Hormones in Human Reproduction (OCR Gateway GCSE Biology)

• Hormones play a key role in human reproduction
• During puberty, reproductive hormones cause secondary sex characteristics to develop

Male reproductive hormones

• • The main male reproductive hormone is testosterone which is produced by the testes;
    • Testosterone stimulates...
      • Sperm production
      • Growth of body hair
      • Growth of penis and testes
      • Muscle development
      • Deepening of the voice

Male secondary sexual characteristics

Female reproductive hormones

• The main female reproductive hormone is oestrogen which is produced by the ovaries
  • Oestrogen plays an important role in the menstrual cycle which begins at puberty,
  • It also causes physical changes to occur in the body...
    • Breast development
    • Widening of hips
    • Growth of body hair
  • Other key female reproductive hormones include
    • Progesterone which is responsible for maintaining the lining of the uterus
    • Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) that is responsible for stimulating the maturation of an egg in the ovary
    • Luteinising hormone (LH) which is responsible for ovulation of the egg once matured