Androstenedione

For males: Androstenedione is a steroid hormone made mainly by the adrenal glands and testes and is a precursor to testosterone and estrogens. It’s usually measured when investigating abnormal androgen levels or suspected adrenal/testicular steroid-production disorders (e.g., CAH).

For females: Androstenedione is made by the adrenal glands and ovaries and is a precursor to testosterone and estrogens. It’s commonly used in the workup of androgen excess (e.g., PCOS, hirsutism, acne) and can help suggest whether the source is ovarian vs adrenal; very high levels may warrant evaluation for CAH or rare tumors.