where is testosterone produced

Testosterone is produced mainly in the testes in males and in the ovaries and adrenal glands in females. Smaller amounts also come from the adrenal glands in males.

Quick Scoop: Where Is Testosterone Produced?

• In adult males, more than 95% of testosterone is made in the testes , specifically by Leydig cells in the testicular tissue.

• A small amount (under about 5%) is produced in the adrenal glands , which sit on top of the kidneys.

• In females, testosterone is made in ovaries and adrenal glands , and during pregnancy, also by the placenta.

• Once produced, testosterone travels through the bloodstream , much of it bound to a protein called sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG), to reach its target tissues.

Mini “Story” of Testosterone in the Body

Imagine a control center in your brain sending orders down to a factory in your pelvis. The hypothalamus in the brain signals the pituitary gland , which releases hormones that tell the testes (or ovaries) how much testosterone to make. Inside the testes, Leydig cells take cholesterol as a raw material and convert it into testosterone, which is then shipped out through the blood to muscles, bones, and reproductive organs. The adrenal glands act like a small backup plant, making weaker androgens that can be converted to testosterone in other tissues.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.