Hormones are the chemical messengers of the body. They are manufactured by the endocrine glands. On the drawing you can find the most important ones.
Hormones are secreted directly into the blood stream, where they act like messenger boys. They regulate our growth and development, activate certain organs, play a role in our sexual functioning, regulate the reaction of our body to emergencies and even influence our moods.
The most important male hormone is testosterone. With girls the most important sex hormones are estrogen and progesterone.
The hormones are responsible for many bodily functions, for instance in the development of the genitals, fertility, the triggering of puberty and the enhancement of sexual desire.
Testosterone levels in males are relatively constant, but the amount of estrogen and progesterone in females fluctuates with the menstrual cycle and also changes during pregnancy and menopause.
If the glands don’t function properly the hormone level may drop or become too high. This can lead to all kinds of complaints and sexual problems, like the vagina not getting wet with arousal, an inability to get erections and lack of sexual desire.