Question

What causes excess androgens in females?

Answer 1

Androgens:

1. Androgens are a group of sex hormones.
2. These androgens are responsible for beginning puberty.
3. They play a role in reproductive health and body development.
4. Regardless of male or female, all genders make androgens, but males secrete more of them.
5. The predominant androgen in both males and females is testosterone. Other androgens include androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Role of androgen in both males and females:

1. Increase bone mass in specific skeletal compartments through effects on bone cells.
2. Development of muscles.
3. Puberty (Physical development).
4. Red blood cells (erythrocytes) production.
5. Plays a role in sexual behavior/response.

Excess androgen in females is caused by:

1. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS),
2. HAIR-AN syndrome (a subset of girls with PCOS),
3. Ovarian hyperthecosis (wherein the Thecus cells within the ovaries overproduce androgens),
4. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH),
5. Cushing syndrome (extra cortisol is produced via way of means of the adrenal gland tumors, hyperplastic adrenal glands, or adrenal glands with nodular adrenal hyperplasia.), androgen-secreting tumors.