The typical female body contours, the ability to get pregnant, sexual feelings - these are all things that are controlled by the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Here you can learn about the changes that take place in a woman's body in the course of her life and the role that the sex hormones play in these changes. Understanding your body is essential if you want to make the right decisions about your health and wellbeing.

During puberty the sex hormones make a girl develop into a woman.

This is the start of her reproductive years, the phase in a woman's life during which she is capable of having children. This phase is also called sexual maturity or fertility.

At around the age of 40 the hormonal situation begins to change. As menopause approaches the production of sex hormones decreases and when a woman has had her very last menstrual period her fertile years are over.

In each phase of life there are different things to consider when it comes to choosing a suitable contraceptive method. Decide which method is right for you in each phase of life. Every child should be a wanted child: By choice - not chance.