BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuOvarian overproduction of androgensOvarian overproduction of androgens is a condition in which the ovaries make too much testosterone. This leads to the development of male characteristics in a woman. Androgens from other parts of the body can also cause male characteristics to develop in women.TestosteroneA testosterone test measures the amount of the male hormone, testosterone, in the blood. Both men and women produce this hormone. The test described...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes In healthy women, the ovaries and adrenal glands produce about 40% to 50% of the body's testosterone. Tumors of the ovaries and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can both cause too much androgen production.Cushing disease is a problem with the pituitary gland that leads to excess amounts of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids may cause masculine body changes in women. Tumors in the adrenal glands can also cause too much production of androgens and can lead to male body characteristics in women. Symptoms High levels of androgens in a female can cause:Acne Changes in female body shape Decrease in breast size Increase in body hair in a male pattern, such as on the face, chin, and abdomen (called hirsutism) Lack of menstrual periods (amenorrhea) Oily skin These changes may also occur:Increase in the size of the clitoris Deepening of the voice Increase in muscle mass Thinning hair and hair loss at the front of the scalp on both sides of the head Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. Any blood and imaging tests ordered will depend on your symptoms, but may include:17-hydroxyprogesterone test ACTH stimulation test (unusual) Cholesterol blood tests CT scan CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article DHEA blood test DHEA blood testDHEA stands for dehydroepiandrosterone. It is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands in both men and women. It can be converted to other hormones...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Glucose test Insulin test Pelvic ultrasound Pelvic ultrasoundA pelvic (transabdominal) ultrasound is an imaging test. It is used to examine organs in the pelvis.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Prolactin test (if periods come less often or not at all) Prolactin testProlactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The prolactin test measures the amount of prolactin in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Testosterone test (both free and total testosterone) TSH test (if there is hair loss) TSH testA TSH test measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland. It prompts the thyroid g...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment depends on the problem that is causing the increased androgen production. Medicines can be given to decrease hair production in women with excess body hair, or to regulate menstrual cycles. In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove an ovarian or adrenal tumor. Outlook (Prognosis) Treatment success depends on the cause of excess androgen production. If the condition is caused by an ovarian tumor, surgery to remove the tumor may correct the problem. Most ovarian tumors are not cancerous (benign) and will not come back after they have been removed.In polycystic ovary syndrome, the following measures can reduce symptoms caused by high androgen levels:Careful monitoring Weight loss Dietary changes Medicines Regular vigorous exercise Possible Complications Infertility and complications during pregnancy may occur.Women with polycystic ovary syndrome may be at increased risk for:Diabetes DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High blood pressure High blood pressureBlood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High cholesterol High cholesterolCholesterol is a fat (also called a lipid) that your body needs to work properly. Too much bad cholesterol in your blood can increase your chance of...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Obesity ObesityObesity means weighing more than what is healthy for a given height. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease. It can lead to other health problems, i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Uterine cancer Prevention Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome can reduce their chances of long-term complications by maintaining a normal weight through healthy diet and regular exercise. Open ReferencesReferencesBulun SE. Physiology and pathology of the female reproductive axis. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 17.Chen ZJ, Legro RS, Ehrmann DA, Wei D. Androgen excess disorders in women. In: Robertson RP, ed. DeGroot's Endocrinology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 124.Huddleston HG, Quinn MM, Gibson M. Polycystic ovary syndrome and hirsutism. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 2-volume set. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 589.Lobo RA. Androgen excess in women. In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 38.AllVideoImagesTogOverproductive ovaries - illustration If the ovaries produce too much androgen (hormones such as testosterone), a woman may develop male characteristics. This ovarian imbalance can be caused by tumors in the ovaries or adrenal glands, or by polycystic ovarian syndrome. Hyperandrogenism may include growth of excess body and facial hair, acne, amenorrhea (loss of menstrual periods), and changes in body shape. Virilization can occur with ovarian and adrenal tumors and includes deepening of the voice, male pattern balding, and increased muscle mass. Overproductive ovariesillustrationFollicle development - illustration Normal egg release from the ovaries, shown in stages of development.Follicle developmentillustrationOverproductive ovaries - illustration If the ovaries produce too much androgen (hormones such as testosterone), a woman may develop male characteristics. This ovarian imbalance can be caused by tumors in the ovaries or adrenal glands, or by polycystic ovarian syndrome. Hyperandrogenism may include growth of excess body and facial hair, acne, amenorrhea (loss of menstrual periods), and changes in body shape. Virilization can occur with ovarian and adrenal tumors and includes deepening of the voice, male pattern balding, and increased muscle mass. Overproductive ovariesillustrationFollicle development - illustration Normal egg release from the ovaries, shown in stages of development.Follicle developmentillustrationRelated Information Testosterone(Medical Test) Review Date: 4/16/2024 Reviewed By: John D. Jacobson, MD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. 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Ovarian overproduction of androgensOvarian overproduction of androgens is a condition in which the ovaries make too much testosterone. This leads to the development of male characteristics in a woman. Androgens from other parts of the body can also cause male characteristics to develop in women.TestosteroneA testosterone test measures the amount of the male hormone, testosterone, in the blood. Both men and women produce this hormone. The test described...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes In healthy women, the ovaries and adrenal glands produce about 40% to 50% of the body's testosterone. Tumors of the ovaries and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can both cause too much androgen production.Cushing disease is a problem with the pituitary gland that leads to excess amounts of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids may cause masculine body changes in women. Tumors in the adrenal glands can also cause too much production of androgens and can lead to male body characteristics in women. Symptoms High levels of androgens in a female can cause:Acne Changes in female body shape Decrease in breast size Increase in body hair in a male pattern, such as on the face, chin, and abdomen (called hirsutism) Lack of menstrual periods (amenorrhea) Oily skin These changes may also occur:Increase in the size of the clitoris Deepening of the voice Increase in muscle mass Thinning hair and hair loss at the front of the scalp on both sides of the head Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. Any blood and imaging tests ordered will depend on your symptoms, but may include:17-hydroxyprogesterone test ACTH stimulation test (unusual) Cholesterol blood tests CT scan CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article DHEA blood test DHEA blood testDHEA stands for dehydroepiandrosterone. It is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands in both men and women. It can be converted to other hormones...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Glucose test Insulin test Pelvic ultrasound Pelvic ultrasoundA pelvic (transabdominal) ultrasound is an imaging test. It is used to examine organs in the pelvis.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Prolactin test (if periods come less often or not at all) Prolactin testProlactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The prolactin test measures the amount of prolactin in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Testosterone test (both free and total testosterone) TSH test (if there is hair loss) TSH testA TSH test measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland. It prompts the thyroid g...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment depends on the problem that is causing the increased androgen production. Medicines can be given to decrease hair production in women with excess body hair, or to regulate menstrual cycles. In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove an ovarian or adrenal tumor. Outlook (Prognosis) Treatment success depends on the cause of excess androgen production. If the condition is caused by an ovarian tumor, surgery to remove the tumor may correct the problem. Most ovarian tumors are not cancerous (benign) and will not come back after they have been removed.In polycystic ovary syndrome, the following measures can reduce symptoms caused by high androgen levels:Careful monitoring Weight loss Dietary changes Medicines Regular vigorous exercise Possible Complications Infertility and complications during pregnancy may occur.Women with polycystic ovary syndrome may be at increased risk for:Diabetes DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High blood pressure High blood pressureBlood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High cholesterol High cholesterolCholesterol is a fat (also called a lipid) that your body needs to work properly. Too much bad cholesterol in your blood can increase your chance of...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Obesity ObesityObesity means weighing more than what is healthy for a given height. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease. It can lead to other health problems, i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Uterine cancer Prevention Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome can reduce their chances of long-term complications by maintaining a normal weight through healthy diet and regular exercise. Open ReferencesReferencesBulun SE. Physiology and pathology of the female reproductive axis. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 17.Chen ZJ, Legro RS, Ehrmann DA, Wei D. Androgen excess disorders in women. In: Robertson RP, ed. DeGroot's Endocrinology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 124.Huddleston HG, Quinn MM, Gibson M. Polycystic ovary syndrome and hirsutism. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 2-volume set. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 589.Lobo RA. Androgen excess in women. In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 38.