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How does the endocrine system influence puberty?

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The endocrine system initiates and controls the dramatic transformation of puberty through a complex feedback loop centered in the brain.1

The process begins when the hypothalamus matures and becomes less sensitive to the low levels of circulating sex hormones that previously inhibited it. Once this inhibition is lifted, the hypothalamus releases substances that trigger the pituitary gland to secrete gonadotropins:

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): Stimulates the growth of the ovaries in females and sperm-producing cells in the testes of males.2
Luteinizing hormone (LH): Promotes the production of testosterone in males and helps regulate the menstrual cycle in females.2

These hormones lead to a significant rise in sex hormones, which drive the development of secondary sex characteristics. In males, testosterone facilitates the adolescent growth spurt and genital development. In females, estrogens cause the growth of the uterus, breasts, and vagina, as well as the widening of the hips. This hormonal surge establishes a new, higher-level feedback circuit that sustains physical maturity.2