Which hormone is primarily responsible for the changes during puberty?

The hormone that plays a primary role in the changes that occur during puberty is testosterone. In males, testosterone is crucial for the development of secondary sexual characteristics, including increased muscle mass, deeper voice, and the growth of facial and body hair. It also influences libido and the maturation of the male reproductive system, including the testes and penis.

While estrogen is also important during puberty, particularly in females, as it contributes to breast development, the menstrual cycle, and the growth of female secondary sexual characteristics, testosterone specifically signals the onset of male puberty and governs many physical transformations associated with it. Therefore, it is central to the male developmental process during this critical life stage.

Insulin primarily regulates glucose metabolism and is not directly involved in the changes seen during puberty. Cortisol, a hormone associated with stress response and metabolism, does not play a direct role in the sexual maturation and physical changes that define puberty.