Hormonal chemistry

Hormonal Chemistry
Oestrogen is the female hormone that gives women an
overall feeling of contentment and well-being, and plays
a major role in a woman's nurturing and nest-defending
behaviours. Because of its calming effect, it is also given
to aggressive males in prisons to control violent
behaviour. Oestrogen also aids memory, which explains
why so many women suffer memory problems after
menopause when their oestrogen levels drop. Those
who are on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
have better memory retention.
Experiments in June 2000 by Dr Agnes Lacreuse of
Emory University in Atlanta showed that as the ratio of
testosterone to oestrogen changes most women will
experience an enhancement in spatial memory. This
can make it easier for them to remember where car
keys, glasses or handbags have been left - or where
they parked the car.
Progesterone is the hormone that releases parental and
nurturing feelings and its purpose is to encourage a
woman to carry out her child-rearing role successfully.
Progesterone is released when a woman sees a baby and
research shows it is the baby's shape that triggers the
release of the hormone. A baby has short, stubby arms
and legs, a round, plump torso, oversized head and large
eyes, and these shapes are known as 'releasers'. The
reaction to this shape is so strong that the hormone is
also released when a woman sees these shapes in an
object like a stuffed toy. This is why toys such as teddy
bears and baby animals sell so well to females and long,
gangly-shaped toys don't. A woman or girl will pick up
a teddy bear and sigh, 'Ahh ... isn't it beautiful!' and
progesterone is released into her bloodstream.
Most men, lacking progesterone hormones, can't understand
a woman's over-reaction to a piece of high-priced
stuffed merchandise. This could also explain why women
who are the mothering type marry short fat men with
chubby cheeks.
Look at these three illustrations. Seeing the baby causes
the release of progesterone hormone in women and the
toy bear has the same effect. There are no releaser
shapes in the third example so it will not release progesterone
in a woman. The best selling toys have always