sex hormones
Puberty's chemical messengers
Sex hormones are chemicals produced mainly by the gonads—testes in males, ovaries in females—that regulate reproductive development and function.
The primary sex hormones are testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.
They drive puberty, influence fertility, and affect secondary characteristics like body hair and breast development: Her doctor checked her sex hormone levels.
Female reproductive hormone
- androgensMasculinizing steroid hormones
- estradiolPrimary natural estrogen hormone
- pituitaryBrain-base hormone gland
- hypothalamusSubthalamic regulatory brain region
glandular · LH · feedback · neuroendocrine · axis · secretion · receptor · binding
Capacity for reproduction
- ovulationEgg discharge from ovary
- spermatogenesisMale gamete formation
- conceptionFormation of an idea
- menstruationMonthly uterine bleeding
gametes · fertilization · implantation · pregnancy · gestation · gonads · testes · ovaries
Amount of contractile tissue
- facial hairBeard, mustache, stubble
- voice pitchHighness or lowness spoken
- breast tissueGlandular chest matter
- bone densityMineral content per volume
skin texture · gynecomastia · virilization · dimorphism · masculinization · feminization
End of fertility
- hot flashesBrief intense warmth episodes
- osteoporosisDisease weakening skeletal structure
- hypogonadismDeficient sex hormone production
- HRTSupplemental endocrine treatment
andropause · PCOS · endometriosis · estrogen therapy · blood test · deficiency · imbalance · perimenopause
Teenage developmental stage
- menarcheOnset of menstruation
- growth spurtPeriod of accelerated physical development
- voice changePubescent vocal transformation
- acneInflamed skin condition
body hair · maturation · development · mood swings · growth plates · body odor · adrenarche · sexual maturation
estrogen
Female reproductive hormone
- androgensMasculinizing steroid hormones
- estradiolPrimary natural estrogen hormone
- pituitaryBrain-base hormone gland
hypothalamus · glandular · LH · feedback · neuroendocrine · axis · secretion · receptor · binding · DHEA
fertility
Capacity for reproduction
- ovulationEgg discharge from ovary
- spermatogenesisMale gamete formation
- conceptionFormation of an idea
menstruation · gametes · fertilization · implantation · pregnancy · gestation · gonads · testes · ovaries · menstrual cycle
muscle mass
Amount of contractile tissue
- facial hairBeard, mustache, stubble
- voice pitchHighness or lowness spoken
- breast tissueGlandular chest matter
bone density · skin texture · gynecomastia · virilization · dimorphism · masculinization · feminization
menopause
End of fertility
- hot flashesBrief intense warmth episodes
- osteoporosisDisease weakening skeletal structure
- hypogonadismDeficient sex hormone production
HRT · andropause · PCOS · endometriosis · estrogen therapy · blood test · deficiency · imbalance · perimenopause · infertility treatment
adolescence
Teenage developmental stage
- menarcheOnset of menstruation
- growth spurtPeriod of accelerated physical development
- voice changePubescent vocal transformation
acne · body hair · maturation · development · mood swings · growth plates · body odor · adrenarche · sexual maturation
- hormonesestrogen, insulin, cortisol, adrenaline, glucagon
- sex biologybiological sex, sex chromosomes, Y chromosome, XY, sex determination
- pubertypuberty, voice cracking, adolescence, growth spurts, body hair
- hormone drugsestrogen therapy, estradiol, estrogen patch, progestin, Premarin
- steroid hormonesestrogen, cortisol, aldosterone, estradiol, androgen
- steroidssteroid, cortisol, estrogen, aldosterone, corticosteroid
sex hormonesstress hormones
Tension-triggered bodily chemicals
thyroid hormones · growth hormones · cortisol · insulin · glucagon
sex hormonesneurotransmitters
Chemical neural messengers
dopamine · serotonin · acetylcholine · norepinephrine · GABA
hormone, hormones, hormonal, testosterone, cortisone, progesterone, hormonally, sex hormone