Which one of the following hormones is responsible for the development of female sexual characters?
- (a)Prolactin
- (b)Estrogen
- (c)Oxytocin
- (d)Progesterone
Correct — B, Estrogen. Estrogen is the principal female sex hormone, secreted mainly by the ovaries. It drives the development of the female secondary sexual characters at puberty — breast development, the female pattern of fat distribution, widening of the pelvis and maturation of the reproductive organs — and it helps regulate the menstrual cycle. So estrogen is the hormone responsible for the development of female sexual characters.
- (a)Prolactin — Prolactin, from the anterior pituitary, stimulates milk production after childbirth; it does not develop the female secondary sexual characters.
- (c)Oxytocin — Oxytocin, released by the posterior pituitary, causes contraction of the uterus during childbirth and the ejection of milk during breastfeeding — not the development of sexual characters.
- (d)Progesterone — Progesterone mainly prepares and maintains the uterine lining for pregnancy; the development of the female sexual characters is driven by estrogen.
Estrogen is a steroid hormone produced chiefly by the ovaries, under the control of the pituitary hormones FSH and LH. At puberty it brings about the female secondary sexual characters and, together with progesterone, controls the menstrual cycle. Progesterone's special role is to ready the endometrium for implantation and to sustain early pregnancy, so the two ovarian hormones have complementary jobs.
All four options are hormones connected with the female body, which is the trap. But the one that develops the secondary sexual characters is estrogen; prolactin and oxytocin act around childbirth and lactation, and progesterone maintains pregnancy.
- Estrogen is the main female sex hormone, secreted chiefly by the ovaries.
- It develops the female secondary sexual characters at puberty and helps regulate the menstrual cycle.
- Progesterone prepares and maintains the uterine lining for pregnancy.
- Prolactin stimulates milk production; oxytocin triggers uterine contraction and milk ejection.
Estrogen develops the female sexual characters — so the answer is (b).
- Confusing estrogen with progesterone — estrogen develops the sexual characters, progesterone maintains pregnancy.
- Picking prolactin or oxytocin, which act in lactation and childbirth, not in developing sexual characters.
Asked as which hormone develops the female sexual characters — pick estrogen over the pregnancy and lactation hormones.
Match the hormones in List I with items in List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I — I. Adrenaline, II. Estrogen, III. Insulin, IV. Pheromones; List II — A) Anger, fear, danger, B) Attracting partners through sense of smell, C) Females, D) Glucose.
- (a) I-C, II-A, III-D, IV-B
- (b) I-A, II-C, III-B, IV-D
- (c) I-A, II-C, III-D, IV-B
- (d) I-C, II-A, III-B, IV-D
Answer(c) I-A, II-C, III-D, IV-B
Same fact, tested by matching — estrogen is matched to 'Females' as the female sex hormone, exactly the role this NDA item asks about.
The menstrual cycle in females is controlled by hormones that are secreted by
- (a) Ovary and lacrimal gland
- (b) Ovary and sebaceous gland
- (c) Ovary and pituitary gland
- (d) Prostate and pituitary gland
Answer(c) Ovary and pituitary gland
Same domain — female reproductive hormones. That 2025 (II) NDA item asks which glands (ovary and pituitary) control the menstrual cycle; here estrogen from the ovary develops the female sexual characters.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The male secondary sexual characters develop mainly under the influence of
- (a)Estrogen
- (b)Testosterone
- (c)Insulin
- (d)Thyroxine
Answer(b) Testosterone — the principal male sex hormone, from the testes.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which hormone is chiefly responsible for maintaining pregnancy?
- (a)Estrogen
- (b)Oxytocin
- (c)Progesterone
- (d)Prolactin
Answer(c) Progesterone — it maintains the uterine lining during pregnancy.