The production of testosterone in men and women

Testosterone is a male hormone, however, except men, women also produce testosterone. How is testosterone production in men and women?

Testosterone production in men

Men’s body produce testosterone mainly by the testicles , and the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (HPGA) regulate the secretion.

The hypothalamus secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to stimulate the anterior pituitary gland to secrete gonadotropins (LH and FSH). LH mainly stimulates testicular secretion of testosterone,FSH mainly promotes the development of testicular endosperm cells and the secretion of antidiuretic hormone.

LH acts on the LH receptor of Leydig cell membrane of testis to promote the synthesis and secretion of testosterone. The synthesized testosterone is mainly released into the blood, and a small part is released into the spermatogenic tubules and other tissues.

High levels of testosterone in the blood can stimulate the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to produce negative feedback through the blood barrier, inhibit the secretion of GnRH, LH and FSH, reduce the synthesis and secretion of testosterone, and complete the negative feedback regulation of the endocrine axis.

In addition to the secretion of male testosterone is mainly regulate by HPGA, the adrenal cortex can synthesize a small amount of testosterone, the liver also has the potential to synthesize testosterone, adipose tissue can also convert androstentrione into a very small amount of testosterone, other tissues such as skin, gastrointestinal tract, etc., can synthesize a very small amount of testosterone, but the contribution is very small. Although there are many tissues that have the ability to synthesize testosterone and play a certain compensatory role when testicular function is impair, it is difficult to rely on these tissues alone to meet the testosterone needs of men, so othen require a testosterone replacement therapy in cases of testicular function impairment.

Testosterone production in women

The level of testosterone in women is about 1/10 of that of men, and it is mainly secret by the ovaries and adrenal glands, and its production process is different from that of men.

The ovaries can produce a small amount of testosterone, and ovarian removal surgery can reduce a woman’s testosterone levels by about 25-30%.

The adrenal glands can also synthesize testosterone, accounting for about 25% of a woman’s testosterone. Adrenal disease or surgery can affect testosterone synthesis.

Women’s testes can also produce small amounts of testosterone. Aromatase in adipose tissue also has the function of converting androstenedione to testosterone, but contributes less.

Although women also secrete testosterone, but the level is lower, mainly as a biosynthetic precursor of estrogen, and is involve in the formation and maintenance of female secondary sexual characteristics. The excess testosterone still needs to be cleared by metabolism in the body. Although testosterone levels are lower in women, women are more sensitive to the hormone testosterone.