Understanding Testosterone: Why It's Crucial for Every Man
Testosterone is a hormone associated with a lot of myths. You have probably heard some, especially the negative ones, like violent behavior, aggressiveness, link to prostate cancer, and others. However, the hormone has nothing to do with these vices.
Contrary to most beliefs, testosterone is an important sex hormone in males. The hormone, alongside estrogen, determines whether the person is a male or female. Testosterone, being a male hormone, is associated with masculine characteristics.
Testosterone is produced in the testes in males and happens throughout one's life. However, females also have a small amount of the hormone produced by ovaries. Generally, the hormone plays a vital role in men’s health, and when the body doesn’t have enough, testosterone therapy is necessary for optimal functioning.
If you are curious to know more about the hormone, this guide explores the importance of testosterone in males.
Roles/Importance of Testosterone in Males
The hormone has different functions in the body. There are some obvious ones and others you might not be aware of. Therefore, to function properly, your body's testosterone level must be within the recommended level.
Testosterone's Primary Functions
The primary functions of testosterone include the following:
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Muscles and Strength
Testosterone plays a massive role in muscles, as well as muscle production and strength. The hormone is one of the anabolic steroids, which means it stimulates muscle production. The anabolic effects allow protein synthesis, which helps in muscle mass building.
When the body has more muscle mass than fat, it experiences a boost in strength levels. That is why people take androgen supplements when they want to increase body and muscle strength.
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Bone Density
Normal aging in men results in a decrease in bone density. This has been linked to decreasing levels or low t. When the body can’t produce enough testosterone levels, there is a chance of developing osteoporosis, a condition that results in the degradation of bones.
Weakened bones are risky as they don’t provide enough support to the body, which can lead to fractures. When the tests show you have low testosterone and suffer from weakened bones, testosterone replacement therapy can help boost your bones.
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Facial and Body Hair Growth
One of the male characteristics is having a hairy body, which is a responsibility of the male hormone. Reduced levels can result in Androgenetic Alopecia. The condition results in permanent baldness. According to the study, the condition is more prevalent in the Asian population, with reported incidence up to 73% of the general population.
Apart from affecting head and pubic hair, testosterone affects facial hair growth. If you have normal testosterone levels, you experience optimal facial and other body hair growth. Thus, you will need to shave the beards regularly.
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Sperm Production and Sexual Function
The presence of testosterone facilitates the sperm production. Since it’s the primary male hormone, it must be present for the sperm cells to be produced. The hormone is produced when the pituitary gland stimulates follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone production. Luteinizing hormone stimulates the testis for testosterone production and works with FSH to facilitate sperm production.
Testosterone also is responsible for other sexual function. Actually, the hormone is directly linked with every male sexual response. High testosterone levels are linked with increased sexual arousal and better libido. Also, men with high testosterone level benefit from increased erectile function.
Testosterone and the Brain
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Cognitive Functions
Besides playing a major role in sexuality, testosterone plays an amazing role in boosting cognitive function. Testosterone levels in the blood highly affect the brain functioning. Studies shows a correlation between high testosterone levels and improved thinking and ability.
Men with high testosterone level show better performance in cognitive ability. Additionally, high testosterone levels have shown reduced chances of Alzheimer’s disease in older men. Generally, the higher the testosterone levels, the more it reduces brain degeneration.
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Mental Effects of Testosterone
There is a high linkage between low testosterone and mental health among males. When your body produces enough hormones, it increases your well-being by promoting your mental health. Normally, testosterone helps to boost concentration and overall mood when produced at the right levels.
When you are experiencing male hypogonadism, i.e., low testosterone levels, it can cause mood changes. Usually, low t can lead to experiences such as anxiety, depression, and increased irritability.
Symptoms and Effects of Low Testosterone
Testosterone levels are highest at 20-25 years. The levels, however, start to drop as the man ages. The decline is normal unless it goes below the recommended levels. Although age is one of many factors that affect testosterone, there are conditions like diabetes, body weight, and others.
If you have low testosterone levels, what are the symptoms of low testosterone, and what are the effects to monitor? The symptoms can be classified into physical, emotional, and sexual symptoms.
Physical Symptoms
Men suffering from low testosterone usually suffer from a variety of physical effects. Since the hormone is responsible for building muscles, a decrease can affect your muscles. Reduced muscle mass is one of the noticeable effects, which is characterized by loss of strength and stamina.
Although you might not feel a size reduction, you might lose the vigor you used to have when working or in the gym due to the reduced energy levels.
The function of androgen, specifically testosterone, is to facilitate muscle building. Therefore, a decline can reduce muscle protein production and cause increased body fat. The scenario can lead to difficulty in reducing body weight and building muscles since they require more proteins.
Emotional and Mental Symptoms
There is a direct correlation between low testosterone and the emotional soundness of man. As mentioned earlier, testosterone significantly affects your mood. Low t can cause mood swings. When there is reduced testosterone, it creates a hormonal imbalance. Once testosterone is reduced, there is a buildup of stress hormone called cortisol that leads to a bunch of problems.
When the body is experiencing elevated levels of cortisol, not only do you experience mood swings, but you can also get stressed and depressed. This is because testosterone isn’t enough to counter the effects of stress hormones.
Low testosterone can also lead to poor concentration in men. Some common symptoms of poor concentration include lack of focus, difficulty thinking clearly, and lack of physical and mental energy, among others. Some of these symptoms can result from reduced levels of testosterone.
Sexual Symptoms
Testosterone deficiency is mainly manifested in sexual matters. This is understandable as it’s the main male sex hormone.
The main effect of low testosterone levels is reduced libido. Low libido is the decreased sex drive to have sex. When the testosterone is low, you can’t respond to sexual stimuli efficiently.
Another common effect of low testosterone is problems with erection. Men with male hypogonadism often experience erectile dysfunction. However, it should be noted that in most cases, many things can cause low testosterone, leading to ED. Therefore, testosterone therapy doesn’t mean you will solve ED.
Causes of Testosterone Deficiency
There are many causes of low testosterone in men. Some of the reasons include age, medical, and lifestyle factors.
1. Age
Normal aging causes a slow decline in testosterone levels in men. As you turn 40, the testosterone level starts to decline at 1%-2% per year. While slow decline doesn’t cause concern, confirmation of low blood testosterone levels will lead to testosterone therapy.
If your doctor establishes your testosterone levels after blood tests are low, taking supplemental testosterone can greatly help. While slight reduction is normal, you should see a doctor when you notice symptoms like fatigue, muscle wasting, etc.
2. Medical Conditions
Various medical conditions are known to affect testosterone production in the body. One of the reasons why you might suffer from low testosterone is due to male hypogonadism. This a condition that is inborn or arises later in life. It might occur due to Klinefelter’s syndrome, undescended testicles, and testis injuries.
Apart from medical conditions, testosterone deficiency levels can arise due to issues with the pituitary gland. Normally, when the gland has problems, it can affect testosterone production. Some issues that can interfere with normal functioning include cancer treatment, HIV/AIDs, and inflammation diseases, among others.
3. Lifestyle Factors
Lifestyle factors also play a big role in the production of testosterone. Diet is one of these lifestyle factors that can cause the production of testosterone levels. Eating high in fat and salt food can result in low testosterone production.
Stress is another factor that leads to the production of low testosterone. Specifically, if you are suffering from chronic stress, it can reduce the amount of testosterone your body can produce.
Adults are supposed to sleep 7 hours or more. However, many people don’t achieve the recommended sleeping hours. Lack of sleep can significantly affect production, leading to testosterone deficiency.
The Risks and Benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Most men suffer from low testosterone as they grow old. However, it's not a must that declining testosterone symptoms will appear. Doctors must conduct blood test to diagnose low testosterone and recommend right testosterone replacement therapy. This treatment is aimed at reversing the effects of low testosterone.
Testosterone treatment usually involves use of testosterone pellets, testosterone gel, injections and patches.
Some of the benefits associated with testosterone hormone therapy include;
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Increased libido
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Enhanced mood
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Muscles strengthening
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Improved problem-solving ability
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Improved red blood cell production
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Boosting body energy
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Although testosterone replacement therapy has many benefits, you can also experience the following side effects.
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Increased cases of obstructive sleep apnea
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Breast enlargement
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Increased acne
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Shrinking testing
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Increased risk of blood clots
Natural Ways to Boost Testosterone
Besides taking supplements, you can boost low testosterone levels using natural ways like food and lifestyle adjustments.
Dietary ways of increasing testosterone involve the use of food as a remedy. Eating a balanced diet is one of the best ways to fix your diminishing testosterone levels. Some of the foods you can use to elevate testosterone include:
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Fatty fish
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Cocoa products
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Leafy green vegetable
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Eggs
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Avocado
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Berries and cherries
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Shellfish
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Apart from healthy food consumption, you can also boost testosterone levels by adjusting your lifestyle. Some of the lifestyle adjustments that increase levels of testosterone include the following.
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Stress management
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Adequate sleep
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Frequent exercising and weight-lifting
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Weight reduction
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Cut the alcohol intake
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Avoid estrogen-like chemicals
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Common Myths and Misconceptions
A lot of myths and misconceptions surround testosterone. Specifically, people always link reduced testosterone with masturbation. But, can musterbation cause low testosterone? Well, this myth has been debunked by medical experts. It has been established that there is no link between masturbation and low testosterone.
According to the study, masturbation has only short-term effects on testosterone, but there are no long-term effects. Different publications and studies didn’t link masturbation and the production of testosterone.
The other misconception is about the high levels of testosterone in men. Some people believe that having high levels of testosterone is associated with athleticism. However, it’s not always the case; testosterone doesn’t result in better performance.
Also, many believe that high levels lead to increased sexual vitality. While it can increase libido, it can also lead to severe side effects, especially supplemental testosterone.
Testosterone Therapy in the Malaysian Context
Like in many societies, the use of supplemental testosterone in Malaysia is seen as one of the ways leading to aggressive behavior in men. Using testosterone supplements is perceived as a way of increasing sexual enhancements rather than treatment.
The prevalence of testosterone-related issues among Malaysian men, according to research, is higher than men of other origin. This means there is a likelihood of men in Malaysia developing issues that require testosterone supplementation.
The testosterone market in Malaysia is growing every year as more people embrace the use of hormone for testosterone therapy. The market is expected to grow to $1.42 billion in 2024. Therefore, selling FDA-approved testosterone will help companies reap big.
Choosing high-quality supplements is vital to ensure all your body hormones are balanced, enhancing proper body functioning. Beehive2u leads in the production of natural supplements that are ideal for men, women, and kids.
If you want to improve your health, the brand offers a variety of supplements perfectly suited for your whole body. From regaining your testosterone to better heart and brain health, Beehive2u supplements will make your life more fulfilling.
Conclusion
Testosterone is an important hormone in men. While a decline is expected, it's good to watch your body to prevent extremely low levels that can lead to severe complications. Adopting testosterone replacement therapy is amazing for correcting low levels. However, always seek doctors’ advice before supplemental testosterone.
References
http://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/andropause/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3412231/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2021.712237/full
https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-testosterone#benefits