Androstenedione, Serum

Androstenedione is a major precursor of both androgens and estrogens. Both the adrenal glands and the gonads produce it. It appears to be a major normal secretory product of the ovary. Its detection offers a method of determining whether the source of excess androgen is ovarian (e.g., polycystic ovaries, ovarian tumors), in contrast to the use of DHEA-S or DHEA as a measure of excess adrenal androgen production.