Androgens are not female sex hormones: where they come from and what it means for veterinary pharmacology

Outline / Skeleton

• Hook: Hormones aren’t one-note players; androgens often get miscast as “the female hormones,” which isn’t accurate.

• What are androgens? Quick definition and a hint of key players (testosterone, DHEA, androstenedione).

• Where do androgens come from?

• Ovaries: yes, they produce androgens, but not the main ones.

• Adrenal cortex: a major source in both sexes.

• Testicles: the primary source in males.

• Peripheral tissues: conversion and activation of androgens happens here.

• Why the distinction matters: androgens aren’t female sex hormones; estrogens and progesterone are. In females, androgens support other processes and interact with estrogen.

• Clinical angle for veterinary pharmacology: how knowing the sources helps with drugs that modulate hormones, signs of imbalance, and treatment implications.

• Quick takeaways and a simple glossary for study recall.

Are androgens truly female sex hormones produced in the ovaries, adrenal cortex, and testicles?

Let me set the scene with a straightforward truth: androgens are a family of hormones that play a big role in both sexes. They’re not the “female hormones” you might hear about in pop biology, even though females do make them. Think of androgens as a versatile toolkit—used by males and females, but not the lead role in female sexual development. The lead roles for females are estrogens and progesterone, predominantly made in the ovaries. And yes, androgens help out in many other ways, shaping things behind the scenes rather than steering the main show.

What exactly are androgens?

Androgens are a group of hormones centered around testosterone. You might also hear names like dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and precursors such as androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). In humans and animals alike, these hormones influence growth, muscle mass, bone strength, and even certain behaviors. In veterinary pharmacology, they’re a familiar topic because drugs can tweak their production or block their effects, which matters for conditions ranging from reproductive biology to certain diseases of aging or organs.

Where do these hormones come from?

Here’s where the biology gets a bit of nuance, but it’s also what helps you predict how drugs will act.

• Ovaries: In females, the ovaries do produce androgens, but they aren’t the primary source of these hormones. The ovary’s main hormonal lineup is estrogen and progesterone. The androgens produced there help support estrogen function and other tissue processes. So, yes, ovaries contribute, but they aren’t the big factory for androgens in the female body.

• Adrenal cortex: This is a powerhouse for androgens in both sexes. The adrenal glands release precursor androgens such as DHEA and androstenedione. In females, these adrenal-derived androgens can be significant, especially when you consider how much metabolism and tissue distribution happen after they’re released.

• Testicles: In males, the testicles are the primary source of testosterone, the main androgen. Leydig cells inside the testes produce it in large quantities, fueling male reproductive function and secondary sex characteristics. This is the big reason why androgen levels are so conspicuously high in males.

• Peripheral tissues: The story doesn’t stop at production. Various tissues can convert and activate androgen precursors. Enzymes like 5-alpha reductase turn testosterone into DHT in target tissues, which can have its own effects. Aromatase can convert androgens to estrogens in some contexts, linking these pathways even further.

Why this distinction matters in veterinary pharmacology

Understanding where androgens come from isn’t just trivia. It informs how drugs work and what signs you might see if hormone balance shifts.

• Drug targets: Some medicines act on androgen receptors or on the enzymes that produce or convert androgens. Knowing the source helps you predict which tissues will respond and what side effects might appear.

• Diagnostic clues: If a patient shows signs of hormonal imbalance—things like haircoat changes, reproductive irregularities, or certain metabolic shifts—the pattern of where hormones are being produced can help sort out causes. For example, an adrenal-driven surge might look different from a primary ovarian issue.

• Species differences: Dogs, cats, horses, and other animals have their own patterns of hormone production. While the same hormones are involved, the relative contributions of the ovaries, adrenals, and testes can vary with species, age, and reproductive status. That matters when you’re evaluating a sick animal or weighing a pharmacologic option.

• Practical signs and management: In clinical settings, recognizing that androgens aren’t exclusive to one sex helps in interpreting signs like aggression, libido, or muscle development, and in choosing appropriate treatments. For example, antiandrogen strategies might be considered for certain prostatic conditions in male dogs, but that’s just one example of how these hormones intersect with therapy.

A simple way to remember it

• Androgens are not exclusive to males, and they’re not the female “default” hormones.

• The ovaries contribute, the adrenal glands contribute a lot, and the testicles are the go-to source for testosterone in males.

• Peripheral tissues can tweak and activate these hormones after they’re released.

A quick clinical mindset test

If you’re faced with a hormonal puzzle in a veterinary patient, ask:

• Where could this hormone be coming from in this species and this sex?

• Is the adrenal gland likely playing a role, or is the gonadal source dominant?

• Could tissue-level conversion be altering the effective hormone landscape?

These questions keep the picture practical and grounded in pharmacology, not just in theory.

A few bite-sized takeaways

• Androgens like testosterone are present in both males and females.

• The ovaries produce some androgens but are the main estrogen/progesterone factory in females.

• The adrenal cortex is a major, balanced contributor to androgens across sexes.

• Testicles are the primary androgen source in males, especially for testosterone.

• Peripheral tissue conversions can modify the hormonal effect, turning some androgens into other hormones or building blocks.

Glossary for quick recall

• Androgen: a hormone that regulates male traits and reproductive activity; includes testosterone and related compounds.

• Estrogen: the primary female sex hormone, chiefly produced in the ovaries.

• Progesterone: a key hormone for pregnancy and the menstrual/estrous cycle, largely from the ovaries.

• Adrenal cortex: the outer layer of the adrenal gland that secretes various hormones, including androgens.

• Leydig cells: cells in the testicles that produce testosterone.

• DHT: dihydrotestosterone, a potent androgen formed from testosterone in tissues.

• DHEA / androstenedione: androgen precursors released by the adrenal glands.

Bringing it back to the bigger picture

In veterinary pharmacology, the story of androgens isn’t about labeling hormones as male or female. It’s about understanding who makes them, where they act, and how drugs can influence their production and action. This clarity helps you interpret clinical signs, predict responses to therapy, and tailor treatments to different species and life stages. It’s a practical map you can use when you’re evaluating a patient, discussing options with a client, or reviewing a case file.

If you’re studying for courses in veterinary pharmacology, the hormone landscape is one of those topics that pay off when you connect the dots—between the ovaries, the adrenals, the testes, and those little tissue-level conversions you might not think about at first glance. And when you keep that big picture in mind, the more specific details—from receptor binding to enzyme activity—start to fit into place with real-world clarity.

In the end, the message is simple: androgens aren’t female hormones by definition, even though females make them. They’re a shared hormone family with important roles across sexes, and their production sites help explain why certain drugs behave the way they do in the body. That blend of solid physiology and practical application is exactly what makes veterinary pharmacology both fascinating and useful in everyday practice.