What exactly is male hormone?

Male hormones, or androgens, are a class of steroid hormones primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of male characteristics. The most well-known and biologically potent androgen is testosterone, which is predominantly synthesized in the Leydig cells of the testes in males, with smaller amounts produced by the adrenal cortex in both sexes. Testosterone plays a central role in prenatal differentiation of male genitalia, puberty-related changes—including growth of facial and body hair, deepening of the voice, increased muscle mass and bone density—and regulation of spermatogenesis and libido. Other clinically relevant androgens include dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent metabolite of testosterone formed via 5α-reductase activity, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an adrenal precursor hormone with weaker androgenic activity. While androgens are essential for male reproductive health and overall physiological homeostasis, imbalances—such as hypogonadism or hyperandrogenism—can lead to conditions ranging from infertility and osteoporosis to acne, hirsutism, or metabolic dysfunction. Assessment typically involves serum total and free testosterone measurements, often supplemented by luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) levels to determine the underlying etiology.