What hormone is primarily responsible for the development of female secondary sexual characteristics?

Estrogen is the primary hormone responsible for the development of female secondary sexual characteristics. This hormone is crucial in promoting the growth and development of features such as breast development, widening of the hips, and the distribution of body fat typical of females. Estrogen also plays a significant role in the menstrual cycle and reproductive health.

During puberty, increased levels of estrogen lead to physical changes that define female sexual maturation. It supports not only the developmental processes but also the maintenance of specific characteristics throughout a woman's life, particularly during childbearing years.

Other hormones, although they play important roles in the endocrine system, do not primarily govern the development of female secondary sexual characteristics. For example, progesterone mainly prepares the uterine lining for potential pregnancy and regulates the menstrual cycle but is not responsible for the physical attributes associated with sexual development. Testosterone, while present in females, is more associated with male secondary sexual characteristics, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) primarily stimulates ovarian follicle growth and maturation rather than the direct development of sexual traits.