DEVELOPMENT OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY IN CHINA

Female reproductive endocrinology plays an important role in obstetrics and gynecology, and is a component part of perinatology, family planning and geriatrics. It is closely linked with the physiological changes, disease conditions and health care in different reproductive stages of a woman’s life. Ovarian function consists of ovulation and hormonal secretion, which acts upon the uterine endometrium and other target organs and feeds back to the hypothalamus-pituitary unit. Thus, it is connected with other endocrine systems, cerebral cortex and the external environment. Whether the ovrian function is normal or not reflects itself clinically in the changes of menstrual cycle and reproductive status and may be evaluated by laboratory assays.