“Gonads” is a general term for the sex glands. The term “gonad” can refer to an ovary, a testis (testicle), an ovotestis, or a streak gonad. Mature ovaries usually release eggs until menopause, while mature testes usually produce sperm. In addition, the gonads release hormones that affect the development of the reproductive organs at puberty and affect other physical traits that, after puberty, usually make men and women look different, such as pitch of the voice and body shape and size.