As people age, some changes constantly happen, internally and externally. A baby boy is different from an adolescent boy, and an adolescent boy is not the same as an adult boy, and same goes for the hormone levels. There are certain ages in which every man tries to enquire about his testosterone levels.
The functioning of the human body is guided by chemical substances called hormones. Testosterone1 is highly associated with strength, masculinity, energy, and everything that makes a man. In one way, it makes a man respectable; to some people, it poses a danger, especially when aggressiveness is involved.
1. What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is primarily produced in the testes in males and in smaller amounts in the ovaries in females. Testosterone is the hormone that is responsible for the development of the male reproductive organ and all the associated secondary sexual characteristics such as the development of muscles, deepening of the voice, and body hair growth such as beards.
Testosterone increases during teenagehood and remains high from then on. The whole process begins in the brain, the pituitary gland, where LH produces testosterone2. Women also have testosterone, but in small amounts, for estrogen synthesis. There is only 10% of testosterone in women, as is the one found in men if you have high testosterone.
2. How do you Know if You Have High Testosterone
There are many signs of high testosterone in men, but a few of them include the following:
2.1. Increased Muscle Mass and Strength
It is the most noticeable sign. Men with high testosterone have easily gained muscle mass and can lift weights even when no intense gym is done. This is because testosterone stimulates muscle protein, maintaining muscle mass and strength.
2.2. Increased Body Hair
High testosterone can be manifested by having a lot of body hair than a person with low testosterone; it can be pubic hair, chest hair, or facial hair.
2.3. Increased Libido
Libido is the energy of the sex drive; testosterone increases metabolic rate, meaning that even the sex drive will also increase. Men with high testosterone will generally have more frequent erections and even more morning wood than men with less amounts of it.
2.4. Acne
Testosterone sebum production is an oil component in the skin. More sebum blocks the skin pores and results in acne. Men with high testosterone often have persistent acne.
2.5. Enlarged Prostate
Testosterone stimulates the growth of the prostate, which can lead to urinary problems such as difficulty starting or stopping urination or even weak urination and frequent urination.
2.6. Energetic, Ambitious, and Aggressive
Testosterone can affect human behavior. Most people who have committed high-energy activities are found to have high testosterone.
3. How do You know if you Have Low testosterone?
3.1. Low Energy
Energy and testosterone are highly linked; if you eat well and sleep well but still have chronic fatigue, it could be an indicator of low testosterone.
3.2. Belly Fat
Testosterone is responsible for burning body fat; when one has a low of it, there will be an accumulation of fat in the abdominal cavity, and all these visceral fats can produce harmful substances that lower testosterone even more. If you eat well but still have belly fat, it means that you have a low amount of testosterone.
3.3. Mood Swings
Testosterone affects mood as well. Most studies show that men with high testosterone are always active and have a high life force, but the ones with low have mood swings.
3.4. Insomnia
Many things cause insomnia, but low testosterone3 can also contribute to it. Testosterone regulates periods of sleep. The initial cause of sleep disorders might be other factors like blue light or stress, but the more you lack sleep, the lesser the testosterone production, and this will lead you to lack sleep, so you will be in an endless cycle.ย
4. How is One Tested for Low Testosterone Levels?
According to scientistโs, an average of 8-12 nanomoles per litter of testosterone; however, the normal testosterone levels can vary depending on factors such as genetics and age. On a daily men produce 4-8 mil a day.
In medical facilities, testosterone levels are tested through blood samples. The sample will be taken in the morning when testosterone is often at its peak; more samples can be taken during the daytime as well for accuracy purposes. A healthy diet can, in a million ways, increase testosterone levels. Some things that can help improve and avoid testosterone deficiency include:ย
- Oysters and other seafood contain zinc, which is essential for the production of testosterone.
- Vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower have indole -3- carbinol, tend to lower estrogen levels, and thus stimulate more production of testosterone.
- Garlic is a natural testosterone booster; it contains compounds such as allicin, which stimulate the production of luteinizing hormone, which signals the testes to produce testosterone.
Certain meals may suppress your testosterone levels, which may have an impact on your overall strength, sexual prowess, and muscular mass. Certain plants, seeds, and drinks are among these foods.
- As much as vegetable oils are good, excess intake can lead to low testosterone. Vegetable oils contain omega-6 fatty acids, which, when theyโre in excess, can lead to inflammation, which is linked to lower testosterone.
- Processed foods lead to increased body fat and insulin resistance, which these factors lower the production of testosterone.
4.1. Does High Testosterone Cause Hair Loss?
It is time to debunk the myth. While high testosterone can contribute to hair loss in men, it is not entirely the cause of baldness. Hair loss is a complex topic, and many factors can cause it.
It is not testosterone that causes hair loss, but it plays a role in it. The conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone by an enzyme called 5 alpha-reductase. DHT causes shrinkage of hair follicles and, eventually, hair loss.
Many other factors can contribute to hair loss, such as age, genetics, or even life; therefore, even though high testosterone can lead to more production of DHT, it is still not the sole cause of hair loss.
5. What are Artificial Ways of Increasing Testosterone?
The lifestyle that is lived today has caused a lot of men to have lower testosterone than what is needed, which is why many are opting for other faster and more artificial ways of increasing testosterone, also known as testosterone replacement therapy or simply testosterone therapy.
There are many ways to treat low testosterone levels, but the most common ones are testosterone boosters in capsule form or cannot go with anabolic steroids. The use of these steroids has become widespread among many bodybuilders. Other forms are.
5.1. Gels
These gels come in different forms and doses with different methods of application. Some are applied on the skin, some on the nose. But generally, the Gel contains testosterone, which the skin absorbs into the blood.
5.2. Skin Patch
Skin patch such as endoderm is applied to the upper body or the arm once a day.
5.3. Mouth Patch
This is like a tablet that sticks to the upper gums and is slowly absorbed into the bloodstream using the oral tissues.
5.4. Implants
Implants are the most known and common; they are placed as pellets in the soft tissue, and the body absorbs the testosterone. However, abusing these steroid hormones can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, and liver damage. Other effects of testosterone replacement therapy include. Excessive synthetic testosterone can lead to low sperm count because the brain cuts off the production when it is signaled that there is enough testosterone.
Other effects of testosterone replacement therapy include. High levels of testosterone often stimulate the growth of prostate cancer, which is why before someone begins testosterone replacement therapy, they are advised to do a screening for prostate cancer.
Usually, with age, the prostate grows. Still, when testosterone levels are increased in the body, they will lead to extra growth of the prostate, which in turn blocks the urethra, thus disrupting the urinary system in men. Testosterone treatment can sometimes increase the production of red blood cells, which increases the risk of blood clots in the veins. Blood clots can lead to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
6. Taking Everything into Account
There are a lot of myths regarding testosterone in this day and age; some say it is a dangerous hormone, but know that it is the driving force of a man comes from testosterone.ย Testosterones are just components that make a man; the varying levels of it should not put men into classes.
Both those with penises and those with vulvas may experience problems due to high Testosterone levels. If you have any signs of higher Testosterone, consult a doctor. Finding the cause early reduces the risk of any consequences from Testosterone imbalances because the cause is typically simple to cure.
- Zitzmann, Michael. โTestosterone and the brain.โย The Aging Maleย 9.4 (2006): 195-199. โฉ๏ธ
- Ramaswamy, Suresh, and Gerhard F. Weinbauer. โEndocrine control of spermatogenesis: Role of FSH and LH/testosterone.โย Spermatogenesisย 4.2 (2014): e996025. โฉ๏ธ
- Huo, Samantha, et al. โTreatment of men for โlow testosteroneโ: a systematic review.โย PloS oneย 11.9 (2016): e0162480. โฉ๏ธ
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