Testosterone is an essential male hormone that is responsible for carrying out several bodily functions. A man’s body starts producing testosterone as early as seven weeks after conception.
When boys go through puberty, their testosterone levels begin to rise, and it reaches its peak in their late teen years. When a man reaches about 30 years of age, his testosterone levels will start to experience a gradual decline every year.
Most men have enough testosterone, but in some cases, the body might not produce enough testosterone. This would result in a condition known as hypogonadism.
Testosterone levels are linked with everything in men, including muscle mass, bone density, reproductive system, and sexual function. It is also linked with various behaviors.
Endocrine system
The endocrine system has glands that are responsible for manufacturing hormones. The hypothalamus, which is found in the brain, signals the pituitary gland and tells it how much testosterone is needed by the body. Then the pituitary gland carries the message to the testicles.
Almost all of the testosterone produced in a man comes from the testicles, while a relatively small amount comes from the adrenal gland, which can be found directly above the kidneys. The adrenal glands and ovaries produce testosterone in small quantities in women.
Before a boy is born, the testosterone in his body is already working to form his genitals. At the stage of puberty, testosterone plays an important role in the development of various male properties like body and facial hair, muscles, and a deeper voice. It is also responsible for the sex drive.
The rate of testosterone production in a man experiences a significant increase during adolescence and reaches its max in the late teen years or early 20s. Once men get to age 30, with every year that passes, they would experience about a 1% decline in testosterone levels.
Reproductive system
Testosterone starts working to form the male genitals just seven weeks after conception. During puberty, when the rate of testosterone production is high, the penis and testicles grow more.
The testicles continue to produce a stream of testosterone and make new supplies of sperm each day. A man that has low testosterone levels is more likely to develop erectile dysfunction.
Also, undergoing testosterone therapy for an extended period could lead to a decrease in sperm production. Testosterone therapy could also lead to smaller testicles and enlarged prostate. So, it is better that you opt for natural testosterone boosters.
Sexuality
Testosterone is often considered the main male sex hormone, and it is rightly so. During puberty, the high levels of testosterone in a boy would result in better growth of the testicles, penis, and pubic hair. Then, muscles begin to develop, body hair starts growing, and the voice becomes deeper.
In addition to all these changes, there would be a significant surge in sexual desire. A man that has low testosterone levels would not have a great desire for sex; he might not even desire sex at all.
However, sexual activity and stimulation could lead to an increase in testosterone levels. Testosterone levels could experience a significant drop if you are sexually inactive for a long time.
Central nervous system
The central nervous system is responsible for the controlling of testosterone, sending messages through hormones and chemicals that are released into the bloodstream.
The hypothalamus in the brain tells the pituitary gland the amount of testosterone the body needs, and then the pituitary gland delivers that information to the testicles.
Testosterone plays a vital role in various behaviors, like dominance and aggression. It also aids in the boosting of self-esteem and a competitive spirit. As engaging in sexual activities could impact testosterone levels, so does participating in competitive events.
Research has shown that men with low testosterone levels often experience a lack of motivation and loss of confidence. It could also lead to a lack of focus, sleep apnea, lack of energy, and depression.
You should also keep in mind that testosterone is not the only factor that determines personality traits as there are biological and environmental factors.
Skin and hair
As a man leaves childhood and approaches adulthood, testosterone improves the growth of hair on his face, armpits, and genitals. Hair would also begin to develop on his legs, chest, and arms.
A man with low levels of testosterone might begin to experience loss of body hair. Taking natural testosterone boosters have been found to help with hair loss and could preserve the health of your hair.
Muscle, Bone, and Fat
Testosterone plays a vital role in the development of muscle bulk and strength. Testosterone helps with tissue growth by increasing neurotransmitters. It also communicates with the nuclear receptors in DNA, which promotes protein synthesis.
Research has shown that testosterone boosts the levels of growth hormone in the body, which will make muscles more likely to build when exercising.
Testosterone plays an important role in increasing bone density, and it also instructs the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Men that are suffering from low testosterone are more susceptible to experiencing bone fractures and breaks.
Also, testosterone has been found to aid in fat metabolism, which would help men burn fat without much hassle. If the levels of testosterone in a man’s body is low, it could lead to an increase in body fat, and also the development of male breasts.
Circulatory system
Testosterone moves around the body through the bloodstream. There is only one way to know your exact testosterone level, and that is to have it measured. To measure your testosterone levels, you will need to take a blood test.
Testosterone stimulates the bone marrow to manufacture red blood cells. Studies have also shown that healthy testosterone levels result in a healthy heart. It has also been found to have an effect on cholesterol and blood pressure.
However, more studies are required to back up its clot-busting properties. Research has shown that taking natural testosterone supplements can improve heart health and other bodily functions.
Why you should not have low testosterone levels
Low testosterone levels come with a lot of side effects and these include;
Decreased sexual function
As testosterone is the main hormone responsible for sexual function in men, a significant decline in levels could lead to a decrease in sex drive. Most men often worry that their sexual performance and desire would be impacted by the decline of testosterone levels.
As men get older, they would begin to notice several symptoms linked to sexual function, and this could be because of lowered testosterone levels. These symptoms include;
- Low sex drive
- Fewer spontaneous erections
- Infertility
- It could also lead to erectile dysfunction in some cases
Physical changes
A man that has low levels of testosterone might begin to notice a series of physical changes in his body. This is because testosterone is responsible for muscle mass, body hair, and also the overall appearance of a man.
A significant decrease in testosterone levels could lead to;
- Increase in body fat
- Weak bones
- A decrease in body hair
- Hot flashes
- A general sense of fatigue
- A decrease in muscle mass
- Swelling of the breast tissue
Sleep disturbances
Low testosterone levels could result in a disruption of energy levels and lead to insomnia, along with messing up your sleep patterns.
Testosterone replacement therapy could also lead to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a severe condition where your breathing repeatedly starts and stops while you sleep.
It could mess up your sleep pattern and make you more susceptible to having other complications like having a stroke. Research has shown that low levels of testosterone could lead to a decrease in the hours of sleep you get, even if you are not suffering from sleep apnea.
Benefits of testosterone
Having normal levels of testosterone comes with quite a number of health benefits. These include;
Healthy heart and blood
The heart is the main organ responsible for pumping blood to the rest of the body. It also provides other organs and muscles with the oxygen they need to perform properly. Testosterone helps with the production of red blood cells through the bone marrow.
Research has shown that low testosterone levels are linked with a number of cardiovascular risks. Studies have shown that men who had low testosterone levels were 24% less likely to suffer a heart attack after their testosterone levels returned to normal. These same set of men were also 36% less likely to have a stroke.
Improved sex drive
Testosterone levels have been found to notice a natural increase in response to sexual stimulation and activity. Men with significantly high levels of testosterone have a better sexual function.
As men get older, they would need more testosterone for sex drive and erectile function. However, you should keep in mind that low testosterone level is only one of the many factors that could lead to erectile dysfunction.
Studies have shown that opting to boost your testosterone levels could improve your sexual health and performance. However, there is a maximum level of testosterone before there is no more increased response.
Research has also shown that boosting testosterone levels may not benefit the sex drive of men who don’t have low testosterone levels.
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