The reproductive hormones include estrogen, progesterone, androgens, prolactin and oxytocin:
- Progesterone
- Prolactin
- Oestrogen
- Oxytocin
- Testosterone
The hormone testosterone is responsible for male sex differentiation in human development. Testosterone also initiates the development of secondary sexual characteristics such as physique, hair type, development of the larynx and sebaceous glands. The hormone also regulates the development of sperm (spermatogenesis), the prostate gland (prostate), the seminal vesicles (vesicula seminalis) and the genitals.
Testosterone is also important for the male ability to procreate or copulate and develops the sexual drive. In general, this hormone has anabolic (“uplifting”) effects, as can be seen, for example, in increased muscle growth. Certain types of behaviour in the central nervous system are also triggered by the hormone. One example is aggressiveness.
