Medical Diagnosis Exams

Testosterone promotes the development of the secondary sex characteristics in men and serves to maintain the function of the prostate and seminal vesicles.

In women, small quantities of testosterone are formed in the ovaries. In physiological concentrations, androgens have no specific effects in women. Increased production of testosterone in women can cause virilization (depending on the increase).

The determination of testosterone in women is helpful in the diagnosis of androgenic syndrome (AGS), polycystic ovaries (Stein‑Leventhal syndrome) and when an ovarian tumour, adrenal tumour, adrenal hyperplasia or ovarian insufficiency is suspected.

Testosterone is determined in men when reduced testosterone production is suspected, e.g. in hypogonadism, estrogen therapy, chromosome aberrations (as in the Klinefelter’s syndrome) and liver cirrhosis.