A class of steroid and peptide hormones, primarily including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, as well as the pituitary gonadotropins FSH and LH, that are essential for regulating the development, maintenance, and function of the male and female reproductive systems. These molecular messengers control gamete production, secondary sex characteristics, and the cyclical processes of the menstrual cycle. They are central to fertility and sexual health.
Origin
The term is descriptive, combining the biological function of reproduction with the chemical nature of hormones (chemical messengers). The understanding of this class of compounds developed alongside the fields of endocrinology and reproductive biology, beginning with the isolation of key steroids. They represent the primary chemical language of sexual differentiation and fertility.
Mechanism
Pituitary hormones (FSH and LH) regulate the gonads (ovaries and testes) via a hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis feedback loop. In turn, the gonads produce steroid hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) which act on widespread target tissues, including the brain, bone, and muscle. The precise pulsatile release and ratio of these hormones are crucial for initiating puberty, maintaining fertility, and influencing overall health.
A patient's recourse for a wellness data breach extends beyond legal action, encompassing the proactive restoration of hormonal and metabolic equilibrium.
The pressure from outcomes-based wellness incentives can inadvertently dysregulate the HPA axis, disrupting thyroid, reproductive, and metabolic harmony.
An employee may sue an employer over a coercive wellness program when it infringes on privacy, violates federal laws, and causes demonstrable physiological harm through chronic stress and endocrine disruption.
Micronutrient deficiencies disrupt the hormonal communication and cellular energy required for the ovaries to successfully mature and release an oocyte.
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