The way in which a fetus grows and develops is crucial for establishing organ structure and function throughout the lifespan. This developmental programming is influenced by the placenta: a remarkable, transient organ with an extensive cellular network that adapts to the maternal environment to support fetal growth and ensure fetoplacental blood flow and organ function is maintained. Placental function is shaped by diverse genetic and environmental factors, as well as by biological sex. Female placentae are better equipped to adjust their molecular and cellular responses to changing intrauterine conditions. On the other hand, males prioritise growth often at the expense of adaptive capacity, increasing susceptibility to developmental perturbation. This sexual dimorphism is informed by the unique epigenomes of female and male placentae, which enable rapid, dynamic, and sex-specific regulation of gene expression in response to altered signals derived from maternal and fetal systems. Within this highly responsive molecular environment, steroid hormones represent a key determinant of sex-specific placental function, and therefore fetal organ development. Of the hormone-dependent pathways that drive fetoplacental development, androgen-dependent signalling has emerged as an important contributor. Our team’s research focuses on advanced understanding of molecular, structural, and functional responses to pregnancy stressors between the sexes, with a particular focus on steroid-dependent processes, and the implications this has for offspring health during and beyond pregnancy.