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How does the endocrine system control puberty and sexual development?

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human endocrine system The principal glands of the female and male human endocrine systems.

The endocrine system initiates and controls puberty through a complex feedback loop centered in the brain rather than the pituitary gland itself.12

The Hypothalamic Trigger

Puberty begins when the hypothalamus matures and becomes less sensitive to the low levels of circulating sex hormones that inhibit it during childhood. Once this inhibition is lifted, the hypothalamus releases substances that stimulate the pituitary gland to secrete gonadotropins: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).1

Hormonal Action and Development

These gonadotropins travel to the gonads, triggering the production of sex hormones that drive physical maturation:1

In Males: LH stimulates the testes to produce large amounts of testosterone. This hormone drives the growth of male genitalia, the adolescent growth spurt, and the development of secondary sexual characteristics like facial hair and voice deepening.13
In Females: FSH and LH stimulate the ovaries to secrete estrogens. These hormones promote the growth of the uterus, vagina, and breasts, as well as the widening of the hips.14

As sex hormone levels rise, they establish a new feedback circuit at a higher level of activity, supporting ongoing sexual development and fertility.1