Which hormone is secreted by FSH and is crucial for developing secondary sex characteristics?

Estrogen is the hormone that is secreted in response to the stimulation by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and plays a critical role in the development of secondary sex characteristics, particularly in females. FSH is essential for the growth and maturation of ovarian follicles, which produce estrogen. This hormone is responsible for various changes during puberty, including the development of breasts, widening of hips, and the regulation of the menstrual cycle. In addition to these physiological changes, estrogen also contributes to other processes in the body, such as maintaining bone density and influencing mood.

In males, while testosterone, not estrogen, is responsible for secondary sex characteristics such as facial hair and deepening of the voice, it is primarily produced in response to luteinizing hormone. The other options, such as progesterone and luteinizing hormone, pertain to different functions in the reproductive system. Therefore, the role of estrogen in response to FSH highlights its significance in the development of secondary sex characteristics, particularly in females.