Androstenedione is an androgen made by your adrenal glands and testicles, and it serves mainly as a precursor: your body converts it into testosterone and into oestrone, a form of oestrogen. On a broad hormone test you see androstenedione next to testosterone and DHEA-S. As a lone value it says little, but in combination it helps your doctor find the source of an androgen problem.
Most men only meet androstenedione when their testosterone or DHEA-S stands out. Then the question is: where does it come from?
What is androstenedione?
Androstenedione is a steroid hormone that sits directly before testosterone in the production line. Your adrenal glands and testicles make it, and enzymes then convert it into testosterone or into oestrone (Heijboer, 2023).
Because it comes from both the adrenal gland and the testicle, androstenedione is a useful link for working out where an excess of androgens arises.
What is a normal androstenedione value?
As with other hormones there is no single normal number: the reference range varies by lab, by method and by age. In adult men androstenedione usually sits in a narrow band, and labs give the matching limits with your result.
| Androstenedione in men | What it may sometimes suggest | What your doctor often checks alongside |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Precursor production within the expected range | Usually no further action |
| Raised | An adrenal or testicular source of androgens, sometimes a congenital adrenal condition | 17-OH-progesterone, DHEA-S, testosterone |
| Low | Rarely clinically relevant, sometimes reduced adrenal function | Cortisol, DHEA-S |
What can a raised androstenedione mean?
A raised androstenedione points to greater production of androgens, from your adrenals or your testicles. In men a congenital adrenal condition (a mild form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency) can be a cause, and more rarely an androgen-producing growth (Medenica et al., 2024).
That is why androstenedione rarely stands alone. Your doctor reads it together with 17-OH-progesterone and DHEA-S to locate the source.
What can a low androstenedione mean?
A low androstenedione is rarely a problem in itself in men. Because the value tracks with the other adrenal androgens such as DHEA-S, which falls from about age 25 (Orentreich et al., 1984), a lower value often simply fits with getting older. Sometimes a truly low value goes with reduced adrenal function.
Androstenedione and supplements: what to know
Androstenedione used to be sold as a prohormone to raise testosterone or muscle mass. In sport it is on the doping list, and its use is controversial and not without risk. As a blood value it is something quite different: on your test, androstenedione is simply a step in your own hormone production, not something you take.
So do not experiment with it yourself. What an abnormal value means depends on your whole picture, and that is something to discuss with your GP.
The reason androstenedione is not on every panel is that it is mainly useful for a specific question. With a normal testosterone and no symptoms, the lone value adds little. With signs of too many androgens, such as adult acne or an abnormal DHEA-S, it becomes valuable. That way you avoid over-reading a value that is harmless on its own.
Picture a 29-year-old athlete with acne and a slightly raised androstenedione, while his testosterone is normal. His doctor then looks at 17-OH-progesterone and DHEA-S to decide whether the adrenal gland is the source. A single raised number is rarely enough to conclude anything.
Why measure androstenedione together with other hormones?
Androstenedione is a link, not an end point. It only gains meaning next to testosterone, DHEA-S and 17-OH-progesterone. That combination tells you whether an androgen problem comes from your adrenal gland or your testicle, and that difference decides which next steps make sense.
One thing I notice: men often google a single abnormal value. With androstenedione that is almost never enough to conclude anything.
How do you get androstenedione measured?
Androstenedione is usually drawn in the morning, together with your other androgens. The androstenedione value sits on broader hormone panels, such as the Hormones Man test. Reliable Dutch-language patient information on hormone complaints is maintained by GPs at Thuisarts.nl.
See androstenedione as context for your testosterone. You will find more overview in our piece on male sex hormones and in the pillar on male hormonal health. If your value is abnormal, discuss it with your GP.
Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
Sources
- Heijboer AC. Androgen excess and deficiency: analytical and diagnostic approaches. Clin Chem. 2023. PMID 37794651.
- Medenica S, et al. Prevalence and clinical management of adrenal tumour-related hyperandrogenism: a narrative review. Life (Basel). 2024. PMID 38541685.
- Orentreich N, et al. Age changes and sex differences in serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations throughout adulthood. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1984. PMID 6235241.
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