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Gonadal Hormone Secretion

Meaning

Gonadal hormone secretion is the physiological process by which the primary reproductive glands—the testes in males and the ovaries in females—synthesize and release steroid hormones, predominantly testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone, into the systemic circulation. This pulsatile and tightly regulated endocrine output is essential for reproductive function, the maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics, and exerting profound metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurocognitive effects throughout the lifespan. The precise timing and quantity of this secretion are modulated by the upstream signaling of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis.