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Oestrogen is the name given to a group of hormones produced by a woman's ovaries.

During the menstrual cycle, oestrogen is responsible for causing the lining of the womb to thicken in order to accept and nourish a fertilised egg. Once pregnancy is established, oestrogen will also be created by the newly formed placenta (at around 10 weeks of pregnancy) in order to maintain the body's ability to carry the pregnancy. 

Oestrogen continues to perform a function once a woman has given birth by suppressing the menstrual cycle of a breastfeeding mother. During this time, the oestrogen levels will be low which prevents ovulation from occurring. This is the body's way of ensuring that the woman's newborn is receiving maximum nourishment from its mother.