Tests for significantly elevated serum testosterone concentrations

During the follicular phase of the normal menstrual cycle, the average serum testosterone concentration is 0.43 ng/ml, with a high limit of 0.68 ng/ml. If it exceeds 0.7 ng/m1 (equal to 2.44 nmol/L), it is called hypertestosteronemia, or hyperandrogenemia. The ovaries and adrenal cortex can synthesize cholesterol from acetic acid or absorb cholesterol from the blood as a substrate to synthesize steroid hormones, which are secreted into the blood circulation. The main androgens in the blood circulation are dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione (Δ4A), testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Hypertestosteronemia is the result of high levels of these hormones, especially testosterone, in the blood. Testosterone, also known as testosterone, testosterone or testosterone, is secreted by the testes of men or the ovaries of women, and the adrenal glands also secrete a small amount of testosterone, which has the functions of maintaining muscle strength and quality, maintaining bone density and strength, refreshing and enhancing physical performance. The role of testosterone on male reproductive organs and other vital organs is quite complex and its biochemical processes have not been fully elucidated. However, testosterone may affect many body systems and functions, including: hematopoiesis, calcium balance in the body, bone mineralization, lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, and prostate growth. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is present in serum mostly in the form of sulfate conjugates (DHEA-s). Approximately 90% of circulating DHEA-S is derived from the adrenal cortical reticular zone, and serum concentrations are used to evaluate suspected adrenal androgen overproduction. Serum DHEA-S is closely related to 24h urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion and has approximately the same clinical significance. 3. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can be produced directly by the testes, or it can be converted from surrounding tissues by using androgens and estrogens as precursor substances. Testosterone can be converted to DHT by the action of 5α-reductase, and the biological activity of DHT is two to three times higher than that of T. DHT promotes normal development of the external genitalia and prostate, facilitates the maturation of sperm in the paratestis, and facilitates the appearance and maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics. dHT binds to specific proteins in the cell plasma, forming a DHT-receptor complex that moves toward the nucleus, where it produces structural changes after The metabolism of DHT is mainly through the reduction of 3α-ketosteroid dehydrogenase to 3α-androstanediol, which is then combined with glucosinolates to form androstanediol glucosinolates, which are excreted from the body in the urine. Androstenedione The biological activity of androstenedione is between that of the highly active androgen testosterone and that of the weakly androgenic dehydroandrosterone. Androstenedione has the properties of a hormone prohormone. In women, 50% of androstenedione comes from the ovaries and 50% from the adrenal glands. In adult males, androstenedione levels are slightly lower than in females of the same age, while in menopausal women the levels in the blood circulation decrease due to a decrease in both adrenal and ovarian levels.