pharmacokinetics

Last reviewed 01/2018

The majority of androgens circulate within the blood bound to albumin or sex steroid-binding globulin. A small proportion circulates unbound.

The unbound portion is rapidly metabolized: the half-life of testosterone is only 10-20 minutes.

Free androgen is metabolized to androstenedione and this is metabolized in the liver to glucuronic acid derivatives. The latter are excreted in urine.