Ovaries:

• They are female gonads but also act as an endocrine gland. 
• They secrete three types of hormones. 
• Its follicular cells & corpus luteum perform an endocrine function. 
• In woman, the ovaries activate as an age of 12 years. It is called as beginning of puberty.
• The follicular cells under the control of FSH secrete estrogen hormone which is also called as estradiol or feminizing hormone. 
• It is a steroid hormone and performs the following functions: 
• It controls oogenesis 
• It provides secondary sexual characters 
• It controls menstrual and oestrous cycles. 
• It stimulates the development of mammary glands. 
• It controls female sexual accessory organs. 
• It controls sexual behaviour 
• The corpus luteum of the ovaries secrete progesterone under the control of LH. 
• The progesterone is a steroid hormone which is also called a pregnancy hormone. It performs the following functions: 
• It prepares the uterus for embryonic development. The uterine wall becomes more muscular, glandular & vascular. 
• It helps in implantation of the embryo. 
• It inhibits oxytocin & ovulation during pregnancy. 
• In woman, the corpus luteum also secretes relaxin hormone at the time of completion of embryonic development. 
• This hormone helps in parturition by relaxing pubic symphysis.