In females, the ovaries produce most of the body’s testosterone — roughly half of it — with the adrenal glands making much of the rest and peripheral tissues converting other hormones into small amounts. Inside the ovary, specialized cells called theca cells make testosterone as a stepping stone toward estrogen. The process is driven mainly by luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland. When LH rises, theca cells respond by producing more testosterone.
That is the short answer. The longer answer involves which cells do the work, which hormones control them, and why ovarian testosterone production changes across a woman’s life. It also involves a common misunderstanding: testosterone is not a “male hormone” that females merely carry in traces. It is a normal, essential hormone in female physiology, and the ovaries are a primary source.
What Produces Testosterone In Females Ovaries More?
Theca cells are the specific cells inside the ovary that produce testosterone. They sit in the outer layer of the follicle — the fluid-filled sac that houses a developing egg — and they respond to luteinizing hormone by converting cholesterol into testosterone.
The pathway runs in steps. Cholesterol enters the theca cell and is converted to pregnenolone, then to androstenedione, and then to testosterone. Enzymes drive each step, and the whole chain is switched on by LH. Without LH signaling, testosterone production in the ovary drops sharply.
What makes theca cells produce more testosterone is essentially more LH stimulation, more available cholesterol substrate, and more active enzyme in that pathway. Conditions that raise LH drive, or that alter how the ovary responds to it, tend to increase ovarian testosterone output. That is the core mechanism behind several common hormonal conditions.
The two-cell model, briefly
The ovary works as a partnership. Theca cells make androgens — testosterone and androstenedione. Nearby granulosa cells then take those androgens and convert them into estrogen using an enzyme called aromatase. This is why the ovary can produce both testosterone and estrogen from the same raw material.
If aromatase activity falls, or if theca cells are driven harder than granulosa cells can keep up with, androgens accumulate. That imbalance is central to how ovarian testosterone ends up higher than usual.
How Much Testosterone Do Female Ovaries Actually Make?
The ovaries contribute roughly half of a woman’s circulating testosterone. The adrenal glands contribute a substantial portion of the rest, and peripheral conversion in fat and other tissues adds smaller amounts.
Total testosterone in women is normally low compared with men — typically a small fraction of male levels. Reference ranges vary by laboratory and by the assay used, so a specific number is best read against the range printed on your own lab report rather than a single universal figure.
One clarification worth making: much of the testosterone measured in a woman’s blood does not come directly from the ovary as testosterone. The ovaries and adrenals release androstenedione, a weaker androgen, which is then converted to testosterone in other tissues. So the ovary’s true contribution to androgen supply is broader than the testosterone number alone suggests.
What Hormones Control Ovarian Testosterone Production?
Luteinizing hormone is the main switch. The pituitary gland releases LH in pulses, and those pulses tell theca cells to make more testosterone. Insulin also matters, because high insulin levels can increase LH-driven androgen production and lower the liver’s production of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG).
SHBG is a protein that binds testosterone and keeps it inactive. When SHBG is low, more testosterone circulates in its free, active form — even if total testosterone has not changed much. This is why two women with the same total testosterone can have different amounts of active hormone.
- LH — stimulates theca cells to produce testosterone.
- Insulin — can amplify ovarian androgen production and lower SHBG.
- FSH — works with LH in the follicle cycle and supports granulosa cell aromatase activity.
- SHBG — controls how much testosterone is free and biologically active.
The relationship between insulin and ovarian androgens is well established in the context of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), where insulin resistance is common and contributes to higher androgen levels. This does not mean insulin is the only driver, but it is a meaningful one.
Why Does Ovarian Testosterone Production Change Over a Woman’s Life?
Ovarian testosterone production peaks in the reproductive years and declines with age, particularly after menopause. After menopause, the ovaries stop producing estrogen in large amounts but continue to produce some androgens for a time — the postmenopausal ovary is not hormonally silent.
During the reproductive years, testosterone production fluctuates with the menstrual cycle. It tends to rise around ovulation, when LH surges. That is a direct consequence of the same LH signal that triggers egg release.
In PCOS, the ovary produces more testosterone than usual because LH drive is increased and because insulin resistance amplifies the signal. Theca cells in PCOS also appear to be intrinsically more active. Research published in endocrine and reproductive medicine journals has documented this ovarian overproduction for decades. It is one of the best-characterized examples of the ovary making too much testosterone.
What Raises Ovarian Testosterone Production?
Several factors can increase ovarian testosterone output. PCOS is the most common cause in reproductive-age women. Other causes include certain ovarian tumors and some enzyme deficiencies, though these are far less common.
Insulin resistance, obesity, and chronic stress can all influence the hormonal environment around the ovary, though their effects vary and are not uniform across individuals. Some medications and supplements can also affect androgen levels, which is one reason a clinician should review anything you take that claims to influence hormones.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a genetic condition that raises adrenal androgens more than ovarian ones, but it can affect overall androgen levels. Cushing’s syndrome and certain adrenal or ovarian tumors can also raise testosterone. These are uncommon and require clinical evaluation, not self-diagnosis.
Symptoms that warrant medical attention include acne that appears or worsens in adulthood, unwanted facial or body hair growth, scalp hair thinning, irregular or absent periods, and voice changes. These can have several causes, and a clinician can distinguish among them with blood tests and a physical exam.
How Is High Ovarian Testosterone Evaluated?
Evaluation usually starts with a medical history, a physical exam, and blood tests. A clinician may measure total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, LH, FSH, and other hormones depending on the picture. Imaging may be used if a tumor is suspected.
Timing of testing matters. Testosterone levels vary through the day and across the menstrual cycle, so a single measurement is not always definitive. Some clinicians repeat testing or time it to a specific phase of the cycle. This is common clinical practice rather than a rigidly standardized protocol — approaches vary.
Treatment depends entirely on the cause. For PCOS, management often focuses on insulin resistance, weight, and menstrual regularity, and may include medications that lower androgen levels or block their effects. For other causes, treatment is directed at the underlying condition. No single approach fits everyone, and what works depends on the diagnosis.
Does the Adrenal Gland Matter Too?
The adrenal glands are the other major source of androgens in women. They produce androstenedione and DHEA, which can be converted to testosterone in other tissues. In some conditions, adrenal androgen production rises while ovarian production stays normal.
This is why a clinician evaluating high testosterone looks at both sources. An ovarian problem and an adrenal problem can produce similar symptoms but require different evaluation and management. The distinction matters for treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cells in the ovaries produce testosterone?
Theca cells produce testosterone in response to luteinizing hormone. Nearby granulosa cells then convert much of that testosterone into estrogen.
Do the ovaries produce more testosterone than the adrenal glands?
The ovaries contribute roughly half of a woman’s circulating testosterone, with the adrenal glands making much of the rest. The exact split varies between individuals and across life stages.
What causes high testosterone in females?
Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common cause in reproductive-age women. Less common causes include adrenal or ovarian tumors and certain enzyme deficiencies, which require clinical evaluation.
Can ovarian testosterone production be lowered?
Yes, but only by addressing the underlying cause under medical supervision. Treatment options vary widely depending on the diagnosis and are not appropriate to self-manage.
