Male Sex Hormones in Ovaries Essential for Female Fertility, University of Rochester Medical Center Study

ScienceDaily (May 26, 2010) — Male sex hormones, such as testosterone, have well defined roles in male reproduction and prostate cancer. What may surprise many is that they also play an important role in female fertility. A new study finds that the presence and activity of male sex hormones in the ovaries helps regulate female fertility, likely by controlling follicle growth and development and preventing deterioration of follicles that contain growing eggs.