Testosterone is a health hormone that plays a vital role in the health of both men and women. The hormone is produced in different sources in men and women and the role that it plays in health and wellness can be different for them.
So, what will be life like if your body does not produce enough testosterone? Is there a normal range of testosterone applicable to everyone? How will you be affected when your testosterone levels are low?
What causes this reduced presence and how can you boost the testosterone production back to normal levels? Dive right into the article to read about all these.
What Is Testosterone? And, Why Testosterone?
It is high time to stop defining testosterone as just a sex hormone. Let’s see what it is, then.
Testosterone is a key hormone produced by the body that affects overall body health. In men, the hormone is produced in the testes glands. In women, the hormone testosterone is produced in the ovaries.
The roles that this hormone takes in men and women can be different. If your body has lower testosterone levels it can affect your health. Higher levels of testosterone can also cause health issues.
What Does Testosterone Do For Men?
In men, the hormone helps in the development of secondary male characteristics that start to appear when you are approaching puberty.
The male body produces testosterone in the testes glands and also in the adrenal glands, in a small amount.
The functions of testosterone in men are as follows:
- Helps in the maturation of the male sex organs
- Acts to produce a healthy count of sperm in the body
- Influences libido and desire
- Affects the male behavioral traits
- Deepens the voice
- Supports formation of hair: both body hair and beard
- Increase muscle mass
- Supports fat metabolism
- Boosts bone density
When there are lower amounts of testosterone in men it can affect arousal, sleep, and beard volume, and can lead to obesity, fatigue, and even depression.
If the testosterone levels are too high, then it causes skin issues, affects behavior, increases the risk of infertility, and causes the formation of excessive hair in the face and body parts.
What Does Testosterone Do For Women?
In women, testosterone is produced in the ovary. But ovaries are not the only source of testosterone in a female body. It is also produced in the adrenal gland and the peripheral tissues.
It has its own functions and also works in association with the other sex hormone, estrogen.
For women, testosterone helps to:
- Repair the woman’s reproductive tissues
- Supports bone mass
- Promotes human behaviors
- Regulates sex drive
- Assists the cognitive health
When the levels of testosterone decrease in women it can result in tiredness, fatigue, and low sex drive. It will also make women prone to bone loss, fractures, and osteoporosis.
High levels of testosterone can also cause health complications in females such as PCOS, high risk of ovarian cysts, and miscarriages. It can affect fertility, cause skin problems such as acne and dandruff, and can lead to excess hair growth in the face, chest, and toes.
Is Testosterone The Same For Men And Women?
No, even though the hormone is present in both men and women, it is present in more volume in the male bodies.
- The normal level of testosterone in men is estimated to be – 10 – 35 nmol/L
- The normal level of testosterone in women is estimated to be – 0.5 – 2.4 nmol/L
Common Myths About Testosterone. Let’s Break Them
Let’s look at what are some of the common misconceptions that exist about testosterone.
❌ Testosterone Is A Male Sex Hormone
✅ Still, many believe this. Testosterone indeed has an influence on male fertility and reproduction. But that is the sole duty that is has on the human body
❌ Testosterone Is Only Found In Male Bodies
✅ This hormone is often associated with being present in only male bodies. It is wrong. Testosterone can be found in women as well.
❌ Low testosterone = Low Fertility
✅ Testosterone is not the only factor that affects the fertility of a man and a woman. It is one of the many factors that can have a role in this.
❌ Testosterone Influences Only Libido
✅ The hormones are helpful not only for libido, rather it has other functions in the body such as increasing the production of red blood cells in the body and also supporting the functions of the brain.
❌ All Men Should Have The Same Amount Of Testosterone
✅ This is again a very wrong conception. The normal amount of testosterone can differ according to the type of body that a person has. There is a general amount but that is not the must-have amount for all men across the globe.
❌ The Amount Of Testosterone In The Body Should Be The Same Throughout Your Life
✅ This one can not go wrong. The presence of testosterone increases with the time you reach puberty. And after 45 the amount of hormone drops and that is quite normal in the case of all men.
If you have been carrying all these misconceptions with you, then it is not entirely your fault. There are some misconceptions that society carries with it throughout the way it goes.
However, let’s not spread these wrong notions anymore and talk about it the right way. Also, make sure that you correct others when you hear someone blindly following these age-old myths that should have been broken a long time ago.
Read More:- How To Prevent Endometriosis Effectively? Treatment Options
To Take Away
The roles that the health hormone testosterone plays in the human body, both in men and women were discussed. When there is an insufficiency in the testosterone produced by the body, a lot of bodily functions will be hindered and will even get stopped. So, make sure that your daily routines are not affecting your health and hormone production.
Our team hopes that a lot of misconceptions were cleared with the help of this article. The next time someone justifies their anger and aggression by trying to blame their testosterone levels, you know how to stand your ground.
