Hi Sally,

As I wrote above, the male hormone produced by the adrenal gland does nothing by itself and to have any effect must convert to either testosterone or estrogen. For example, in bodybuilders who take steroids they have such a high level of androgens in their body but they have converted enough of their androgens into estrogen that they form breat tissue. Think of it as the androgens pouring out of a drain with two possible reservoirs. The primary reservoir, testosterone is where most of the androgens go but if there is too much flow in that direction there will also be estrogens, and there may also be spillage into the estrogen direction.  

The reason I asked my question was that as a strictly heterosexual male I have never felt like a very masculine guy. I don’t get angry, am sensitive, never been in a fight, I listen to Madonna,etc quite a bit, I’ve often had longish hair and many times I’ve been mistaken for a woman. Last summer I worked at a long-term care facility for seniors and painted women’s nails every week.

I am more inclined to think that the above is more the result of me having below average testosterone than due to estrogen. Doctors have never told me that my estrogen was high. And then there is the socialization factor. Perhaps more important is the psychological effect of being a male who is 5’2". To me it seems like a farce to try to be masculine when I know that so many women dismiss me right away because of my size. I  compete in weightlifting and have qualified for the national championships, however it don’t think I am trying to be a Little Big Man, I just enjoy the physical challenge aspect of it and that this sport is divided into weight classes so that I can compete against people my own size.  

Below are some interesting links.

http://salmon.psy.plym.ac.uk/year2/Sexbehav.htm

http://salmon.psy.plym.ac.uk/year1/SEXDIFF.HTM