Sex Hormone
Sex Hormone, any of several chemical substances that affect the development and functioning of the reproductive system in vertebrates, or animals with a backbone. The sex hormones are divided into three major groups: gonadotropins, gonadal hormones, and lactogens. Gonadotropins stimulate the gonads, which are sperm- or egg-producing organs. The male gonads are the testes, which produce sperm, and the female gonads are the ovaries, which produce eggs. Gonadotropins are secreted by the pituitary gland, which is located in the center of the brain and is controlled by an area of the brain known as the hypothalamus. Gonadotropins, such as the leutinizing hormone (LH) and the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in females and the interstitial cell-stimulating hormone (ICSH) in males, control the development and functions of the ovaries and testes, including menstruation and sperm production. Gonadal hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are secreted primarily by the teste...