What does being androgen mean? What does androgens do in body?

We've heard a lot about androgens specially when it comes to PCOD/PCOS or abt hormonal imbalances, but what it basically is and what does it actually do?

So, Androgens are a group of hormones that include testosterone and DHEA

These hormones have different roles in people who were AFAB (assigned female at birth) and those who were AMAB (assigned male at birth). Androgens are often considered "male hormones" and that's not necessarily true!

In people who menstruate and those who were AFAB, androgens have a few key jobs such as:

⚡Fuel sex drive + libido

⚡Supporting cognitive function

⚡Converting to estrogens

But, in cases of androgen 'excess' (meaning, levels of androgens that are "too high" for our bodies), we may experience things like hair loss, acne, abnormal hair growth (hirsutism), and missing or irregular periods.

Our hormones are amazing and wonderful and do so many fantastic, necessary things for our bodies AND we want them to be in balance!