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.

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