the beginning of puberty, the total number of eggs has decreased to 300,000-500,000, and during the next 35-40 years of reproductive life, 400-500 follicles will develop and ovulate. By menopause the majority of follicles are depleted, with only a few hundred remaining. Follicle loss begins to accelerate during the first 10-15 years of menopause, and the number of follicles per cycle decreases with age, with menopause occurring when follicles are completely depleted. Menstruation is the result of the process of follicular maturation, ovulation, corpus luteum formation and atrophy in the ovaries, and the process of endometrial proliferation, secretion and finally degeneration and exfoliation. If the follicles in the ovaries are depleted, the woman will not have menstruation and will lose her fertility. In addition to age factors, genetic factors, environmental toxins, viral infections, autoimmune antibodies, drugs, pelvic radiation and mental factors, and surgical treatment may all lead to the accelerated depletion or destruction of eggs in the ovaries, causing ovarian decline.  Currently, the phenomenon of early decline of ovarian function tends to be serious, so that women’s quality of life decreases, life expectancy is shortened, aging before aging, troubling married life, leading to infertility, early occurrence of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Therefore, the early detection of ovarian decline, the improvement of its reserve capacity and the restoration of endocrine disorders is currently a hot spot and a challenge in reproductive medicine and reproductive health research at home and abroad.  The term “ovaries” is not found in ancient Chinese medical literature. “The old ancestors believed that menstruation must occur when kidney qi is in full bloom, and when the heavenly sperm is in full bloom. The old ancestors believed that menstruation must occur when the Kidney Qi is strong and the Heavenly Essence is in full flow. The decline in ovarian function is characterized by shortened cycles, incessant dripping before and after menstruation, hot sweating, distress and insomnia, and other clinical symptoms are consistent with the deficiency of kidney yin in Chinese medicine and the failure of the rheumatoid process. Therefore, the treatment should be based on the principle of nourishing the kidney and filling the essence, using soft yin medicines and flesh and blood products to protect the female yin blood and the essence of the kidney. “The kidneys store essence, and essence transforms into blood. Nourishing the kidneys and filling the essence, the essence fills the blood and the ovaries are nourished, reversing their tendency to premature aging. Although Chinese herbs are not hormones, they have obvious mobilizing ability, especially to improve the ovarian response to sex promoting hormones and restore and improve ovarian function. Its side effects are small and its long-lasting effects are obvious.