Androgen levels in pregnancy

Compartment	Change
Maternal
Free testosterone	Modest increase until the third trimester when the level doubles
Total testosterone	Increases progressively throughout pregnancy
Androstenedione	Increases primarily in late pregnancy
Dihydrotestosterone	Increases progressively throughout pregnancy
Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)	Increases markedly by the second trimester and remains elevated through term
Dehydroepiandrosterone	Modest increase in early pregnancy and then remains stable through term
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate	Marked decrease in second trimester and continues to fall until delivery
3-alpha-17-beta-androstanediol glucuronide	Increased in pregnancy
Amniotic fluid
Total testosterone	Two to three times higher in male compared with female fetuses
Androstenedione	Two to three times higher in male compared with female fetuses
Dehydroepiandrosterone	Similar level in male and female fetuses
Fetal
Testosterone	Male fetus: Level rises to a peak of approximately one-half the lower limit of normal in adult men at the end of the first trimester and then gradually declines by approximately 60 to 70% Female fetus: Level is low throughout most of gestation and declines near term
Dehydroepiandrosterone	Similar level in male and female fetuses

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