“Testosterone is a very insidious hormone”: an interview with an endocrinologist. The effect of testosterone on weight in women

The influence of testosterone on potency, the consequences of its deficiency in the male body. Why does the level of this hormone in the blood decrease and how to increase it? Effective external remedies and oral medications for treatment.

The content of the article:

Testosterone is a “sex” hormone in men, responsible for the quality of their intimate life And sexual development body. It is synthesized in the testes by Leydig cells and the adrenal cortex from cholesterol. Throughout life, its quantity usually decreases, and by the age of 90 there are practically no “native” reserves left.

With a lack of this androgen in a man’s body, a craving for intimate relationships decreases. At the same time, the orgasm may no longer be as bright as before. In addition to this, sometimes there are problems with ejaculation, which is achieved either too slowly or too early.

How better potency and the higher the level of testosterone in the blood, the greater the chances of successfully leading a full intimate life and conceiving a child. Thus, this hormone may be responsible for the development of infertility. This is especially common in older men over 60 years of age, since their levels of this androgen are usually not very high.

During puberty, this hormone affects the size of the penis and its final volume. In adulthood, its impact also affects the process of sperm production, which, due to a lack of testosterone, can become less and less, until a diagnosis of infertility is made.

Note! When trying to understand how testosterone affects potency, one must not forget that its amount undergoes some changes throughout the day. The concentration of this hormone in the blood is highest in the morning, after waking up, and in evening time It's at its smallest before bedtime.

Why do testosterone levels decrease?

That's all possible reasons decreased testosterone levels:

• . Both “strong” and “weak” drinks with a low alcohol content such as cider, beer, and ale can worsen the situation. It is harmful to drink them even in small quantities and from time to time.
• Smoking. Tobacco smoke negatively affects blood flow and its composition, as a result of which the amount of testosterone in it gradually decreases. Nicotine destroys this hormone and impairs its synthesis from cholesterol.
• Climate. Can cause harm sharp changes fever, excessive heat or frequent cold weather, increased air humidity. This applies primarily to those who live in the subtropics, in the North and in areas with big amount reservoirs.
• Diseases genitourinary systems s. First of all, we are talking about infections in urinary tract and testicles, which quite often make it difficult to restore normal hormonal balance in men. Injuries to the scrotal organs, as well as inflammatory process in this area.
• Cardiovascular diseases . Atherosclerosis, varicose veins veins, thrombophlebitis and others similar pathologies always accompanied by high vascular permeability and poor blood viscosity. All this, in particular, is one of the reasons for hormonal imbalances.
• Depression. Constant emotional and physical fatigue can lead to apathy, worsening mood and decreased levels of vital energy. In this state, all processes in a man’s body slow down, including the production of testosterone.
• Nutrition. You can harm yourself by overusing flour and meat products, fatty, spicy, too salty and fried foods. Coffee, strong black tea, large amounts of eggs and butter also interfere with testosterone production.

High concentrations of testosterone and deterioration of potency are almost always mutually exclusive concepts, and the first is observed in the body of men at the age of 18, after which it gradually decreases, by about 2% per year. A clear deficiency of this hormone occurs at the age of 40-50, and the peak of deficiency occurs at the age of 85, when there is practically no trace of it left in the blood.

How to check your testosterone levels?

Before assessing the harm low testosterone For male potency, you need to take blood from a vein and determine its level. She is taken in the morning, in the first half of the day, on an empty stomach. When studying the biomaterial, the amount of free and bioactive testosterone is determined. To ensure the results obtained, the procedure is carried out 2-3 times every 3-4 days at different times.

Testosterone norm taking into account a man’s age, nmol/l:

• From 15 to 20 years - 2.37-38.5;
• 30 years - 8.64-29.0;
• 40 years - 8.04-28.1;
• 50 years - 7.76-27.0;
• 60 years old - 6.68-25.7.

Note! Analysis results may differ in different laboratories, so it is better to take a repeat test in the same place.

How to increase testosterone levels?

To solve the problem, you need to reconsider your lifestyle, become more active, replace harmful products useful and pay attention to special drugs containing testosterone or stimulating its production. All of this works best when combined within one treatment regimen. Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of an andrologist.

Foods to Boost Testosterone Levels

In order to increase testosterone levels for potency, men need to introduce vegetables, legumes and fruits rich in zinc into their diet - beans, lentils, green pea, chickpeas, mung bean, kohlrabi, cauliflower, bananas. The diet should also be rich in greens, which are a source of selenium - cilantro, sorrel, spinach, lettuce, dill.

A special place in the menu should be given to nuts - pine, walnuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts and pistachios, since the concentration of selenium is also quite high here. Among porridges, oatmeal and buckwheat of organic origin are very useful. Among dairy products, kefir, whey and low-fat cottage cheese deserve attention.

Instead of white bread It is better to eat oatmeal or made from whole grain flour. Black tea should be replaced with green or herbal tea made from lemon balm and mint. It will be equally useful to go from sunflower oil to olive oil, saturated with fatty acids.

Active lifestyle to increase testosterone levels

If this option is not suitable, it can be replaced with an easy 20-minute jog at fresh air in the forest, cycling, swimming or skiing in winter. As an alternative to all this, you can consider rowing, which is an excellent cardiovascular workout.

You can buy a jump rope and jump with it at least 300 times a day. In the warm season, you should think about playing badminton, volleyball, table tennis outside; absolutely anything that improves blood circulation will come in handy here.

You can also visit Gym, but for this to help, you need to go there 3 times a week and train for 30-40 minutes. Here it is worth taking a closer look at the exercise bike, orbitrack and treadmill. In this case, you should walk more and replace the elevator with climbing stairs.

Loads should be alternated with rest; it is important to go to bed on time, no later than 23:00, and get up around 7-8 in the morning. Don't forget about the weekends mandatory should be held 1-2 times a week.

Medications to increase testosterone

Injectable drugs

They are administered only intramuscularly, slowly, in small volumes. The injection is given on average 1-2 times every 14 days; one procedure requires about 2-4 ml of solution. The course of maintenance therapy should last at least 6 weeks. The interval between injections can be reduced if there is a pronounced deficiency of this hormone.

One of the pretty effective means here is Nebido, available in 4 ml ampoules. The drug is available with a prescription and long-term use can cause a number of side effects - acne, skin rash, weight gain. The basis of the composition here is testosterone undecanoate.

If necessary, it can be replaced with Sustanon 250, which is an oily injection solution. It belongs to the group of androgens and must be administered intramuscularly using a syringe. The generally accepted dosage is 1 mg every 3 weeks.

Tablets and capsules

To enhance production own testosterone Proviron is usually prescribed. Mesterolone is used as the main substance here, and the additional ones are: lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, corn starch. To purchase it you need a doctor's prescription. Treatment should be carried out for 2-3 months. Optimal daily dose in the first weeks - 4 tablets, after which this amount can be reduced to 2-3 pieces.

An analogue of Proviron is Paritet, produced in the form of capsules by the Evalar company. This food is biologically active additive contains only natural ingredients- ginger root, maral antlers, yohimbe bark extract. The package contains 15 and 30 capsules, which should be taken 1 piece at a time. per day during meals. The duration of the course of treatment should be at least two weeks, otherwise there will be no special results.

Viardo Forte, which contains Selexen, zinc lactate, and wheat germ oil, also helps produce its own hormone and reduce the effect of testosterone on potency. The package contains 18 capsules, which should be taken in 1-4 pieces. per day with food.

External products

An excellent product is Androgel, packaged in individual 5 g sachets. Each of them contains 50 mg of testosterone. Before using it, you must exclude oncological pathologies, especially tumors in the prostate gland. The product should be applied in a thin layer to the skin in the abdominal area (not on the genitals!) and left until absorbed. The maximum daily intake is 10 g, the minimum is 5 g. After this, you should not shower for 6 hours. The duration of treatment is on average 2 weeks.

Drops

With their help, not only is it restored hormonal balance, but also improves potency, enhances libido, and intensifies orgasm. All this is due natural composition, which contains guarana extract, glycine, magnesium. The drops are taken about 3-4 weeks before or after meals, the dosage is determined by the doctor.

Plasters

They begin to act literally 1-2 days after the first use. Such products need to be fixed either on the penis or on the back, depending on the type.

One of the popular patches is Androderm, which is available with 2.5 and 5 mg of testosterone. Daily norm usually 1-2 pcs. They must be worn for a maximum of 24 hours, after which the effect of the patch wears off. Treatment should be carried out for about 2-3 weeks.

How testosterone affects potency - watch the video:

Recently, testosterone has become very popular among wide range people, which is very upsetting. The use of doping, including testosterone, is the norm in elite sports. People who have spent their health, and indeed their whole lives, playing sports and using steroids, have achieved great heights in sports, in their cases the use of steroids is justified. In all others - no.

All steroids are potent hormonal drugs, the influence of which on the body is very significant. Undoubtedly, steroids have both beneficial effects, such as increased anabolism and everything associated with it, and negative ones - increased blood pressure, toxic effects on the liver and severe suppression of the production of its own hormones. Side effects a lot, but not about them now.

2. The influence of testosterone on the male psyche

Now let's get to the point. Is it true that testosterone affects the psyche or is it a myth? It’s definitely true, and now we’ll look at why in detail.

The psycho-emotional state of a person depends on many factors and hormones are one of them. When a person feels good, he is happy and happy, endorphins are released, and when he is afraid, adrenaline is released. Instincts are also responsible for human behavior. The instinct of self-preservation, self-affirmation, the instinct of reproduction and many others. So hormones are to some extent responsible for the manifestation of certain instincts. In particular, male sex hormones are responsible for self-affirmation and the reproductive instinct.

Let's look at each of them in more detail. important hormones, and see how it affects behavior and psycho emotional condition.

Testosterone– the main male hormone (androgen) improves overall well-being by increasing anabolism. Stimulates sexual desire and libido. With increased testosterone, a desire to assert oneself and increased aggressiveness are clearly manifested.

Dihydrotestosterone– an even stronger androgen than testosterone. Testosterone is converted into it. It also affects sexual desire and increases aggressiveness and the desire to assert oneself.

Estrogen– female sex hormone. In the male body it causes a desire to cry and sit on the windowsill in a blanket, contemplating the stars. This is of course a joke, but every joke has some truth. Estrogen, to some extent, is an antagonist of testosterone, and therefore suppresses all the effects that testosterone causes.

Prolactin– the female sex hormone, like estrogen, reduces libido, aggressiveness and the desire to assert oneself.

Exogenous (which is introduced from the outside) testosterone and its effect.

Naturally, exogenous testosterone will affect the body, just like its own. It should be noted that exogenous testosterone is not injected in physiological doses (as in humans by nature), but significantly more. Therefore, its effect on the body is stronger.

Now let's talk about young people who think that increased doses of testosterone will help them cope with their teenage problems and turn them into "alpha males." I'm sorry, but I have to disappoint them. No amount of testosterone will turn a “wimpy and slobbering” alpha into a level 80 alpha. Psychology and human behavior is a very complex and multifaceted process that has developed over long time evolution. And all processes in the body have a cause-and-effect relationship.

Okay, let's move from the more abstract to the more specific examples. Once upon a time, thousands of years ago, the ancient ancestor of a certain modern youth fought with another ancestor for a beautiful female (by the standards of that time). But, alas, he lost the battle, and he had to settle for a less beautiful female. This fact was reflected in his psyche and was recorded in his DNA, and after thousands of years of evolution and many other ancestors, it was reflected on a certain young man. This is an example of hereditary influence on the psyche. The second and more important element of behavior is upbringing and the influence of society. During the growing up and formation of a person as an individual, he is influenced by many factors: ethical standards, traditions and upbringing of parents and other representatives of humanity. All these factors shape a person as a person and in the future are fundamental factors of behavior.

Therefore, a person, unlike an animal, is a creature with a psyche and instincts, while animals have only instincts. And the influence of hormones and instincts is rather a secondary factor than the main one.

For the most non-believers, I suggest reading one more paragraph. Look at stray dogs; when a bitch is in heat, many cables try to copulate with her. And I can assume that they absolutely don’t give a damn about the female’s desire. Now remember that pretty blonde on the subway whom you wanted to passionately copulate, but, alas, unlike a dog, you couldn’t bend her over right in the subway car. Because moral and social norms will condemn this, and the criminal code will also not be on your side. All this abundance various factors and shapes human behavior.

I’ll be honest, I hate educational and entertaining articles, so in my articles I always give practical recommendations. And since we touched on the topic of hormones, which, at least indirectly, affect the psycho-emotional state, I will give some tips on how to put your hormones in order.

The medication route is fast and effective.

Very often there is a lot of talk about how you can determine your hormone levels by how you feel. Like, you don’t sleep well and you’re weak - low level testosterone. This is all bullshit. The human body is such a complex process that all subjective sensations are a finger in the sky. Especially in modern society, when you can go to the laboratory and completely test all the hormones. Both your level and standards will be visible. Therefore, we take tests:

Estrogen is increased - anastrazole 0.5 mg every 3 days. 30-40 days.

Increased testosterone levels are negatively affected

• Alcohol (especially beer).
• Cigarettes.
• Stress.
• Poor sleep and nutrition.

Now a little more about nutrition. There are foods that have a very negative effect on testosterone levels. It's fat and fried food which promotes fat deposition. Fat, in turn, leads to increased estrogen levels. And as we remember, estrogen lowers testosterone levels. The most harmful product for testosterone is beer; beer greatly increases estrogen levels. Soy also affects the increase in estrogen levels, which is best excluded from the diet.

Conclusions: Maintain an active lifestyle, eat right, avoid stress, get enough sleep and your testosterone levels will be fine.

Testosterone is the most popular of the hormones. Doctors, athletes love to talk about him, family psychologists and even nutritionists. But not everything they say about testosterone is true.

Testosterone and aggression

The idea that the level of aggression in a person correlates with the level of testosterone in his body was established in medicine in the 1980-1990s, when many studies were conducted around the world on this topic.

Thus, testosterone measurements in 600 American prison inmates showed that those who had more high level of this hormone, were in the first roles in prison, had more conflicts with the prison administration, and the crimes they committed were more often violent.

Other studies have been conducted on this topic. Most of them confirmed that testosterone and aggression are interrelated. Testosterone levels correlate with aggression even in 9-11 year old boys.

Testosterone overdose

Testosterone, no matter how much men's magazines try to glorify it, is quite dangerous hormone. An excess of testosterone in the body can lead to undesirable consequences, such as baldness, breast growth, shrinkage of the testicles in men, deepening of the voice and growth of body hair in women. Artificially increasing testosterone levels is especially dangerous in old age, when it can lead to problems with cardiovascular activity.

Testosterone and stinginess

Research conducted in 2009 by Ernst Fehr, a neuroeconomist at the University of Zurich, showed that testosterone influences almost all aspects of human behavior. In people with reduced content Testosterone in the blood can increase such qualities as stinginess and a tendency to hoard. Formally speaking, people with low testosterone levels are ideal money savers, ideal bankers.

In confirmation of the above: the eunuchs were very prosperous. The idea of ​​hoarding was one of their main ones. One of the skoptic songs directly says: “We don’t get married and don’t get married, that’s why we are rich. Do the same as we do, stop believing your stallions, then life will be easier, you will be rich, you will be holy.”

Testosterone and long life

The influence of testosterone on life expectancy has been repeatedly confirmed in various studies. One of them, conducted in 1969 among patients psychiatric hospital in Kansas, showed that castrated men lived 14 years longer.

Interesting data on this issue were recently published by the Korean scientist Kyun-Chin Min. He studied the book "Yang-Se-Ke-Bo", in which the genealogical information of 385 families of court eunuchs can be traced. Comparing the life expectancy of 81 eunuchs with confirmed life dates, Kyun-Chin Min saw that average duration The life of the eunuchs was 71 years. That is, eunuchs outlived their contemporaries by an average of 17 years.

Testosterone and baldness

There is an idea that if a man is bald, then his testosterone level is certainly high. However, this is a misconception. There is no direct correlation between these indicators: analysis medical records Many thousands of men (both bald and those with a lot of hair) showed that testosterone levels have no effect on the presence of hair on the head. There can be dozens of reasons for baldness - from genetics to past illnesses, use medical supplies, stress and diets.

Testosterone and victory

Winners in sports competitions have increased testosterone levels in their blood. It is interesting that he and the fans of the winner rise. This was established by Italian scientists who measured testosterone in a control group of fans after a football match between Italy and Brazil.

Testosterone and libido

Of course, libido depends on testosterone, but not to the same extent as we used to think. In this matter, the male hormone plays far from main role. Libido is more strongly influenced by other factors - both physical and psychological. Ideas about sex, health, stress levels, emotional state and even other hormones influence the need for sex much more than testosterone.
Thus, a study conducted in 2012 by scientists from the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine showed that libido, for example, is extremely negatively affected by “excessive consumption of content from porn sites,” while the study participants were young and healthy, with normal level testosterone in blood plasma.

Eunuchs in politics

Over the course of more than 2000 years of Chinese history, eunuchs occupied first places in its politics, were “close” to the emperors, and during their childhood they were actually in power. The lack of testosterone made eunuchs obedient and faithful servants, but the same factor made them ideal intriguers who could remain " gray cardinals"under the ruler. As recent studies have shown, the importance of eunuchs was also so strong due to the fact that they lived much longer than simple people of its time.

Testosterone and organoleptics

The Japanese are the best tasters in the world. Due to their low (compared to Europeans) testosterone levels, they have better developed taste buds. On November 4 last year, The Guardian magazine published the ranking of the famous annual whiskey guide World Whiskey Bible, in which the Japanese single malt whiskey 2013 Yamazaki was recognized as the best whiskey.

Testosterone and diet

Changing the Japanese diet and increasing the share of fast food in the diet is already having social consequences. It's about about school aggression and increased incidence of depression. By 2003, the share of aggression increased by 5% in high school and by 28% - in primary.

Testosterone and children

The chances of having a child for a man with high testosterone above, but his further behavior may be perceived controversially by society. According to a study conducted by scientists at the School of Natural Sciences in Stirling (UK), men with low testosterone levels show more care towards the child than macho men. The higher a man's testosterone level, the less time he spends with the child, and the less desire he has to do so.

Testosterone, saliva and professions

A research group led by Professor Pavel Sapienza conducted a study in 2009. Saliva samples were taken from 550 MBA economics students at the University of Chicago Business School to determine testosterone levels. Hormone concentration data were compared with previous surveys. It turned out that men's propensity to take risks has almost no correlation with the level of testosterone in saliva. In women, a direct relationship was noticed: the propensity to take risks directly correlated with testosterone levels. That is, regardless of testosterone levels, men behave similarly in risky situations, while women are divided into “adventurous” and “quiet.”

Estrogen Double

Testosterone, oddly enough, is practically a double of its antagonist in the world of hormones - estrogen. They have almost identical structural chemical formulas. The difference between them is one carbon atom. Scientists jokingly call it the "Androgen Penis." Therefore, testosterone is easily converted into estrogen through the adrenal enzyme aromatase.

Testosterone and fingers

Determine what the level of testosterone was in a person during the period intrauterine development very simple. Just look at the right hand. In boys forefinger on right hand shorter than their ring finger. This has even been found in other five-fingered creatures such as rats. The higher the testosterone level before birth, the more difference between ring finger and index.

Testosterone and marriage

Testosterone levels directly depend on a man’s social status. A study conducted by Professor Peter Gray from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and his colleagues from the University of Wisconsin and Harvard University examined the effect of married status on the level of the sex hormone testosterone in a man's body.

It turned out that married men have lower testosterone levels than their single peers. It was also found that men who had several wives had even lower levels of the sex hormone than those who entered into a monogamous marriage.

Testosterone and years

It is not an axiom that testosterone levels decrease over the years. In men with good health testosterone levels remain the same even in old age. It was previously believed that from the age of 40, men's testosterone levels decline by 1 percent per year. And you have to live with this. Australian researchers have refuted this opinion. In the journal Clinical Endocrinology The Healthy Men Study was published, which stated that the "subjects" were over 40 years of age with good or excellent health“there is no evidence of testosterone decline with age.” These conclusions were made based on an experiment in which 325 people took part. healthy men over 40. Each of them took blood tests 9 times over the course of 3 months.

Testosterone is an androgen, a steroid hormone. It is produced by the body of men and women. Men have 40-60 times more of this steroid. Hormones are biologically active substances in the body that send information to the brain through the bloodstream.

What does testosterone affect in men and women? It lays the foundation for male physiology and plays the role of a key regulator of a man’s physical, emotional, and sexual functions. Its influence on the woman’s body is also great.

How is this androgen produced in men?

It is created by the body from cholesterol through a series of processes called biosynthesis.

Male testosterone is produced by the testes (95%) and adrenal glands (5%). This is a complex process that occurs not only with the participation reproductive organs. When a man's brain is stimulated, it sends a command to the testicles via the pituitary gland to start or stop producing testosterone. The pituitary gland produces luteinizing hormone, which enters the blood. This hormone gives a signal to begin the process of converting cholesterol into this steroid.

But before these commands are given, emotional and physical state men are constantly subject to analysis from the brain. If a man is tired, unwell, upset or sick, the process of testosterone production decreases or stops.

Producing sufficient levels of testosterone is usually typical for healthy men at puberty.

How does testosterone affect a man's life?

It helps support men:

Let's take a closer look at these processes.

How does the male hormone affect primary sexual characteristics?

1. Testosterone regulates the development of reproductive organs and maturation of the body during its growth.
2. This hormone stimulates.
3. It regulates male sexual desire.

Without this hormone it is impossible normal development and the functioning of the male genital organs.

The effect of this hormone on secondary sexual characteristics

Completely dependent on what matters most male hormone are the structural features of the body.

Under the influence of androgen, males have:

The effect of the hormone on the physical condition of a man

What is this influence?

1. Stimulates functions of cardio-vascular system men, dilating the coronary vessels.
2. Protects the male body from atherosclerosis.
3. Regulates the size of the prostate gland, has a positive effect on urination and the formation of red blood cells.

Impact on the psycho-emotional sphere

Testosterone influences a man's behavior and mood.

This is why testosterone is often called the “success hormone.”

What are the consequences of a deficiency of this steroid?

Its level reaches its peak in adolescence and young adulthood. As a man gets older, its content in the body gradually decreases by 1 percent per year after the age of thirty.

Typically, a man's body produces enough of this hormone. But sometimes its content becomes abnormally low. This is due to the natural aging process of a man or various diseases. In this case, hypogonadism develops.

If a decrease in testosterone levels occurs after 45-50 years, this indicates the onset of andropause.

At this time, processes occur that develop in the opposite direction compared to the puberty period.

Signs of decreased testosterone:

1. weakens sexual function. Libido decreases, signs appear erectile dysfunction, infertility develops.
2. There is a decrease muscle mass and bone density and strength.
3. Metabolic processes slow down.
4. Increases percentage fat in the body. The belly is getting bigger.
5. There is a risk of developing atherosclerosis, threatening stroke and heart attack.
6. Physical strength decreases.
7. Memory deteriorates.
8. Signs of depression, fatigue and weakness develop. Motivation and self-confidence decrease. A man is often irritable, lethargic, and sad. There is a decrease in vital energy and tone.
9. Problems with concentration and thinking abilities develop, and memory weakens.
10. Headache.
11. Acne.
12. The breasts are enlarged.
13. A man often suffers from insomnia or other sleep disorders.
14. The amount of hair on the body decreases.
15. A man can himself determine the lack of this androgen in himself. There is a very simple way. You need to measure your waist size. When it is more than 102 cm, it can be considered a sign of testosterone deficiency. Because adipose tissue contains a substance called leptin, which blocks its production.

Why is an increased level of this androgen dangerous?

When its content is increased, the risk for men increases.

Problems may occur:

• liver cyst and tumor;
• allergic reaction;
• anomalies of the nervous, gastrointestinal, endocrine and genitourinary systems of the body;
• development is possible;
• male aggression increases;
• some mental disorders appear.

Male androgen in women

This hormone is produced in the female body. And although it is significantly less than in men, it also plays an important role.

This steroid controls weight, fat-to-fat ratio muscle tissue. Stimulates muscle building and bone strengthening.

If a woman's level of this steroid is insufficient, she appearance and body functions are characterized by lethargy, low resistance to stress, pallor, depression, and dull eyesight.

Can women have excess testosterone?

In women, excess testosterone leads to the development of traits characteristic of men:

• rough voice;
• mustache above the lip;
• decisive behavior of a masculine type.

For women, high testosterone levels are dangerous, as there is a risk of developing pathology:

• ovarian cancer;
• adrenal hyperplasia;
• polycystic ovary syndrome;
• termination of pregnancy and infertility.

Testosterone is the most important steroid. Almost all processes in a man’s body occur with his participation. A man's whole life depends on him.

This androgen plays an important role in the body:

1. Defines personality, sexuality and everything distinctive features men. Thanks to testosterone, a man has characteristics like the stronger sex.
2. During puberty, later, primary and secondary sexual characteristics appear and develop under its influence. Testosterone affects genital area men.
3. It regulates and controls functions internal organs, metabolism and reproductive function, behavior and mood.
4. The influence of the male hormone on emotional and psychological characteristics men.

This hormone is a powerful steroid that should be under the supervision of a qualified physician. Every man can control the level of this steroid in the body to maintain the health of his body. It could be self-control.

If there are any problems, you must contact a doctor who will prescribe treatment.

Testosterone- male sex hormone of steroid origin. Acts as a powerful androgen. It is produced in the testicles (testicles) under the influence of a substance such as LTG (luteotropic hormone, paradoxically). At the same time, there is Feedback: The higher the androgen level, the lower the concentration of LTG and FSH in the body. Testosterone is metabolized in the prostate gland, transforming into (the same androgen that is responsible for baldness). By its nature, it is 10 times more active than pure testosterone.

Approximately 20% of men suffer from androgen deficiency and do not always suspect it. What role does testosterone play in a man’s life?

Changes in testosterone levels throughout the day and life

Testosterone has a dual character.

• On the one hand this steroid hormone. It is responsible for gaining muscle mass, endurance and strength. Therefore it is often used within sports nutrition for fast muscle building.
• On the other hand, it is a pronounced androgen. Without normal amount the specified substance Normal libido is impossible, sexual function is inhibited, spermatogenesis becomes insufficient. Moreover, it is the hormone testosterone that is the “culprit” for the occurrence of primary and.

Thus, it is this hormone and its metabolites that make a man a man.

Laboratory indicators and their interpretation

IN medical practice It is customary to distinguish several types of testosterone.

• General testosterone. This is a combination of hormones associated with globulins and blood proteins, as well as free testosterone.
• Testosterone bound to globulins. Makes up to 45% of the total hormone in the body (SHBG).
• Testosterone bound to blood proteins makes up 54-55% of the total hormone.
• Testosterone is free (not bound to proteins and globulin). It is about 2-3%.

Testosterone levels in men depending on age

Only substances in free form and those bound to blood proteins have androgenic and steroid activity. SHBG, on the contrary, interferes with the normal effect of testosterone on the male body.

An important indicator is free testosterone. Its concentration in the body, as a rule, is no higher than 2%, but it is responsible for normal potency. In case of insufficiency this indicator a decrease in libido and sexual failure occurs. In addition, fertility decreases.

Indicators free hormone vary widely, depending on the metabolic characteristics of a particular man and his age.

• At the ages of 18 to 70 years, this indicator is in the range of 45-225 ng/dL.
• After 70, the reference values ​​are as follows: 5 – 75 ng/dl.

Testosterone levels drop with age

Total testosterone is considered within the following reference values:

• 240-1100 ng/dL for people under 70 years of age.
• 80-850 ng/dL for persons over 70 years of age.

Factors influencing the concentration of testosterone in the body

We are talking about both physiological and pathological reasons ah decrease in testosterone concentration. Elevated sex hormone levels are generally uncharacteristic and rare.

Physiological factors of reduction

This includes:

A decrease in testosterone levels is characterized by a number of manifestations

Pathological reasons for the decline

Pathological causes include the following diseases:

All of these diseases, to varying degrees, lead to testosterone deficiency and decreased sexual function.

Factors that increase hormone concentrations

An increase in hormone concentration also develops for many different reasons.

• Excessive physical exercise. IN exceptional cases may increase the concentration of androgens.
• Neoplasms (tumors) of the genital area, adrenal glands.
• Early puberty(on initial stage puberty).
• Itsenko-Cushing syndrome.
• Anomalies in the development of the external genitalia.

Hyperproduction of androgens occurs in extremely rare cases.

Manifestations higher level testosterone

Symptoms of the described conditions

Hormone deficiency

Provokes the development of a host of symptoms:

Excess hormone

Calls:

• fertility disorders;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Cancerous degeneration of the prostate gland is somewhat less common;
• increased skin oiliness, acne;
• apnea;
• alopecia;
• mental disorders;
• problems with cardiac activity.

It is possible to put an end to the question of the origin of a particular symptom only through. Many manifestations coincide and are completely identical.

The role of testosterone in a man’s life is difficult to overestimate. This is one of the most important androgen hormones that makes a man a man.