Who this is for: Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) students who want sexual hormones — testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH — to become reliable marks instead of a list of names with no linked functions.
What query it owns: how to understand and revise sexual hormones in humans in Cambridge IGCSE Biology.
Why this is safe: this page owns the sexual hormones revision-guide angle, while Tutopiya’s Sexual Hormones in Humans subtopic page owns the learning resource and the free Sexual Hormones in Humans quiz owns the practice.

Sexual hormones control puberty, gamete production and the menstrual cycle in humans. Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) tests whether you can state where each hormone is produced, name its effects, and explain how FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone interact during the menstrual cycle. This guide covers the syllabus definitions, the hormone function tables examiners expect, and the question types that appear every year.

Key takeaways

• Testosterone (testes): develops male secondary sexual characteristics; stimulates sperm production.
• Oestrogen (ovaries): develops female secondary sexual characteristics; repairs and thickens uterus lining; inhibits FSH.
• Progesterone (corpus luteum / placenta): maintains uterus lining; inhibits FSH and LH.
• FSH (pituitary): stimulates egg maturation and oestrogen production.
• LH (pituitary): triggers ovulation; stimulates corpus luteum to produce progesterone.

What are sexual hormones in Cambridge IGCSE Biology?

Sexual hormones are chemical messengers that coordinate reproductive development and function. At puberty, testosterone and oestrogen trigger secondary sexual characteristics. During the menstrual cycle, FSH and LH from the pituitary gland regulate egg development and ovulation, while oestrogen and progesterone from the ovaries control the uterus lining. Hormones work together through negative feedback to maintain the cycle.

You can read the full explanation, cycle diagrams and notes on Tutopiya’s Sexual Hormones in Humans subtopic page before you attempt questions.

The core ideas you must master

Idea	What it means	How the exam uses it
Secondary sexual characteristics	Features appearing at puberty	”State two effects of testosterone.”
FSH	Stimulates egg development	”State the function of FSH.”
LH	Triggers ovulation	”State when LH peaks.”
Oestrogen	Thickens uterus lining	”Describe the role of oestrogen.”
Progesterone	Maintains uterus lining	”Explain why progesterone falls if no fertilisation.”

Sexual hormones — source and function

Hormone	Produced by	Main functions
Testosterone	Testes	Male secondary sexual characteristics; sperm production
Oestrogen	Ovaries	Female secondary sexual characteristics; repairs/thickens uterus lining; inhibits FSH
Progesterone	Corpus luteum (ovary)	Maintains uterus lining; inhibits FSH and LH
FSH	Pituitary gland	Stimulates egg maturation in ovary; stimulates oestrogen release
LH	Pituitary gland	Triggers ovulation; stimulates progesterone production

Secondary sexual characteristics

Male (testosterone)	Female (oestrogen)
Facial and body hair	Breast development
Deepening of voice	Widening of hips
Increased muscle mass	Body hair
Sperm production begins	Menstrual cycle begins

Sexual hormones in past-paper wording: command words that matter

Command word / phrase	What the question wants	Typical sexual hormones stem
State	Short factual answer	”State the function of LH.”
Describe	What happens, step by step	”Describe the role of oestrogen in the menstrual cycle.”
Explain	Cause and effect	”Explain why progesterone levels fall if fertilisation does not occur.”
Name	Identify hormone or gland	”Name the gland that produces FSH.”
Compare	Similarities and differences	”Compare the roles of oestrogen and progesterone.”

Worked exam-style stems (how to answer the wording)

1. “State the function of FSH in the menstrual cycle.” Stimulates an egg to mature in the ovary and stimulates the ovary to release oestrogen. Mark-scheme reward: egg maturation + oestrogen.
2. “Explain the role of LH.” A surge of LH triggers ovulation (release of the egg from the ovary) and stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone. Reward: ovulation + progesterone link.
3. “State two secondary sexual characteristics caused by testosterone.” Any two from: facial/body hair, deeper voice, increased muscle development. Reward: male-specific features, not sperm production alone.

When you can recognise the wording instantly, work the full set on Tutopiya’s Sexual Hormones in Humans quiz and drill the Menstrual Cycle flashcards for day-by-day hormone changes.

How sexual hormones connect to the rest of the syllabus

Sexual hormones link to Sexual Reproduction in Humans, Menstrual Cycle flashcards and Hormones in Humans (general hormone action). The Cambridge IGCSE Biology resource hub links every Reproduction subtopic.

Common mistakes students make

• Confusing FSH (egg development) with LH (ovulation trigger).
• Saying oestrogen and progesterone are produced by the pituitary (they come from the ovaries).
• Describing testosterone as only affecting secondary characteristics without mentioning sperm production.
• Stating LH maintains the uterus lining (that is progesterone).
• Mixing up negative feedback direction — high oestrogen inhibits FSH.

When you need more support

If sexual hormone questions keep costing marks — especially menstrual cycle explain stems — work through the Sexual Hormones in Humans quiz and Menstrual Cycle flashcard quiz, then get focused help from a Cambridge IGCSE Biology tutor.

Frequently asked questions

Are sexual hormones hard in Cambridge IGCSE Biology? Individual hormone functions are clear, but marks are lost mixing up FSH/LH roles and oestrogen/progesterone effects on the uterus lining.

Where is FSH produced? In the pituitary gland — not the ovary or testis.

What triggers ovulation? A surge in LH around day 14 of the menstrual cycle.

How do I revise sexual hormones effectively? Build the hormone function table from memory, trace the menstrual cycle with hormone levels, then take the Sexual Hormones in Humans quiz.

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