What is DHT?

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an important hormone with many roles in the body. If your DHT levels are too high or too low, it may cause issues.

This article explains what DHT is, the connection between DHT and testosterone, and why you might want to check your DHT levels with a blood test.

We answer:

• What is DHT and what does it do in the body?
• What happens if DHT levels are high?
• What happens if DHT levels are low?
• How can I check my DHT levels?

What is DHT and what does it do in the body?
 

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a powerful hormone and androgen [1]. Men tend to have higher levels of DHT in their bodies as the hormone stimulates development of male characteristics [2].

DHT has many different roles in the body, which vary with age.

This includes:

• Male sexual development (during embryonic development)
• Prostate growth and function (during puberty and adulthood)
• Hair follicle regulation (including facial, body, and pubic hair)

In women, DHT also plays a role in hair follicle regulation, and overall androgen balance.

How is DHT produced in the body?

DHT is produced from testosterone. Around 10% of testosterone in adults is converted into DHT [3].

To convert testosterone to DHT, the body uses an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme is found in the testes, liver, skin, prostate, and hair follicles.

What happens if DHT levels are high?
 

Some health conditions are associated with high levels of DHT.

Symptoms of high DHT include:

• Hair loss
• Acne
• Prostate issues
• Increased body hair

Conditions relating to high DHT levels include:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Prostate cancer
• Androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss)
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

DHT and prostate health

As 5-alpha reductase is found in your prostate, your prostate can produce large amounts of DHT. This is normal, but can lead to prostate growth, known as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). BPH can cause difficulty with peeing and sexual dysfunction [4].

Measuring DHT levels alone can’t diagnose prostate conditions, but it may be used alongside other biomarkers and symptoms relevant to prostate health for an overall view of prostate health.

DHT and PCOS

In women, hormonal imbalances can cause your ovaries to produce more androgens (such as testosterone) than is needed. The excess testosterone is converted to DHT, so you may have raised DHT levels.

You can read about some common symptoms of PCOS in our blog.

DHT levels and hair loss

You may have heard of DHT in relation to hair loss. Although the exact cause of androgenetic alopecia(also known as male or female pattern hair loss) isn’t known, it is thought to be a combination of genetic and hormonal factors.

So how does DHT cause hair loss?

It’s thought that when DHT is formed in the hair follicles, it causes them to continually shrink with every growth cycle. This causes gradually thinning hair which becomes increasingly weaker until the follicles finally become dysfunctional and the hair no longer grows [5–7].

Despite DHT’s association with hair loss, blood levels of DHT can’t diagnose the reason for hair loss. Instead, a panel of nutrient biomarkers can be helpful to point towards potential causes. This typically includes checking your hormones, iron and vitamin D levels, and inflammation markers, such as those in our Hair Loss Blood Test.

What happens if my DHT levels are low?
 

Low levels of DHT usually affect men.

Symptoms of low DHT levels include

• Lower libido
• Reduced body and facial hair
• Decreased muscle mass and increased body fat
• Changes in prostate

Some conditions associated with low DHT levels include:

• 5-alpha reductase deficiency
• Low testosterone

How can I check my DHT levels?
 

DHT is measured using a blood test, usually from a venous blood draw. Testing can be a standalone DHT measurement or as part of a broader hormone panel.

If you’re worried about your DHT levels, our Dihydrotestosterone Blood Test could be a good place to start.

References

1. McEwan IJ, Brinkmann AO. Androgen Physiology: Receptor and Metabolic Disorders. In: Feingold KR, Adler RA, Ahmed SF, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, Chrousos G, et al., editors. Endotext. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000. 
2. Kinter KJ, Amraei R, Anekar AA. Biochemistry, Dihydrotestosterone. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025. 
3. Davidge-Pitts EC, MBBCH, Solorzano CB, M.D. Reproductive Hormones. 24 Jan 2022 [cited 29 Jan 2026].
4. Benign prostate enlargement. In: NHS inform [Internet]. [cited 29 Jan 2026]. 
5. Androgenetic Alopecia (Pattern Hair Loss). In: Alopecia UK [Internet]. 24 Jul 2020 [cited 29 Jan 2026].
6. BAD. Hair loss female pattern (androgenetic alopecia). In: British Association of Dermatologists [Internet]. [cited 29 Jan 2026]. 
7. BAD. Hair loss male pattern (androgenetic alopecia). In: British Association of Dermatologists [Internet]. [cited 29 Jan 2026].