Endocrinology of Pregnancy

In The Endocrinology of Pregnancy, leading researchers illuminate the complex interactions between maternal and fetal-placental tissues that control the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, the proper development of the fetus, the birth process, and the behavioral aspects of bonding between mother and newborn. These expert researchers review the endocrine and physiological events that culminate in the delivery of offspring, and provide a solid base of comparative information on the menstrual cycle of primates, including humans. Also discussed are the sources and functions of both steroid and protein hormones from the placenta, the details of their effects on uterine function, placental development, fetal growth and well-being, and maternal responses to pregnancy.§The Endocrinology of Pregnancy is the first comprehensive, state-of-the-art account of the key endocrine mechanisms associated with the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. It instantly becomes the standard reference source not only for reproductive scientists, but also for those clinicians who want better to understand the complex factors that affect pregnancy-and their pregnant patients.