10 Facts Every Man Should Know About Testosterone UPMC HealthBeat

Your Guide to What Testosterone Is and What It Does for Your Body

Thus, maintaining an optimal testosterone balance is crucial for sustaining physiological equilibrium and promoting general well-being. Maintaining an optimal testosterone balance is vital for muscle health, metabolic function, sexual health, mood regulation, and overall quality of life in both men and women10,11. It also affects mood regulation, energy levels, and cognitive function. It is important for both men and women, although women have much lower hormone levels.

Testosterone also doesn’t cure erectile dysfunction, explains Dr. Patel. Low testosterone may be a contributor to ED, but for most men, erectile dysfunction is related to changes in how the body responds, delivers, and maintains adequate blood to the penis. If your testosterone is too high or too low, you’ll experience a range of symptoms, like erectile dysfunction, low energy, feeling down, acne, and irritability.

This is profoundly different to the T-Rex idea that gender norms can either ramp up or ramp down an evolutionarily ‘intended’ behavioural outcome. A 2020 meta-analysis found that TRT significantly improved depressive symptoms in men with low testosterone. Applying a testosterone gel or cream to the skin is currently the safest way to deliver an effective dose of testosterone to a woman. Since there are no FDA-approved commercial products formulated for women, I rely on transdermal gels from a compounding pharmacy. This is a selective list of online resources to provide information, support, and searchable databases on testosterone health and testosterone disorders. Symptoms of so-called low T vary depending on the cause of the problem and the age when it happens. Keep reading to learn more about this important hormone and how it relates to your health.

That means sexual selection tends to be stronger in males, though it acts on females too. This leads to the evolution of more pronounced traits in males that promote mating competition, such as brighter colours, stronger bodies, or a higher propensity for aggression. There is controversy, however, about the benefits of giving women testosterone. Simply put, the fact that women’s levels of this hormone drop with age does not necessarily mean that supplementing with testosterone will be beneficial for them. Testosterone plays a significant role in muscle development and strength.

But testosterone does a lot more for the body, and not everyone knows a lot about what testosterone really is. Men with low levels of testosterone may suffer from depression, fatigue, and general irritability. Doctors and researchers have varying opinions regarding the effectiveness of testosterone replacement therapy. Testosterone treatment is not advised for men with prostate or breast cancer. Additionally, testosterone therapy may worsen sleep apnea in older people. After the age of 40, the concentration of circulating testosterone falls by about 1.6 percent every year for most men.

This means not just that kids can learn to behave in restaurants, despite being different from adults. It’s not clear which behaviour should be considered more ‘natural’. What’s interesting and deserving of explanation is why, when it comes to behaviours such as risk-taking, violence or emotional expression, the sex difference is almost always in the same direction. There are many complexities in how sexual selection and testosterone shape human sex differences. But they don’t merit killing off the more sensible versions of T-Rex entirely. To flesh out my view, I should say a few words about sexual selection – a form of natural selection in which traits that help animals attract mates and reproduce are passed on at relatively high frequency to future generations. Males tend to reap higher reproductive rewards from successfully competing for mates.

If you consider your libido levels too low or too high, treatments are available. If a doctor diagnoses a testosterone deficiency, they may suggest a course of testosterone replacement therapy. This should only be done with the guidance of a physician as it can lead to dangerous health issues if done incorrectly.

It is a key factor in the development of lean muscle mass and contributes to the strength and endurance required for physical activity. PATH formed in 2010 to help the clinical, medical, and public health communities improve patient care through more accurate and reliable hormone tests. PATH supports research that improves the diagnosis and treatment of hormone disorders, including a landmark 2017 study that defines the “normal” range of testosterone in young adult men. While a change in interest and desire for sex may signal a medical problem or side effect, it’s normal for libido to fluctuate throughout life.

A healthy level of testosterone helps protect against bone diseases like osteoporosis. In women, testosterone plays a role in ovarian function, bone health and sexual health, though “data is mixed” on the latter point, explains Narang. Treating the condition that is causing high or low testosterone levels can help restore levels. But it’s not always possible to find a cause of testosterone imbalances. Your doctor can prescribe testosterone replacement to correct low levels. Men with hypogonadism reported improved mood and well-being, and reduced fatigue and irritability.

Speak to a medical professional, and confirm if treatment is required. The law does not require herbal supplements to be proven safe before sale, so caution is advised. One type of testosterone supplement, methyltestosterone, has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, guidelines advise doctors not to prescribe this supplement due to the speed with which the liver metabolizes testosterone. Administering treatment for hypogonadism as the result of a disease differs from treating late-onset hypogonadism in older men. If you have low testosterone symptoms female T, ask your doctor if this type of therapy might benefit you. Ranges can vary among different labs, so it’s important to speak with your doctor about your results.