2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Testosterone is a steroid hormone that belongs to the group of sex hormones. The hormone is secreted mainly by the testes of males and the ovaries in females, but small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands. Testosterone is a major male hormone and anabolic steroid.
Both men and women testosterone plays a key role in health and well-being. Along with sexual activity, which includes regulating libido, fertility and muscle mass, testosterone helps increase energy. Normally, men produce 40 to 60 times more testosterone than women, but women are more sensitive to this hormone.
When testosterone enters the bloodstream, it is transported to target organs and tissues, where it is converted to dihydrotestosterone. This is also the active form of testosterone. Dihydrotestosterone is approximately 10 times more active than testosterone and is directly responsible for balding and mutation of the voice. Unfortunately, it has a negative effect on the prostate - it often stimulates the formation of cancer in the area.
Testosterone functions
Testosterone plays a number of important functions in the human body. It lowers cholesterol levels, promotes bone growth, increases protein synthesis.
In men, testosterone promotes the formation of secondary sexual characteristics and regulates the production of steroids. It is responsible for the development of hair, penis, prostate, Adam's apple. Testosterone coordinates muscle building and the breakdown of muscle tissue.
It is important to note that testosterone it is not the only hormone that determines male character. The relationship between testosterone and the female hormone estradiol, which is also produced in the male body, is extremely important.
Testosterone stimulates the sebaceous glands on the skin, enhances sexual desire and stimulates aggressive behavior.
Due to testosterone sensitivity to pain decreases, it stimulates the release of pheromones, can lead to hair loss on the head. Testosterone stimulates spatial thinking. For example - it has been proven that women with low serum levels testosterone have difficulty parking the car.
The cerebral cortex stimulates testosterone secretion when a person is happy and excited, namely when the body needs it. However, when a person is tense or angry, the rate of production of testosterone decreases rapidly.
Normal testosterone levels
Normally, testosterone levels are between 300 - 1200 ng / dl in men; 20-75 ng / dl in women. Free testosterone in men is between 15-45 pg / ml and 1-3 pg / ml in women.
High testosterone levels
High levels of the hormone in the body can cause serious negative consequences. At too high levels testosterone increases the risk of tumors in the liver and kidneys, heart rhythm disorders and a number of other cardiac disorders.
Established and increased tendency to form dangerous blood clots in the brain. High doses testosterone they can also lead to severe mental illness, which is often long-term and difficult to treat.
With long-term introduction of large amounts of hormone into the body, a violation of spermatogenesis is observed. In women, the negative side effects of high testosterone levels are increased hair growth, irregular menstruation, acquisition of masculine facial features. Lack of ovulation may also occur.
Low testosterone levels
Low hormone levels can also lead to abnormalities such as low self-esteem, lack of libido, a feeling of weakness and a general lack of tone.
Symptoms at low levels testosterone are afternoon drowsiness, weight gain in the stomach lining, morning erection disappears, and the rest become more hesitant, muscles begin to weaken. These are all things that are typical of older people. In such cases, the cause of the complaints must be sought.
If measures are not taken for low testosterone levels, the dangers that lurk are numerous. This condition has been shown to predispose to vascular accidents, heart attacks and strokes. Another negative consequence is the development of osteoporosis.
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Testosterone is a male sex hormone that mainly affects sexuality. It is responsible for bone and muscle health, sperm production and hair growth. It is lost with age as well as by chronic diseases. Hypogonadism, also called low testosterone or low T, is often treated with medicine to prevent future health problems.
