Male and female sex hormones

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Sex hormones have multiple functions in both men and women. In general, they are responsible for the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics at puberty and, subsequently, they are responsible for regulating the entire reproductive cycle.

In women, sex hormones are produced by the ovary and are responsible for regulating the entire menstrual cycle and acting on the endometrium.

In man, sex hormones are synthesized in the testicles and intervene in the production of sperm (spermatogenesis).

Below you have an index with all the points that we will discuss in this article.

Index

Control of hormonal production

Sex hormones are found in both sexes. However, its concentration is different depending on whether it is a man or a woman. For example, androgens are typical male sex hormones, while estrogens are typical female sex hormones.

Despite all this, the endocrine system that regulates the production of sex hormones in the gonads is the same in both sexes. This reproductive regulation begins in the brain, in which two main structures stand out:

Hypothalamus is located at the base of the brain and is responsible for secreting the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in a pulsatile manner. In turn, GnRH stimulates the pituitary gland to release other reproductive hormones. Hypophysis is found in the pituitary gland of the brain and is responsible for secreting gonadotropins in response to GnRH that arrives through the portal system. Gonadotropins are the stimulating hormones of both the testis and the ovary. Hormonal control in the brain

Gonadotropins, also called pituitary hormones, are listed below:

FSH follicle stimulating hormone. Acts directly on the gonads to stimulate the production of gametes, ie, ovules and spermatozoids. LH luteinizing hormone. It also acts on the gonads, but has different functions. Prolactin has a different regulation to the previous hormones, since its production depends on the dopamine secreted by the hypothalamus. Its function is to stimulate the production of milk in the mammary glands.

On the other hand, the pituitary gland is also responsible for the secretion of the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin, which have various functions in both men and women.









Female sex hormones

The sex hormones synthesized by the woman's ovary are androgens, estrogens and progestogens.

As with the testicle, the regulation of this steroidogenesis depends on FSH and LH. In this case, hormonal production follows the following steps:

  • LH stimulates the production of androgens in the Teak cells of the ovarian follicles.
  • Next, the androgens are converted into estrogens in the granulosa cells, an action stimulated by FSH.
  • The menstrual cycle begins and the production of estrogen increases.
  • Halfway through the menstrual cycle, there is a pronounced increase in LH that causes ovulation of a mature egg.
  • After ovulation, the granulosa cells initiate the synthesis of progesterone and the follicle becomes a corpus luteum.

    • This production of female sex hormones is also regulated by complex feedback systems, which also regulate all stages of the menstrual cycle. For more information on this, you can continue reading the following article: What happens in the menstrual cycle?

    Female sex hormones

    Next, let's go deeper into the main female sex hormones:













    Questions from users












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