androgen androgen an androgen (from greek andr-, the stem of the word meaning "man") is any natural or synthetic steroid hormone that regulates the development and maintenance of male characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors. this includes the embryological development of the primary male sex organs, and the development of male secondary sex characteristics at puberty. androgens are synthesized in the testes, the ovaries, and the adrenal glands. this article is about androgens as natural hormones. for androgens as medications, see anabolic steroid and androgen replacement therapy. "androgenic" redirects here. for articles related to adrenaline (epinephrine) or noradrenaline (norepinephrine), see adrenergic. androgendrug classtestosterone, the major androgen.class identifierssynonymsandrogenic hormone; testoidusehypogonadism, transgender men, performance enhancement, bodybuilding, othersatc codeg03bbiological targetandrogen receptor, mars (e.g., gprc6a, others)