Sex Steroid Hormone

**Semantic type:** Chemical Viewed Functionally

**Definition:** A class of steroid hormones that specifically binds to and activates androgen, progesterone or estrogen receptors. Sex steroids activate various signaling pathways involved in the development and maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics, reproductive processes, blood salt balance, response to stress, neuronal function and a number of metabolic processes.

**Synonyms:** - Sex Hormone - Sex Steroid