Hormones function as chemical messengers released into the bloodstream to affect an organ in another part of the body. Although hormones reach every cell in the body, only those with compatible receptors can respond. Estrogens are the hormones that control female sexual development, whereas androgens control male sexual characteristics.
What Are Androgens?
Androgens are a class of hormones that influence male characteristics and reproductive activity. The primary androgens found in both males and females are testosterone and androstenedione.
Androgens are sometimes referred to as “male hormones,” but don’t be misled by the name. Androgens are produced by both men’s and women’s bodies, albeit in different amounts. In fact, androgens have over 200 actions in women and are present in higher concentrations than estrogens.
The two most important androgens are testosterone and androstenedione. They are, of course, much more prevalent in men and play an important role in male characteristics and reproductive activity. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and DHEA sulfate are some other androgens (DHEA-S).
One of the primary functions of androgens in a woman’s body is to be converted into the female hormones known as estrogens.
What Are Estrogens?
Estrogens (or Oestrogen) are steroid hormones that play a key role in the development of sexual characteristics in females. The ovaries produce the majority of estrogen. During a female’s gestation, the placenta can also secrete a trace amount of estrogen. Estrogen, like androgens, is present in males, but in much lower amounts.
Females secrete three different types of estrogen. Estradiol is the most common estrogen type during the reproductive phase, followed by estrone during menopause and estriol during pregnancy.
Estrogen is a hormone that has several functions in the body. It aids in the development and maintenance of both the reproductive system and female characteristics in females. Estrogen is produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands, and fat tissues. This hormone is present in both male and female bodies, but females produce more of it.
The Role of Androgens and Estrogens
The two main steroid sex hormones found in males and females are androgen and estrogen. Androgens are prevalent in males and come in a variety of forms, the most important of which is testosterone. In males, it is in charge of reproductive functions as well as the development of secondary sexual characteristics. In contrast, the primary female sex hormone is estrogen. Estrogen, like testosterone, directs female reproductive functions and is responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics. In both men and women, a lack or excess of these hormones can cause a variety of problems. As a result, maintaining the proper androgen to estrogen ratio in both males and females is critical.
What are the Similarities Between Androgen and Estrogen?
● Androgen and estrogen are both steroid hormones.
● Both males and females have Androgen and Estrogen hormones.
● A lack of both androgen and estrogen hormones can result in altered sexual characteristics and functions in both men and women.
● Androgen and Estrogen hormones both play roles in reproduction and the development of secondary sexual characteristics.
● The signal transduction pathways of androgen and estrogen hormones both involve binding to the hormone response element of DNA via the formation of the hormone-receptor complex.
What is the Difference Between Androgen and Estrogen?
Androgen is a male sex hormone that promotes the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics, whereas estrogen is a steroid hormone that promotes the development and maintenance of female body characteristics.
Occurrence
While androgens are mostly found in men, estrogen is mostly found in women.
Main Sex Hormone
The most common androgen is testosterone, while the most common estrogen is estradiol.
Other Types
Furthermore, other androgens include dihydrotestosterone and androstenedione, while estrogens include estrone and estriol.
Production
Androgens are produced in the testis by males, while estrogen is produced in the ovaries by females.
Function
Androgens are in charge of the male reproductive system’s development and maintenance, as well as the development of secondary male sex characteristics. Estrogens, on the other hand, are in charge of the development and maintenance of the female reproductive system, as well as the development of secondary female sex characteristics.
