Gonadal and Placental Hormones

Definition

Gonadal hormones are steroid hormones produced by the gonads (ovaries in females and testes in males) that regulate reproductive functions and secondary sexual characteristics. Placental hormones are produced by the placenta during pregnancy, supporting fetal development and modifying maternal physiology to sustain the pregnancy.

Related terms

Estrogen: A primary female sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sexual characteristics.

Testosterone: The primary male sex hormone responsible for developing male reproductive tissues, increasing muscle and bone mass, and stimulating body hair growth.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): A hormone produced by the placenta after implantation, detected in pregnancy tests