What Are Hormones Anyways?

Ever wonder, ‘so what actually are hormones anyways?’ You’re not alone! A lot of people don’t know what hormones are or what they do. There are a lot of different hormones in the human body, some are involved in puberty and some are not. Hormones are natural chemical messengers produced in your body. So basically, they tell your body what to do and how to do it. During puberty the body produces larger amounts of hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone – read on to learn more about these hormones!

Estrogen is….

• A hormone that everyone has; the female body has more
• In female bodies: it regulates the menstrual cycle and helps develop the body
• In male bodies: it helps with sperm maturation
• In all bodies: it regulates mood, bone health, and cholesterol

Testosterone is….

• A hormone that everyone has; the male body has more
• In male bodies: it influences the development of genitalia and sperm production
• In female bodies: it supports bone and muscle health
• In all bodies: it deepens the voice (more evident in male bodies), reduces body fat, and increases energy and hair growth

Progesterone is….

• A hormone that everyone has; the female body has more
• In female bodies: its part of the menstrual cycle and thickens the uterine lining
• Progesterone increases during pregnancy
• In male bodies: it helps with hormonal balance and mood

Want to learn more?

Check out the Cleveland Clinic website or submit an anonymous question about hormones for our Teen Health team to answer.