sex hormone

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any of a class of steroid hormones that regulate the growth and function of the reproductive organs or stimulate the development of the secondary sexual characteristics.

sex hormone

noun

1. an animal hormone affecting development and growth of reproductive organs and related parts

sex hormone

1. Any of various steroid hormones that regulate the sexual development of an organism and are needed for reproduction. Testosterone and estrogen are sex hormones.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sex hormone¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Fat in the body helps make the sex hormone oestrogen.

Read more on BBC

Led by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., they said there is an evolving medical debate over the use of puberty blockers and sex hormones for adolescents who suffer from gender dysphoria.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Either way, the court’s conservative majority is unlikely to sweep aside all the red state laws that restrict prescribing sex hormones for gender transition in adolescents.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The next step is to analyse these tissue samples to understand the interaction between genetic sex and sex hormones.

Read more on Science Daily

Joint disorders and cancers are of particular interest because neutering removes male and female sex hormones that play key roles in important body processes such as closure of bone growth plates.

Read more on Science Daily