Seeing that androgens and their interaction with the androgen receptor are the cause of AGA, it seems logical that the androgen receptor gene plays an important part in its development.

Androgens are important in male sexual development around birth and at puberty.

Other drugs with anti androgen effects include flutamide, and spironolactone, which can give some improvement in hirsutism.

They participate in 3 metabolic pathways bile acid biosynthesis, androgen and estrogen metabolism, and prostate cancer.

In a minority of cases a postnatal deficiency of, or reduced sensitivity to, androgens (testosterone and dihydrotestosterone) can be demonstrated.

In animals, several teratogenic drugs or chemicals can cause hypospadias by interfering with androgen action in the embryo.

Failure of adequate prenatal androgen effect is therefore thought to be involved in many cases, making severe hypospadias a very mild form of intersex (under virilization of a genetic male).