Sex hormones in humans
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| sex hormones | 性激素 | xìng jī sù |
| menstrual cycle | 月经周期 | yuè jīng zhōu qī |
| oestrogen | 雌激素 | cí jī sù |
| ovulation | 排卵 | pái luǎn |
| progesterone | 孕酮 | yùn tóng |
The hormones of growing up
- At puberty, the body changes dramatically — driven by sex hormones 性激素.
- These same hormones control the monthly menstrual cycle 月经周期.
Testosterone is produced mainly in the:
Testosterone comes from the testes.
Oestrogen causes female puberty changes and is made in the:
The ovaries produce oestrogen.
Testosterone and oestrogen 雌激素
- Testosterone (from the testes) causes male puberty changes (deeper voice, body hair).
- Oestrogen (from the ovaries) causes female puberty changes and controls the menstrual cycle.
Hormones drive the menstrual cycle each month
The menstrual cycle
Hormones control a roughly monthly cycle that prepares the uterus for a possible pregnancy.
The release of an egg during the menstrual cycle is called:
Ovulation is the release of an egg, around day 14.
If the egg is not fertilised, the uterus lining breaks down (a period).
The lining is shed if there is no pregnancy.
The roughly monthly cycle controlled by sex hormones is the ______ cycle.
It lasts about 28 days.
The menstrual cycle
- About every 28 days: the uterus lining thickens, an egg is released (ovulation 排卵), and if no fertilisation occurs the lining breaks down (a period).
- Hormones including oestrogen and progesterone 孕酮 control these stages.
Pregnancy and hormones
- If the egg is fertilised, progesterone keeps the uterus lining in place.
- Hormone levels then stop the cycle during pregnancy.
Worked example. Around day 14 of the cycle, a surge of hormones triggers ovulation — the release of an egg. This is when fertilisation is most likely if sperm are present.
You've got it
- testosterone drives male puberty; oestrogen drives female puberty
- the menstrual cycle (≈28 days): lining thickens → ovulation → period (if no fertilisation)
- oestrogen and progesterone control the cycle and maintain pregnancy