Hormones & Aging
Ovary
/ˈoʊ.vər.i/
The ovaries are two small female reproductive organs located on either side of the uterus. They produce and store oocytes (which become eggs) as well as the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and androgens. During ovulation, a single oocyte from one ovary is typically released—one of roughly 1 million eggs a woman will have at birth. No additional oocytes are produced after birth and their number and quality decline with age. This decline accelerates after age 30.