HealthandDiets.com - How Testosterone affects the human body

Ask an average man about testosterone, and he might tell you that this hormone helps transform a boy into a man. Or, he might tell that you that it has “something” to do with sex drive. Or, if he has read news stories in recent years, he might mention “male menopause,” a condition supposedly caused by diminishing testosterone levels in aging men.

In reality, there is scant evidence that this controversial condition, also known as “andropause” or “viropause,” exists. Testosterone is indeed a vital sex hormone that plays an important role in puberty. But contrary to what some people believe, testosterone isn’t exclusively a male hormone. Women produce small amounts of it in their bodies as well. In men, testosterone is produced in the testes, the reproductive glands that also produce sperm. The amount of testosterone produced in the testes is regulated by the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. As men age, their testes often produce somewhat less testosterone than they did during adolescence and early adulthood, when production of this hormone peaks. But it is important to keep in mind that the range of normal testosterone production is large. So while there are some declines in testosterone production with age, most older men stay well within normal limits, and the likelihood that a man will ever experience a major shut down of hormone production similar to a woman's menopause, is remote. In fact, many of the changes that take place in older men often are incorrectly blamed on decreasing testosterone levels. Some men who have erectile difficulty (impotence), for instance, may be tempted to blame this problem on lowered testosterone. However, in the vast majority of cases, erectile difficulties are due to circulatory problems, not low testosterone. Still, a small percentage of men may be helped by testosterone supplements. These supplements are prescribed for men whose bodies make very little or no testosterone—for example, men whose pituitary glands have been destroyed by infections or tumors, or whose testes have been damaged. For these few men who have extreme testosterone deficiencies, supplements in the form of patches, injections, or topical gel may offer substantial benefit. Supplements may help a man with exceptionally low testosterone levels maintain strong muscles and bones, and increase sex drive. However, what effects testosterone replacement may have in healthy older men without these extreme deficiencies requires more research. The NIA is investigating the role of testosterone supplementation in delaying or preventing frailty. Results from preliminary studies involving small groups of men have been inconclusive, and it remains unclear to what degree supplementation of this hormone can sharpen memory or help men maintain stout muscles, sturdy bones, and robust sexual activity. Many other questions remain about the use of this hormone in late life. It is unclear, for example, whether men who are at the lower end of the normal range of testosterone production would benefit from supplementation. Some investigators are also concerned about the long-term harmful effects that supplemental testosterone might have on the aging body. It is not yet known, for instance, if testosterone supplements increase the risk of prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death among men. In addition to potentially promoting new prostate cancers, testosterone also may promote the growth of those that have already developed. Studies also suggest that supplementation might trigger excessive red blood cell production in some men. This side effect can thicken blood and increase a man's risk of stroke. The bottom line: Although some older men who have tried these supplements report feeling "more energetic" or "younger,” testosterone supplementation remains a scientifically unproven method for preventing or relieving any physical and psychological changes that men with normal testosterone levels may experience, as they get older. Until more scientifically rigorous studies are conducted, the question of whether the benefits of testosterone replacement outweigh any of its potential negative effects will remain unanswered. <==Can Hormones Prevent Aging? | What is a Hormone? | Heed The Warnings | How Hormones Work | DHEA | Growth Hormones | Melatonin | Testosterone | Menopausal Hormones==>