Even though testosterone is produced by both men and women, it is often called the male hormone -that’s because it’s incomparably more important for their bodies. It’s made mainly by their testicles and then it travels to other parts of their bodies. Its levels peak during adolescence and adulthood before starting to gradually decrease around the age of 30. It’s normal for older men to have lower levels of testosterone and as long as it doesn’t go down too fast, there’s nothing to worry about. However, a lot of males observe changes in their moods, behaviour and health when the level of testosterone in their bodies starts decreasing – that’s when they begin to read supplement reviews to find something to boost it a little. And why is that? Why is testosterone so important? Well, because it influences…
… the circulatory system
Testosterone runs in our blood and a blood test is the most usual way to have it measured, but connections between this hormone and our bloodstream don’t end here. One of the roles of testosterone is spurring the bone marrow to constantly produce red blood cells. They are responsible for transporting oxygen through our bodies and the right level of oxygen is essential for our health – even life. For example, oxygen is needed for the heart to pump the blood and keep everything in balance. That’s why many people believe that a low level of testosterone can be linked to heart diseases.
… the central nervous system
The levels of testosterone in men’s bloodstream are actually responsible for many male behaviours, like aggression and an urge to dominate. It also makes them more competitive and it significantly influences their self-esteem. That’s why men tend to be bigger fans of competitive activities – it can affect testosterone levels causing it to rise or fall. Men with low testosterone are very often less confident and less motivated than those with higher levels. It can lead to the loss of concentration and sadness, sleeping troubles and lack of energy. It’s not the only factor that influences moods and behaviours, it’s not even the main one, but it’s good to be aware that it may have an impact.
… mental health
That’s also why testosterone is very often connected to men’s problems with mental health. Research shows that a lot of men who suffer from depression have lower testosterone than average. We don’t know if it’s the depression that causes it to fall or the other way around, but there were some studies conducted that showed that hormone therapy can actually help to battle depression.
… sexuality and the reproductive system
It’s testosterone that encourages male parts to develop; during puberty, it causes the growth of the testicles, penis, pubic and body hair, and muscles. And then, along with that, there comes sexual desire. It’s true that men with lower testosterone can experience loss of their desire for sex. As sexual activity can influence the level of the male hormone, a long period of sexual inactivity can lead to a decrease and result in erectile dysfunction.
Testosterone is also responsible for sperm production.
… body fat, muscles and bones
It has a great role to play when it comes to the development of muscle mass and strength, too. It encourages tissue growth and protein synthesis, and it increases levels of growth hormone which can help to build muscles. What’s more, it influences bone density and its low levels can lead to fractures, breaks and other problems. Testosterone is also partly responsible for the fat burn; that’s why older men, whose levels of testosterone start to fall, tend to gain weight.
… cognitive abilities
There was research conducted that showed a link between low testosterone levels and the tendency for losing cognitive abilities and even for Alzheimer’s disease. Many scientists believe that the hormone prevents brain tissue from decaying in older men. It’s not a new piece of information that low testosterone occurs with the loss of concentration, memory, and general fogginess.
As you can see, testosterone has many roles to play in men’s bodies and its low levels can affect many aspects of their lives. It’s not a bad thing to try boosting it a little as long as you stay under the supervision of a professional.
