Lima Memorial Health System Logo
Approximate ER WAIT TIME
5

Health Library

17-Ketosteroids urine test
Site Map

17-Ketosteroids urine test

17-ketosteroids are substances that form when the body breaks down male steroid sex hormones called androgens and other hormones released by the adrenal glands in males and females, and by the testes in males.

Images

Urine sample

I Would Like to Learn About:

How the Test is Performed

A 24-hour urine sample is needed. You will need to collect your urine over 24 hours. Your health care provider will tell you how to do this. Follow instructions exactly to ensure accurate results.

How to Prepare for the Test

Your provider will ask you to temporarily stop any medicines that may affect the test results. Be sure to tell your provider about all the medicines you take. These include:

  • Antibiotics
  • Aspirin (if you are on long-term aspirin)
  • Birth control pills
  • Diuretics (water pills)
  • Estrogen

Do not stop taking any medicine before talking to your provider.

How the Test will Feel

The test involves normal urination. There is no discomfort.

Why the Test is Performed

Your provider may order this test if you have signs of a disorder associated with abnormal levels of androgens.

Normal Results

Normal values are as follows:

  • Male: 7 to 20 mg per 24 hours
  • Female: 5 to 15 mg per 24 hours

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Increased levels of 17-ketosteroids may be due to:

Decreased levels of 17-ketosteroids may be due to:

  • Adrenal glands not making enough of their hormones (Addison disease)
  • Kidney damage
  • Pituitary gland not making enough of its hormones (hypopituitarism)
  • Removal of the testicles (castration)

Risks

There are no risks with this test.

Related Information

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Cushing syndrome
Ovarian cancer
Testicular cancer
Addison disease
Hypopituitarism

References

Bertholf RL, Cooper M, Winter WE. Adrenal cortex. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CAD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 56.

Bhasin S, Jasuja R, Jayasena CN. Gonadotropin regulation and androgen and estrogen physiology. In: Robertson RP, ed. DeGroot's Endocrinology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 105.

Winter WE, Harris NS. Laboratory evaluation of endocrine hypertension. In: Winter WE, Holmquist B, Sokoll LJ, Bertolf RL, eds. Handbook of Diagnostic Endocrinology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 11.

BACK TO TOP

Review Date: 11/19/2023  

Reviewed By: Jacob Berman, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

ADAM Quality Logo

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- 2024 A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com

A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.