When it comes to puberty, hormones are the key players calling the shots. In fact, if it weren’t for hormones, puberty would never be initiated in the first place. All the changes that happen to our bodies during puberty can be linked back to hormones. In fact, there are five main hormones responsible and each one has a specific job. Let’s dive in and find out what each one does.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
GnRH is released by the brain to initiate the body’s transition into adulthood. The hormone travels just below the brain to the pituitary gland. Once there, GnRH tells the gland to produce both luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones. Males and females produce both these hormones but react to them in different ways.
Luteinizing & Follicle-stimulating hormones
These two hormones, LH and FSH for short, work in tandem to begin the body’s sexual development. After being released from the pituitary gland, they make their way to either the testes or ovaries. Once there, they signal the production of estrogen and testosterone. LH and FSH also regulate some of the body’s newly developed functions.
Estrogen & Testosterone
In women, LH and FSH target the ovaries and signal the production of the hormone estrogen. Together, all three hormones regulate the menstrual cycle and mature the body. Essentially, they help develop the body so the woman can have children.
In men, LH and FSH target the testes and signal the production of the hormone testosterone. They also initiate the production of sperm. From there, LH, FSH, and testosterone work together to transform the body from childhood into adulthood.
For most people, puberty begins sometime in the early teens. Typically for women, puberty starts a little earlier – around the ages of 7-13. For men, puberty sets in a little later – generally around the ages of 9-15. These age ranges are not set in stone, rather a general timeframe for the start of puberty. Like most things with the body, puberty will come and go at its own rate. Some people develop early in life while others start later than average.