Biosynthesis
As the Physiology department at Charles University explains, testosterone--like all steroid hormones--is synthesized via a series of chemical reactions that start with cholesterol. There are two compounds that the body can make out of cholesterol that can be used to produce testosterone. One of them is progenolone, and the other is progesterone, an important hormone in the female menstrual cycle. Both progesterone and progenolone can be converted to form androstenedione, which is a precursor to testosterone. The body uses chemical reactions, which are controlled by proteins called enzymes, to turn andostenedione into testosterone, and vice versa.
Tissue Production
Testosterone can be produced by different tissues throughout the body. Testosterone is an androgen, which means it is responsible for the development of secondary sex characteristics, such as body hair, as well as the sex drive. In men, testosterone is the primary androgen, and it is mainly produced by special cells called the Leydig cells, which are located in the testes. As SeekWellness.com explains, women also need small amounts of testosterone. The primary source of female testosterone production is the ovaries, although the adrenal glands of both males and females are able to produce low amounts of testosterone.
Testosterone Control
The production of testosterone is regulated by a portion of the brain called the hypothalamus. In women, testosterone production is low and constant, so there is not much regulation of teststerone production. Men, however, sometimes require surges in testosterone production. When additional testosterone is needed, the hypothalamus secrets a hormone called gonadotropin, which activates the pituitary gland. In response to this hormone, the pituitary releases luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. Both of these hormones stimulate the Leydig cells, resulting in additional testosterone formation.
