HORMONES
How does your body know to start puberty? It’s all in the hormones! Hormones are like tiny chemical messengers that get released from organs called glands. They travel to different parts of the body and can help to start different processes. For puberty, one of the most important glands is called the pituitary gland, and it’s located at the base of the brain. The pituitary gland sends out the Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and the luteinizing hormone (LH) to the reproductive organs in your body, which lets them know to start making their own sex hormones! The pituitary gland also makes the human growth hormone, which allows you to grow!
Just like there are differences in the male and female reproductive systems, there are also differences between male and female sex hormones. Let's take a quick look at them!
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Female SEx Hormones
There are 2 major hormones that play a role in the female reproductive system: estrogen and progesterone. Although testosterone is sometimes seen as a “male” hormone, the female body also needs and produces it (just at a smaller amount)!
Progesterone is also mainly produced by the ovaries. It signals the uterus to prepare its lining for the release of an egg from the ovaries -- this process is called ovulation. During ovulation, an egg from the ovary travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. Progesterone is released after ovulation, and it helps support pregnancy and suppress estrogen production after ovulation! Progesterone levels also change throughout different stages of the menstrual cycle!
Testosterone is also produced in the female body in small amounts, and it comes from the adrenal glands and the ovaries. It can help regulate sexual desire, the menstrual cycle, and bone and muscle strength!
So what do these hormones do?
Estrogen is a hormone that is mainly produced by the ovaries (but it also comes in small amounts from the adrenal glands and fat cells), and it has a huge role in many parts of sexual reproduction and development, including puberty, pregnancy, menstruation (periods), and menopause! But that’s not all -- estrogen levels can also have an effect on other systems of the body like the brain, the cardiovascular system, and others.
Fun fact: Hormone levels can be measured with a blood test -- but they aren’t always the same! Amounts of hormones can vary greatly throughout the menstrual cycle and during processes like pregnancy!
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male SEx Hormones
The primary male sex hormones are Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone.
FSH and LH are both produced by the pituitary gland (the same as for the female body!) FSH is necessary for spermatogenesis, or the production of sperm in the testicles. LH stimulates the production of testerone (which is made in the testicles).
Testosterone is considered the primary male sex hormone and it plays many roles in the male reproductive system. It’s mainly produced in the testicles, but a small amount is also produced in the adrenal glands. Testosterone is necessary for spermatogenesis and many of the physical changes that happen during puberty, including the development of the penis, testicles, muscle and bone growth, and increasing facial and body hair. It also affects mood and sexual drive, and some testosterone is even changed into estrogen to improve bone health.
Fun fact: Testosterone levels can change throughout the day! Levels are usually the highest in the morning, then decrease throughout the day.
managing Hormones
Hormones have a lot to do with puberty and the physical changes of growing up! But they can also lead to changes on the inside -- mentally! During puberty you may feel new emotions, mood swings, or sexual desires, and that is normal! If you start feeling overwhelming or negative emotions, it’s best to talk them out with an adult -- they can help you sort out your thoughts. If these emotions persist, consider visiting a doctor, who can help treat possible mental conditions. The amount of hormones your body makes is especially important for the processes that it carries out -- if the levels are too high or too low, it can cause problems! Since blood tests can determine whether the hormone levels in your body are abnormal, your doctor will usually be able to catch unbalanced levels of hormones during your usual visits. However, there are also some symptoms of unbalanced hormones: sudden or unexplained weight gain or loss, muscle or bone weakness, irregular or painful heavy periods, fatigue etc. If you feel that you may have these symptoms check in with your doctor. There are medications and hormonal therapies that can help balance your hormones.