Hormones of the sex gland. Hormones produced by the sex glands

The hormones of the sex glands determine secondary sexual characteristics in humans and animals. They are responsible for all changes in the body: they control the processes of puberty, the production of eggs and spermatozoa, pregnancy, the birth of a new organism, breastfeeding and so on.

Internal secretion of the sex glands

The internal secretion of the gonads is caused by the production of sex hormones (both female and male) that are released into the blood. On the functionality they considerably differ from each other though are developed under one biochemical mechanism.

Secretion of the gonads in different sexes is characterized by a different number of produced estrogens and androgens. This explains the difference in their secondary sexual characteristics. For the production of hormones in many ways meet the female and male sex glands. Hormones affect the sexual maturity of adolescents.

Sexual maturity in girls

In girls aged 10-12 years, the pituitary gland begins to produce luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH) hormones. They stimulate the production of estrogen and progesterone in the ovaries - the so-called hormones of the sexual gland in girls. Their production in the body explains the beginning of bodily changes in the girlish organism. Secondary sexual characteristics include:

- Growth of mammary glands;

- hip extension;

- the appearance of hair in the armpits and pubic hair;

- ovarian production of eggs;

The onset of menstruation.

Sexual maturity in boys

Boys aged 12-15 years also develop luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH). Together they produce male hormones of the gonads, mainly testosterone. This hormone is produced in the testicles and causes the development of secondary sexual characteristics of young men. These include:

- Changing voice timbre;

- growth of hair on face and body;

- development of genitals;

- production of spermatozoa;

- development of muscles.

Functions of the gonads

The functions of the sexual gland significantly affect many acute and chronic somatic diseases. They are determined by the integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. To understand their functionality, consider the hormones that are produced by the body of men and women, and the problems that arise from their violation.

What hormones are produced by the sexual organs in women?

Women have sex glands, adrenal cortex and placenta for the production of sex hormones. Hormones of female gonads include:

- androgens;

- estrogens;

- gestagens;

- follicle-stimulating hormone;

Luteinizing hormone.

The influence of hormones on the female body

The balanced composition of these substances has a beneficial effect on the body and normalizes metabolism, the psycho-emotional state of a woman, the proper functioning of the organs of the genital area, strengthens the immune system, affects fertility, and much more. Their ratio directly affects women's sexuality. Sex hormone hormones estrogen and progesterone usually regulate sexuality in women. The period of the menstrual cycle is often associated with increased desire in the fairer sex, which arises from the surge of hormones.

Sex hormones and their functions in the body are of enormous importance for the activity of the whole organism as a whole. Estrogens are important for normal functioning of the child's genitive function. In addition, the right amount of this hormone contributes to the formation of the figure, character, skin and hair condition. Progesterone is also produced in the adrenal glands (a small part of it) and in the ovaries, and during the progressing pregnancy, the yellow body and then the placenta respond to its production. This hormone in medicine is called the hormone of pregnancy, since it is his job to prepare the uterus for implantation of the fetus, stimulation of its growth. If progesterone is below normal, then the woman's risk of miscarriage increases.

The production of LH and FSH (luteonizing and follicle-stimulating hormones) is met by the pituitary gland. FSH stimulates the growth and proper operation of the follicles, and LH affects the work of the ovaries and produces estrogens. Prolactin is a pituitary hormone. Its main task is to stimulate the development and growth of the breasts in girls, as well as to provide lactation in the giving birth to women. If there is an increase in prolactin in the blood, then it suppresses the production of follicle-stimulating hormone, which causes a natural inhibition of the maturation of the follicles and the absence of ovulation in the woman during the breastfeeding period. Also, prolactin is an important element in the normalization of the water-salt balance.

Breaking the hormonal background of women

Hormones produced by the sex glands do not always remain within normal limits. Decrease in the level of estrogen may be a sign of the absence of ovulation in a woman, infertility, and in pregnancy can indicate a pathology. Its increased content is characteristic for the developing tumor of the sex glands or adrenal glands. People prone to fattening also have an increased amount of estrogens.

Reduced levels of progesterone in the blood can cause miscarriage in women, placental abruption, fetal fading. Women who have problems with progesterone often can not become pregnant, they can have tumors and other pathologies of the genital organs, cycle disorders and other health problems, including infertility.

Hormones of the sexual gland can be a kind of indicator of various human diseases. The increase of the luteonizing hormone in the blood indicates a tumor of the pituitary gland, polycystic inclusions in the ovaries, their exhaustion and so on. However, often the raised level of this hormone can be connected with a stressful situation, starvation, debilitating sports.

The increase in follicle-stimulating hormone is observed in patients with impaired pituitary function and ovarian failure. In addition, his level is often increased in people who abuse alcohol, as well as after radiologic examination of the patient. In the period of menopause, its increased amount is the norm. Increased FSH often becomes a cause of uterine bleeding, and a decrease leads to a lack of menstruation, observed with polycystic ovary and obesity.

In pregnancy and breast-feeding, the increased amount of prolactin in the blood is a normal condition, in other cases it is a sign of pathological disorders. High prolactin indicates a violation of the pituitary, thyroid, ovarian and autoimmune diseases.

What hormones are produced by the sex organs in men?

Male and female sex glands produce almost identical groups of hormones with some exceptions. To male hormones include:

- androgens;

- Testosterone;

- follicle-stimulating hormone;

Luteinizing hormone;

- SHGS.

The influence of hormones on the male body

The follicle-stimulating hormone in men is also produced by the pituitary gland. It regulates the functions of the sex glands, increases the production of testosterone, and the maturation of spermatozoa contributes. Luteinizing hormone is also produced by the pituitary gland and acts as a regulator of testosterone production in men by Leydig cells, and also participates in the production of proteins that bind hormones of the sexual gland and increases the permeability of the testes. Testosterone is produced in the adrenal and sex glands, it affects the development of secondary sexual characteristics in boys, participates in the production of spermatozoa, affects the potency and libido. Testosterone is important for the body of a man: it affects the development of the skeleton and musculature, improves the psycho-emotional state, normalizes the activity of the sebaceous glands.

Prolactin, produced by the pituitary gland, participates in the regulation of the water-salt balance and delays the excretion of the liquid by the kidneys, and also stimulates the correct maturation of the spermatozoa. Estradiol refers to female hormones, which are produced by men. The reason for this is an increased amount of subcutaneous fat in humans, in which male hormones testosterone is converted to female estradiol. SHBG - the hormone binding globulin or glycoprotein is involved in the transport of sex hormones and is produced in the liver.

Violation of the hormonal background of men

Male sex hormones and their functions cause the normal vital activity of the body. Violation of the hormonal background in men can trigger many diseases.

A high level of FSH indicates a violation of the function of the sexual gland, kidney failure, brain tumor. One of the causes of high follicle-stimulating hormone is alcoholism. Low level of FSH indicates a decrease in the function of the pituitary or hypothalamus, and also occurs with obesity. In some cases, the imbalance of the hormone can be provoked by completely harmless factors, for example, it rises after passing an X-ray or taking some medications.

Similar disorders cause a change in the level of luteinizing hormone. But in addition to pathological changes in the body, the cause of violations can be a banal stress situation, anorexia nervosa, excess weight or smoking. An increase in the amount of testosterone in the blood is a sign of hyperplasia of the tissues of the adrenal glands, tumors, and its decrease is characteristic for renal failure, excess weight, disfunctions of the gonads.

High or low prolactin in men gives reason for the doctor to suspect the patient of pituitary dysfunction or hypothalamus, kidney failure, cirrhosis, thyroid disorder, autoimmune diseases and other diseases. In addition, the cause of increased levels of hormones can be stress, vitamin deficiency, chest injuries, taking certain medications.

The change in the amount of estradiol can be associated with the intake of medications, smoking, starvation, and with the emergence of various diseases, such as cirrhosis, testicular tumor, prostatitis, hyperprolactinaemia and others. By the way, sometimes in men in the blood can be detected a pregnancy hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin), which indicates the oncology of the testicles.

What you need to know about the sex hormone binding globulin?

The hormone binding globulin is called a glycoprotein. It binds to androgens and estrogens. Other steroid hormones such as progesterone, cortisone and other corticosteroids bind to transcortin. GGSG has the following functions:

- The optimal position of sex hormones, including the healthy balance of testosterone and estradiol, is the main component of any anti-aging strategy.

- The hormone is an important regulator of testosterone and estrogen, responsible for the spread of sex hormones throughout the body.

- Breaking the sex hormone binding globulin is associated with premature aging of both sexes and some fatal diseases, including cardiovascular, type 2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome of sleep apnea and osteoporosis.

Male hormones in women

Maybe someone will surprise, but women need male hormones. In small amounts, they bring benefits to the body, the main thing is that their quantity should be within the established limits. For example, the development of testosterone in women contributes to their sexuality and sexual desire, it has a beneficial effect on the sebaceous glands, development and work of the brain. If testosterone in the blood is contained in a small amount, a woman is marked by increased lethargy, a weakness, one might say, turns into a "gray mouse". The increased content of the hormone, on the contrary, increases aggression, makes the figure more male, and also provokes problems with the skin. Increased testosterone in women can also testify to health problems: disruption of adrenal, ovarian, pituitary or hypothalamus. Reduction in the level of the hormone is caused by kidney failure, weight problems.

The imbalance of androgens also causes disturbances in the functioning of the body. A woman suffers from increased hairiness on the legs, hands, chest, face, acne. Increased content of androgens can lead to female infertility, miscarriages.

How correctly to pass the analysis on hormones?

To check the level of hormones in the body, you should pass on the blood from the vein. To ensure that the results are more accurate, you should not eat before the test is given, at least 8-10 hours must pass from the last meal. For a day should be abandoned smoking, alcohol, sex and excessive physical exertion. Ignoring these rules can lead to significant distortion of results.

Women should alert the health worker who takes the blood for analysis, the day of the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as some of the hormones should be taken only on certain days, otherwise this fact may also affect the quality of the result. If it is necessary to repeat the analysis after the treatment, then it is necessary to take both analyzes in the same laboratory.