What is testosterone?

How do you define testosterone?

Testosterone can be found in both humans and other animals. Testicles are the main source of testosterone in men. Although testosterone is also produced by the testicles in men, it is much less abundant in women’s ovaries.

After puberty, testosterone production begins to rise and then starts to decline around age 30.

Most often, testosterone is associated with sex drive. It plays an important role in sperm formation. It can also impact bone and muscle mass, how men store fat and red blood cell production.

The testosterone levels of a man can have an impact on his mood. Thats why there are Mens Journal testosterone boosters.

Low testosterone

Low testosterone levels (also known as low T levels) can cause a wide range of symptoms in men:

• Sex drive is decreasing
• Less energy
• Weight gain
• Feelings of depression
• Moody
• Low self-esteem
• Less body hair
• Thicker bones

Although testosterone production naturally decreases as men age, there are other factors that can cause hormone levels to drop.

The production of testosterone can be negatively affected by injury to the testicles or cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.

Stress and chronic health conditions can also affect testosterone production. These include:

• AIDS
• Kidney disease
• Alcoholism
• Cirrhosis of liver

Adult women’s testosterone levels are declining steadily. However, low levels of T can cause a range of symptoms including:

• Low libido
• Reduced bone strength
• Poor concentration
• Depression

Low levels of T in women can be caused either by the removal of the ovaries or diseases of the pituitary and hypothalamus.

For women with low testosterone levels, testosterone therapy might be recommended. However, it is not known if the treatment will improve sexual function or cognitive function in postmenopausal women.

Testosterone

One simple blood test can reveal testosterone levels. There are many levels of testosterone in the bloodstream that can be considered normal or unhealthy.

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, normal male testosterone levels are between 280 and 1,100 nanograms (ng/dL), for adults males and between 15 and 70 for adult females.

There can be a wide range of results from different labs. It is important to talk with your doctor about your results.

According to the American Urological Association, if a man’s testosterone levels fall below 300 ng/dL an expert may perform a workup.

Low testosterone levels could indicate pituitary cell problems. To increase testosterone production, the pituitary gland signals to the testicles with a hormone.

Low T levels in adult men could indicate that the pituitary gland has stopped working. A young teenager with low testosterone levels may be experiencing delayed puberty.

Low testosterone levels may not cause any noticeable symptoms in men. Higher testosterone levels may lead to earlier puberty for boys. High testosterone levels may lead to masculine characteristics in women.

An adrenal gland disorder or cancer could lead to abnormally high testosterone levels.

Low testosterone levels can also be caused by less severe conditions. congenital adrenal Hyperplasia is an uncommon but common condition that can cause elevated testosterone levels.

Your doctor might order additional tests if your testosterone levels are very high.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Treatment is not always required for reduced testosterone production. This condition is known as Hypogonadism.

If low T is affecting your health or quality of life, you may be a candidate to receive testosterone replacement therapy. You can inject artificial testosterone orally or with gels or patches on the skin.

The replacement therapy might produce the desired results such as a stronger sexual drive and greater muscle mass. However, there are some side effects to the treatment. These side effects include:

• Oily skin
• Fluid retention
• Testicles shrinking
• Reduced sperm production

There has been some research that suggests testosterone replacement therapy does not increase the risk of prostate cancer. However, it is still a subject of ongoing research.

A study shows that testosterone replacement therapy has a lower rate of aggressive prostate cancers. However, more research is necessary.

The takeaway

Most commonly, testosterone is associated with male sex drive. It can also impact mental health, bone mass, fat storage, red blood cell production, and mental health.

A man’s mental or physical health can be affected by abnormally low levels of testosterone.

A simple blood test can be used to check the testosterone levels of your doctor. Low testosterone levels can be treated with testosterone therapy.

Ask your doctor if you might be able to benefit from this therapy if you have low T.