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Sex Steroids

Meaning

Sex steroids are a class of lipid-soluble steroid hormones, primarily androgens, estrogens, and progestogens, that are synthesized primarily by the gonads and adrenal glands and are essential for the development and maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics, reproductive function, and systemic health. These hormones exert pleiotropic effects throughout the body, influencing bone density, cardiovascular function, cognition, and mood. Maintaining their appropriate concentration and balance is central to hormonal health and longevity.