testosterone

Also known as 4-androsten-17beta-ol-3-one, 4-Androsten-3-one-17b-ol, 13-Iso-testosterone, 17a-Hydroxy-(13a)-androst-4-en-3-one, 17b-Hydroxy-(8a)-androst-4-en-3-one, 17b-Hydroxy-8a-androst-4-en-3-one, 17b-Hydroxy-13a-androst-4-en-3-one, 17b-Hydroxy-androst-4-en-3-one

AI overview

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone that plays a key role in developing male reproductive tissues and secondary sexual characteristics like muscle mass, bone density, and body hair. Beyond these physical effects, testosterone influences mood, cognition, social behavior, and sex drive in both men and women, making it important for overall health and well-being.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Chemical data

Formula: C19H28O2
Molecular weight: 288.4 g/mol
IUPAC name: (8R,9S,10R,13S,14S,17S)-17-hydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-1,2,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one
SMILES: C[C@]12CC[C@H]3[C@H]([C@@H]1CC[C@@H]2O)CCC4=CC(=O)CC[C@]34C
InChIKey: MUMGGOZAMZWBJJ-DYKIIFRCSA-N
XLogP: 3.3
Polar surface area: 37.3 Å²
H-bond donors: 1
H-bond acceptors: 2
Formal charge: 0

via PubChem

Research

122,054 papers

Testosterone replacement therapy and cardiovascular disease.ReviewInternational journal of impotence research · 2022Auerbach JM, Khera MDOI: 10.1038/s41443-021-00516-6
A Reappraisal of Testosterone's Binding in Circulation: Physiological and Clinical Implications.ReviewEndocrine reviews · 2017Goldman AL, Bhasin S, Wu FCW et al.DOI: 10.1210/er.2017-00025
Sex differences in anxiety and depression: role of testosterone.ReviewFrontiers in neuroendocrinology · 2014McHenry J, Carrier N, Hull E et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2013.09.001
Testosterone and Male Bone Health: A Puzzle of Interactions.ReviewThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2025Tenuta M, Hasenmajer V, Gianfrilli D et al.DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaf191
Approach to the Patient: Low Testosterone Concentrations in Men With Obesity.ReviewThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2025Muir CA, Wittert GA, Handelsman DJDOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaf137
[Testosterone - indications and abuse].ReviewMMW Fortschritte der Medizin · 2024Köhn FM, Schuppe HCDOI: 10.1007/s15006-024-3839-x
Testosterone Therapy in Older Men: Present and Future Considerations.ReviewDrugs & aging · 2025Yeap BB, Tran C, Douglass CM et al.DOI: 10.1007/s40266-025-01209-1
Metabolic Messengers: testosterone.ReviewNature metabolism · 2026Mauvais-Jarvis F, Bhasin SDOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01431-6

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Mass: 288.209

Show 7 more facts

melting point: 155
Commons category: Testosterone
chemical formula: C₁₉H₂₈O₂
canonical SMILES: CC12CCC3C(C1CCC2O)CCC4=CC(=O)CCC34C
World Health Organisation international non-proprietary name: testosterone
isomeric SMILES: C[C@]12CC[C@H]3[C@@H](CCC4=CC(=O)CC[C@]34C)[C@@H]1CC[C@@H]2O
NCI Thesaurus ID: C862

Sources (14)

via Wikidata · CC0

~46 min read

Article

37 sections

Contents

Biological effects
Effects on physiological development
Before birth
Early infancy
Before puberty
Pubertal
Adult
Health effects
Immune system and inflammation
Medical use
Behavioural correlations
Sexual arousal
Mammalian studies
Males
Females
Romantic relationships
Fatherhood
Motivation
Aggression and criminality {{anchor|Aggression}}{{anchor|Criminality}}
Fairness
Biological activity
Free testosterone
Steroid hormone activity
Neurosteroid activity
Biochemistry
Biosynthesis
Regulation
Distribution
Metabolism
Levels
Measurement
Distribution
History and production
Other species
See also
References
Further reading

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and androgen in males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as testicles and prostate, as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle and bone mass, and the growth of body hair. It is associated with increased aggression, sex drive, dominance, courtship display, and a wide range of behavioral characteristics. In addition, testosterone in both sexes is involved in health and well-being, where it has a significant effect on overall mood, cognition, social and sexual behavior, metabolism and energy output, the cardiovascular system, and in the prevention of osteoporosis. Insufficient levels of testosterone in men may lead to abnormalities including frailty, accumulation of adipose fat tissue within the body, anxiety and depression, sexual performance issues, and bone loss.

Excessive levels of testosterone in men may be associated with hyperandrogenism, higher risk of heart failure, increased mortality in men with prostate cancer, and male pattern baldness.