adrenal androgen

Adrenal androgens are weak male-type sex steroids made by the adrenal cortex, separate from the much stronger androgens made by the testes or ovaries. On their own they are fairly mild, but they serve as raw material: the body can convert them in peripheral tissues into more potent androgens like testosterone or into estrogens. Think of them as starter ingredients rather than finished hormones.

The main adrenal androgens are DHEA, its sulfated form DHEA-S, and androstenedione, all produced in the innermost cortical zone, the zona reticularis. They are made under the influence of ACTH. In children, the rising output of these androgens around ages 6 to 8 drives adrenarche, the early appearance of body hair and adult body odor that precedes true puberty.

Their role differs by sex and life stage. In adult men, adrenal androgens contribute little compared with testicular testosterone. In women, however, the adrenal supply is a meaningful fraction of total androgen, so adrenal overproduction — as in some forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia or androgen-secreting tumors — can cause excess hair growth, acne, and other signs of androgen excess.