Are steroid hormones principally secreted by the ovaries, which maintain female characteristics.
A female sex hormone.
Any steroid hormone which stimulates the development of secondary sexual characteristics in females at puberty.
Natural or synthetic substances that induce the changes in the uterus preceding ovulation. They are also responsible for the development of the secondary sex characteristics in women: that is, the physical changes that take place at puberty, such as enlargement of the breasts, appearance of pubic and axillary hair, and the deposition of fat on the thighs and hips. These drugs are used in the management of disturbances of the menopause, and also in the treatment of cancer of the prostate and sometimes cancer of the breast.
A female hormone synthesized both in the ovaries and by cells in the cortex of the adrenal glands on top of the kidneys. Its role is to initiate the body’s preparation for possible fertilization and pregnancy. The hormone is also produced in lesser amounts (by the adrenals) in the male body, but its role is unclear.