Dear Women: 5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Your Ovary

You might not give your ovaries much thought (unless you’re trying to get pregnant), but even if you don’t think about them on the reg, these walnut-sized organs actually play a huge role in your every day life. Here are five things you didn’t know about your best reproductive friends.


1. They Produce a Whole Lot of Hormones
Your ovaries secrete estrogen and progesterone. These two hormones are responsible for the development of the female body during puberty (think boob growth, your period, and the widening of your hips). Estrogen and progesterone also prep the uterus for conception—and not producing enough can lead to trouble getting pregnant. Plus, your ovaries churn out your body’s supply of testosterone (albeit in smaller amounts than the estrogen), which you can thank for your sex drive.

2. They Change Sizes
Unlike a lot of your organs, your ovaries aren’t static in size; they actually change a lot over the course of your cycle and the course of your lifetime. Month to month, your reproductive powerhouses (which are about three to five centimeters in length normally) will fluctuate as they do their thing, releasing an egg each month. With ovulation and the likely formation of a small cyst that comes along with it, the ovary can grow a little in size

3. They Can Get Stressed Out
Ovulation is definitely affected by stress. When your bod is under pressure—we’re talking the serious kind that’s brought on by a major life change like moving away to college or a physical change like losing a lot of weight—your ovaries will stop releasing eggs. “Simply put, it’s nature’s way of preventing pregnancy during times of stress.

4. They Could Be Behind Your Acne
Since ovaries play such a big role in your hormonal balance, they can be behind hormonally-driven bodily issues. With certain conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome, the hormone balance of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone becomes really altered. Excess testosterone symptoms like acne, hair growth in typically male places, and weight fluctuations can be seen. Your doctor can prescribe medication that can help get this under control.

5. They Love the Pill

(Source: Wisegeek)