What are male hormones?Androgens are the sex steroids or hormones that produce changes in body shape (muscle gain, body fat distribution) and secondary sex characteristics (body hair, penile growth) typical of men.
Androgens play an important role in reproductive and sexual function in the mature male and are responsible for the development of male characteristics. Testosterone is the most important androgen or male hormone, and circulates in the blood to act on a number of bodily functions. The equivalent sex steroid made by women is oestradiol.  Back to top
What do male hormones do?Sex steroids are the hormones that are responsible for the physical changes that happen when boys turn into men during puberty, particularly the development of their sexual characteristics.
Testosterone is responsible for the general growth that happens in young boys at puberty, including development of the genitals, beard and body hair growth, growth of the prostate gland, male behaviour and bone and muscle growth.
Testosterone also stimulates cells in the testis to make sperm. Back to top
Where are male hormones produced?Testosterone is made in the testes by cells (Leydig cells) which lie between the seminiferous tubules that make the sperm. There are high levels of testosterone around the seminiferous tubules, but testosterone is carried in the blood stream to other parts of the body.
Testosterone acts on a number of other organs including the skin, hair and muscle. Small amounts of testosterone are also made by the adrenal glands which are walnut sized glands that sit on top of the kidneys.
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