Which hormones are involved in the female menstrual cycle?

The hormones primarily involved in the female menstrual cycle are estrogen and progesterone. These hormones play critical roles in regulating the cycle's various phases, including the follicular phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase.

Estrogen is essential for the development and maturation of the ovarian follicles and triggers the thickening of the uterine lining in preparation for potential implantation of a fertilized egg. It is also involved in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.

Progesterone, which is produced predominantly after ovulation during the luteal phase, further prepares the endometrium (the uterine lining) for implantation and maintains it if pregnancy occurs. If fertilization does not take place, progesterone levels drop, leading to the shedding of the uterine lining, which is observed as menstruation.

Understanding the distinct roles of estrogen and progesterone clarifies their fundamental importance in the menstrual cycle. The other hormones listed in the options do not have significant roles in regulating the menstrual cycle: testosterone and cortisol are related to other bodily functions, while insulin and glucagon are primarily involved in glucose metabolism, and thyroxine and triiodothyronine are thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism.