ANDROSTENEDIONE

Androstenedione is a specialized blood test used to measure the concentration of androstenedione, a steroid hormone produced primarily by the adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes. Androstenedione acts as an important precursor that the body converts into testosterone and estrogens.

The test helps evaluate excessive or deficient androgen production and may support the investigation of hirsutism, acne, irregular menstrual periods, infertility, virilization, premature puberty, delayed puberty, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and selected adrenal or gonadal disorders. Results are usually interpreted with other hormones such as testosterone, DHEA-S, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, LH, FSH, and cortisol.

Benefits of the Test

• Measures androstenedione concentration in the blood.
• Supports evaluation of androgen excess in women.
• Helps investigate hirsutism, acne, and menstrual irregularities.
• Assists in evaluating congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
• Supports assessment of premature adrenarche or early puberty.
• Helps distinguish possible adrenal and gonadal hormone abnormalities.
• May assist in monitoring selected endocrine treatments.
• Provides useful information as part of an androgen profile.

Why Doctors Recommend This Test

Doctors may recommend this test for women with excessive facial or body hair, persistent acne, irregular or absent periods, infertility, scalp hair thinning, deepening of the voice, or other signs of androgen excess. It may also be advised for children with early pubic hair or rapid sexual development and for patients with suspected congenital adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal disease, ovarian disease, testicular disease, or hormone-producing tumours.

Preparation Before Test

• A serum blood sample is required for testing.
• Fasting is generally not required unless requested for additional tests.
• Morning collection may be preferred depending on the clinical indication.
• Women should provide menstrual-cycle and pregnancy information when relevant.
• Inform the doctor about contraceptive pills, steroids, hormone therapy, fertility medicines, and supplements.
• Do not stop prescribed medicines or hormones without medical advice.
• Children undergoing puberty assessment should have their age and developmental history recorded.
• For monitoring, collect the sample at the time recommended by the treating specialist.
• Follow all sample-collection instructions provided by the laboratory.

Normal Reporting Time

Most Androstenedione reports at Focus Diagnostics are initiated within 2–3 hours of sample receipt for processing and specialized hormone-testing workflow preparation. Final androstenedione analysis, validation, interpretation, quality review, and reporting are generally completed within 2–5 working days, depending on laboratory schedules and quality-assurance procedures.

Who Should Take This Test?

This test may be recommended for:

• Women with hirsutism or persistent acne.
• Women with irregular periods or infertility.
• Patients with suspected polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Individuals with signs of virilization or androgen excess.
• Children with premature pubic hair or early puberty.
• Patients with suspected congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
• Individuals with possible adrenal, ovarian, or testicular disorders.
• Patients undergoing monitoring of androgen-related treatment.

Detailed Information

Androstenedione is a steroid hormone produced through biochemical pathways involving cholesterol. It is synthesized mainly in the adrenal cortex and gonads and serves as a precursor for testosterone and estrogen production.

Although androstenedione has weaker direct androgen activity than testosterone, increased production can contribute to clinical signs of androgen excess. Its measurement provides information about steroid production from both adrenal and gonadal sources.

In women, elevated androstenedione may be associated with excessive facial or body hair, persistent acne, irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, scalp hair thinning, or virilization. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common cause of androgen excess, but other adrenal and ovarian conditions may produce similar symptoms.

The test may form part of the hormonal evaluation for PCOS. However, androstenedione alone cannot confirm PCOS. Diagnosis generally considers menstrual and ovulatory history, clinical or biochemical androgen excess, pelvic ultrasound findings, and exclusion of other endocrine disorders.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia includes inherited disorders affecting enzymes required for normal adrenal steroid production. Depending on the enzyme involved, adrenal androgen precursors such as androstenedione may accumulate. Measurement may support diagnosis and help monitor treatment in selected patients.

In children, increased androstenedione may be found with premature adrenarche, precocious puberty, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or rarely an androgen-producing tumour. Results must be interpreted using age, sex, and pubertal-stage-specific reference intervals.

Androstenedione may also be measured in patients with rapid or severe virilization to help investigate a possible adrenal or ovarian source. Markedly abnormal results require evaluation with additional hormone studies and appropriate imaging.

Low androstenedione levels may occur with reduced adrenal or gonadal steroid production, but an isolated low result is usually not sufficient for diagnosis. Other adrenal, pituitary, ovarian, or testicular hormones may need to be assessed.

Hormone concentrations may vary with age, sex, puberty, menstrual-cycle stage, pregnancy, time of day, medicines, and laboratory method. Reference intervals must therefore be selected appropriately for the patient.

Oral contraceptives, glucocorticoids, androgen therapy, anti-androgen medicines, and fertility treatments may influence results. A complete medication and supplement history should be provided to the doctor.

Depending on the clinical findings, additional tests may include total and free testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, cortisol, ACTH, LH, FSH, estradiol, prolactin, thyroid-function tests, or genetic studies.

Imaging investigations such as pelvic ultrasound, adrenal CT or MRI, or testicular ultrasound may be recommended when biochemical findings suggest an ovarian, adrenal, or testicular abnormality.

Results should always be interpreted by an endocrinologist, gynecologist, pediatrician, fertility specialist, or other qualified healthcare professional alongside symptoms, examination findings, menstrual or pubertal history, and other laboratory results.

At Focus Diagnostics, Androstenedione testing is performed using advanced steroid hormone analytical technology, validated methodologies, and stringent quality-assurance standards to provide accurate, reliable, and clinically meaningful results.