Acth Stimulation Test For Androstenedione Blood
What is this test?
ACTH Stimulation Test For Androstenedione is a blood test, that helps to find out the androstenedione levels that are stimulated by ACTH.
What are ACTH and Androstenedione:
ACTH is Adrenocorticotropic hormone produced by the pituitary gland. ACTH stimulates the production of several hormones that are important for regulating glucose, lipid metabolism, maintaining blood pressure and for several other body functions. Conditions that affect the hypothalamus, pituitary glands, adrenal glands can change the ACTH production.
Androstenedione is an androgen which is one of the several male sex hormones. It is present in both men and women as a precursor which can be converted to testosterone in a male body or into estrogen in a female body. It is produced by the adrenal glands in both men and women. The testicles in men and the ovaries in women also produce this hormone.
This hormone can be used as a marker for adrenal gland function, androgen production and for the function of testicles in men and the ovaries in women.
Why this test is performed:
This test is performed to check if an individual is having any abnormal levels of androstenedione in the blood or not. This test may be recommended to you by a physician if you are having any conditions such as hirsutism, abnormal menstrual periods, adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal tumors, PCOS polycystic ovary syndrome, virilization A condition in which women develop male sexual secondary characteristics like body and facial hair growth, deep voice etc etc.
This test is useful in the differential diagnosis of androgen excess in women and hyperandrogenism excessive levels of male sex hormones in the female body.
This test also helps the doctors to plan the treatment according to the medical condition and it is also performed to check the effectiveness of the treatment.
Also known as ACTH Stimulation Test For Androstenedione.
Test Preparation
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your Acth Stimulation Test For Androstenedione Blood. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for Acth Stimulation Test For Androstenedione Blood.
In menstruating women, the physician may give some specific instructions relating to the timing of the sample collection.
Understanding your test results
If your test results are higher than the normal range then it may indicate that there may be a chance for an adrenal tumor, adrenal cancer, and adrenal hyperplasia a genetic condition that limits the production of hormones from adrenal glands etc.
If your test results are lower than the normal range then it may indicate that there may be a chance for adrenal gland dysfunction, ovarian or testicular failure.
If abnormal test results were seen, consult your doctor with the test reports.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| UNISEX | All age groups | ACTH Stimulation increases Androstenidione in normal subjects, but there will not be any increase in patients with Defective Adrenal Steroidogenesis |