The majority of women with elevated androgen levels have PCOS. When Can Androgen Levels be Checked?Īndrogen levels can be checked at any time because they are stable across your menstrual cycle. Women who begin to display masculine physical features (such as excessive body hair, a deepening voice, or an enlarged clitoris) should also have their androgen levels checked. PCOS is characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, elevated androgen levels (and/or excessive hair or acne), and ovaries with many small follicles that have a “string of pearls” appearance. If you are having trouble conceiving and have irregular menstrual cycles, your doctor may check your androgen levels to see if you have a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which i s the most common infertility-related diagnosis that is associated with excess androgen levels, and is a common cause of infertility. The androgens that are not converted into estrogen play a role in increasing sex drive and slowing bone loss.Īndrogen hormones include testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S). It is also involved in thickening the endometrium and regulating the menstrual cycle. Estrogen promotes the development of female secondary sex characteristics. In women, androgens are produced in the ovaries and adrenal cortex and converted into estrogen. In men, androgens support sperm production and the development of male secondary sex characteristics.
Androgens are typically thought of as male hormones, but they’re also important for women’s health.