Low testosterone can also result in erectile dysfunction ED. The body has a system for controlling testosterone, sending messages through hormones and chemicals that are released into the bloodstream. In the brain, the hypothalamus tells the pituitary gland how much testosterone is needed, and the pituitary relays that information to the testicles. Testosterone plays a role in certain behaviors, including aggression and dominance.
It also helps to spark competitiveness and boost self-esteem. Low testosterone may result in a loss of confidence and lack of motivation. Low testosterone can cause sleep disturbances and lack of energy. Other biological and environmental factors are also involved. As a man transitions from childhood to adulthood, testosterone spurs the growth of hair on the face, in the armpits, and around the genitals.
Hair also may grow on the arms, legs, and chest. A man with shrinking levels of testosterone actually may lose some body hair. Testosterone replacement therapy comes with a few potential side effects, including acne and breast enlargement. Testosterone patches may cause minor skin irritation.
Topical gels may be easier to use, but great care must be taken to avoid transferring testosterone to someone else though skin-to-skin contact. Testosterone is one of many factors involved in the development of muscle bulk and strength. Testosterone increases neurotransmitters, which encourage tissue growth. It also interacts with nuclear receptors in DNA, which causes protein synthesis.
Testosterone increases levels of growth hormone. That makes exercise more likely to build muscle. Testosterone increases bone density and tells the bone marrow to manufacture red blood cells.
Men with very low levels of testosterone are more likely to suffer from bone fractures and breaks. Testosterone also plays a role in fat metabolism, helping men to burn fat more efficiently. Dropping levels of testosterone can cause an increase in body fat.
Testosterone travels around the body in the bloodstream. The only way to know your testosterone level for sure is to have it measured. This usually requires a blood test. Testosterone spurs the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.
And, studies suggest that testosterone may have a positive effect on the heart. When it comes to testosterone therapy and the heart, recent studies have conflicting results and are ongoing. Women with high testosterone levels, due to either disease or drug use, may experience a decrease in breast size and deepening of the voice, in addition to many of the problems men may have. In recent years, researchers and pharmaceutical companies have focused on the effects of testosterone deficiency, especially among men.
The testes produces less testosterone, there are fewer signals from the pituitary telling the testes to make testosterone, and a protein called sex hormone binding globulin SHBG increases with age. All of this reduces the active free form of testosterone in the body. More than a third of men over age 45 may have reduced levels of testosterone than might be considered normal though, as mentioned, defining optimal levels of testosterone is tricky and somewhat controversial.
Some men who have a testosterone deficiency have symptoms or conditions related to their low testosterone that will improve when they take testosterone replacement. For example, a man with osteoporosis and low testosterone can increase bone strength and reduce his fracture risk with testosterone replacement. As surprising as it may be, women can also be bothered by symptoms of testosterone deficiency.
For example, disease in the pituitary gland may lead to reduced testosterone production from the adrenal glands disease. They may experience low libido, reduced bone strength, poor concentration or depression. There are times when low testosterone is not such a bad thing. The most common example is probably prostate cancer. Testosterone may stimulate the prostate gland and prostate cancer to grow. That's why medications that lower testosterone levels for example, leuprolide and castration are common treatments for men with prostate cancer.
Men taking testosterone replacement must be carefully monitored for prostate cancer. Although testosterone may make prostate cancer grow, it is not clear that testosterone treatment actually causes cancer. Genetic diseases, such as Klinefelter syndrome in which a man has an extra x-chromosome and hemochromatosis in which an abnormal gene causes excessive iron to accumulate throughout the body, including the pituitary gland can also affect testosterone.
Women may have a testosterone deficiency due to diseases of the pituitary, hypothalamus or adrenal glands, in addition to removal of the ovaries. Estrogen therapy increases sex hormone binding globulin and, like aging men, this reduces the amount of free, active testosterone in the body. Currently, testosterone therapy is approved primarily for the treatment of delayed male puberty, low production of testosterone whether due to failure of the testes, pituitary or hypothalamus function and certain inoperable female breast cancers.
However, it is quite possible that testosterone treatment can improve symptoms in men with significantly low levels of active free testosterone, such as:. However, many men with normal testosterone levels have similar symptoms so a direct connection between testosterone levels and symptoms is not always clear. As a result, there is some controversy about which men should be treated with supplemental testosterone.
Testosterone therapy may make sense for women who have low testosterone levels and symptoms that might be due to testosterone deficiency. It's not clear if low levels without symptoms are meaningful; treatment risks may outweigh benefits. However, the wisdom and effectiveness of testosterone treatment to improve sexual function or cognitive function among postmenopausal women is unclear. People with normal testosterone levels are sometimes treated with testosterone at the recommendation of their doctors or they obtain the medication on their own.
Some have recommended it as a "remedy" for aging. For example, a study from Harvard Medical School in found that even among men who started out with normal testosterone results noted loss of fat, increased muscle mass, better mood, and less anxiety when receiving testosterone therapy. Similar observations have been noted among women. However, the risks and side effects of taking testosterone when the body is already making enough still discourages widespread use.
Testosterone is so much more than its reputation would suggest. Men and women need the proper amount of testosterone to develop and function normally. However, the optimal amount of testosterone is far from clear. Checking testosterone levels is as easy as having a blood test.
It is important to remember, however, that getting enough vitamin D every day is essential for overall health. Authors of a study from found that taking magnesium supplements for 4 weeks prompted an increase in testosterone levels of sedentary participants and those who were athletes. The testosterone increases were greater, however, in the active participants. The United States Department of Agriculture recommend that people eat seafood twice weekly.
Fatty fish may be especially beneficial because they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. A person can also boost their fatty acid levels by taking fish oil or omega-3 supplements. Results of an animal-based study from indicate that fish oil can increase the quality of semen and the serum testosterone levels in dogs by improving their fatty acid profiles. A study in mice reported similar findings. Olive oil is a staple of the Mediterranean diet , which may have many health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.
The oil is rich in monounsaturated fat and vitamin E, an antioxidant. Extra-virgin olive oil may also improve male reproductive health. Results of a small-scale study indicate that the oil may boost serum testosterone levels in healthy adult men. Participants also experienced an increase in luteinizing hormone, which stimulates cells in the testes to produce testosterone.
Onions may provide many health benefits, from supporting the heart to slimming the waistline. They are also good sources of several nutrients and antioxidants. In addition, onions may increase low levels of testosterone.
In a study with a rat model, researchers found that a daily intake of fresh onion juice for 4 weeks significantly increased serum total testosterone levels. People looking to raise their levels may wish to avoid:.
Many frozen or prepackaged meals and snacks are processed foods. They offer little nutritional value and tend to be high in calories , salt, fat, and sugar.
In particular, processed foods often contain high amounts of trans fats, which can reduce testosterone levels and impair testicular function, according to the results of a study.
For example, this can occur when people ingest chemicals, such as bisphenol A BPA or bisphenol S, from water in plastic bottles or reheated food in plastic containers. Results of a study from suggest that men who work in environments with high levels of BPA have reduced levels of free testosterone and androstenedione, a hormone that can convert into testosterone or estrogen.
It is important to note that participants in this study worked in factory settings. In food packaging, BPA is present in much smaller quantities. A study from , for example, found BPA in the urine of 89 percent of men attending a fertility clinic. Those with BPA in their urine also had lower levels of testosterone and thyroid stimulating hormone.
When levels of this hormone are low, it can indicate hypothyroidism , a condition that can reduce testosterone in some men. Moderate amounts of alcohol — such as the occasional glass of red wine — may provide some health benefits. However, drinking too much can reduce fertility in men and women. Dietary changes may increase testosterone levels, and many lifestyle changes and medical treatments can help. Testosterone naturally reduces with age, but levels may also be low because of medical conditions or medications.
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