Androgens in women are essentially made from DHEA in each peripheral tissue according to intracrinology

•All active androgens in women are made from DHEA in each peripheral tissue independently from the rest of the body.•Each peripheral tissue has about 30 steroidogenic and steroid-inactivating enzymes to control the tissue-specific transformation of DHEA.•The androgens made intracellularly in peripheral tissues are inactivated locally with no significant release of active androgens in the circulation.•Women synthesize about 50% as much androgens as made in men of the same age.•Serum testosterone remains at biologically inactive concentrations below 260pg/ml, thus avoiding systemic exposure.