Sex hormones are chemical substances produced naturally by the body or synthesized in a laboratory that regulate puberty, fertility, and aspects of sexuality.
The male sex hormones are androgens, and the female sex hormones are estrogens and progestogens.
Gonadotropins are hormones that centrally regulate the production and activity of sex hormones.
The glands that produce these hormones include:
Androgens are primarily male sex hormones, although they are present in both men and women.
They are produced in:
The primary function of androgens is to promote the development of male secondary sexual characteristics, such as facial hair (e.g., beard growth), pubic and armpit hair, voice deepening and increased muscle mass.
The main androgens produced by the body are:
Androgen medications, such as mesterolone, can be beneficial for men with fertility issues related to poorly functioning testes.
Other compounds, like androstanolone, are used to treat conditions such as androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss).
Estrogens are female sex hormones primarily produced in the ovaries. They are also present in men, but in much smaller quantities.
In women, estrogens play a key role in breast development, thickening of the endometrial lining and regulation of the menstrual cycle.
In men, estrogens are essential for sperm maturation.
The main types of estrogens produced by the body are:
Estrogens as medications are used to relieve symptoms of menopause, treat delayed puberty and induce feminine characteristics in transgender women.
They may also be prescribed for conditions such as amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) or to prevent osteoporosis.
Estrogen medications can be administered via pills, patches, or creams.
Progestogens are female hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle, support the proper development of pregnancy, and stimulate lactation after childbirth.
These hormones are primarily produced in the ovaries, with progesterone being the main naturally occurring progestogen in the body.
When synthetic versions of progestogens are used as medications, they are referred to as progestins.
Progestins are used for contraception (often in combination with estrogens) and hormonal treatment of menopause.
They also have numerous gynecological applications, including treatment of amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), management of endometriosis and therapy for endometrial cancer and breast cancer.
In men, progestins can be used to treat prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and chemical castration (in specific clinical contexts).
Gonadotropins are hormones produced by the pituitary gland.
Their primary function is to regulate the reproductive cycle.
The main gonadotropins are:
As medications, gonadotropins are used in women during assisted reproduction treatments to stimulate the ovarian cycle and increase the chances of achieving pregnancy.
Although some forms may be taken orally, gonadotropins are most commonly administered via injections for better efficacy.
Sex hormone antagonists are medications that reduce the activity or release of specific sex hormones. They are categorized into different groups: