Body and biology
What Is DHT (Dihydrotestosterone)? Plain-English Guide
DHT · say it: dee-aych-TEEAlso written: dihydrotestosterone, 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone, 5α-DHT
Short answer
DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a strong male hormone made from testosterone. It affects the prostate, body hair and scalp hair.
What it means
DHT, short for dihydrotestosterone, is an androgen, a type of hormone linked with male characteristics. The body makes it from testosterone using an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT is more powerful than testosterone at some targets. Before birth it is needed for a male baby's genitals to develop; later in life it supports the prostate and body hair, and it contributes to pattern hair loss on the scalp.
DHT appears on labels for finasteride and dutasteride, which lower DHT to treat an enlarged prostate or male pattern hair loss. Those labels explain that lowering DHT can affect sexual function, lowers PSA test results, and that pregnant people should avoid handling broken or crushed tablets, because lowering DHT in a male baby could affect development.
DHT is related to testosterone but is not the same. A testosterone blood test does not measure DHT, and DHT-lowering medicines do not usually lower testosterone itself.
Where you may see it
- The 'Clinical Pharmacology' section of finasteride and dutasteride labels
- Pregnancy handling warnings on these labels
- Hair loss and prostate clinic letters
📄 How it looks on a report
Finasteride decreases serum and scalp DHT concentrations.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Lowering DHT does not mean lowering your testosterone; they are different hormones.
- DHT is not only 'the hair loss hormone'; it has normal roles in the body.
- A DHT-lowering medicine's pregnancy warning applies to exposure of a pregnant person, not to men taking it.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “DHT”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Finasteride
a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, a medicine that blocks an enzyme involved in making a hormone called DHT
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “DHT” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “dht”
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