Hormones in Females

10.2.1 Hormones in Females Estrogen This is the female hormone associated with heat or “estrus” (the period when the female can become pregnant, if bred). Estrogen causes the female animal to stand for the male so that mating can take place. Some medicines contain estrogen, and cause female animals to come into heat. These medicines can cause abortions (death of the baby before it is born) and they may also damage the ovaries.

Progesterone The ovary produces this female hormone after the animal comes into heat. Progesterone helps maintain pregnancy.

Prostaglandin This hormone can cause a female animal to come into heat about three days after injection. It is safer than estrogen, but usually more expensive. It causes pregnant animals to abort.