Sex hormones are responsible for driving sexual development (puberty). The main reproductive hormones are oestrogen and testosterone.
Oestrogen causes eggs to mature in ovaries once a girl hits puberty. These are then released at regular intervals during the menstrual cycle. Testosterone stimulates sperm production in males.
Other hormones involved in the menstrual cycle include:
When these reproductive hormones do not work as they should, fertility problems can occur. Our understanding of these hormones and their functions means we can assist fertility, for example through in vitro fertilisation, also known as IVF.
This article describes hormones that play an important role in pregnancy and labour.
This article describes hormones that play an important role in pregnancy and labour.