The hormone of masculinity, or Testosterone, is a male sex hormone that we are often familiar with, but this male sex hormone does not only play a leading role in sexual performance alone.
Let’s get to know Testosterone deeply to the core. What are the male sex hormones? How many types of male sex hormones are there? If the body has too much male sex hormone, is it abnormal? Because the male sex hormone Testosterone is more important than you think…
Male sex hormone is ….
Male sex hormone, or Testosterone hormone, is one of the sex hormones that determines your masculinity, including physical characteristics, the amount of body hair, muscle and bone development, as well as sexual desire and sperm production. So what are the male sex hormones? It is Testosterone hormone. It is produced in the testes and peaks in the early twenties.
How many types of male sex hormones are there? Mainly, the male sex hormone that determines masculine characteristics is only Testosterone, which plays a major role. But males do not only have Testosterone; they also have Estrogen at very low levels to maintain body balance. Females also have Testosterone but in very small amounts because the female sex hormone is Estrogen, which is much higher than Testosterone in females, to determine female characteristics.
Do you know Testosterone well? Nowadays, there may still be some misunderstandings and false beliefs about male sex hormones.
- If you have a lot of Testosterone, it means you are more masculine — “completely wrong!” The truth is, if you have higher than normal levels of Testosterone in your body, some of the Testosterone will be converted into Estrogen to balance it out. Having excessively high levels of male sex hormones may cause you to be more aggressive than usual.
Too much male sex hormone is not very beneficial to the body. Normal testosterone levels should be between 300 – 1,000 nanograms per deciliter, with an average of 679 nanograms per deciliter. If you are healthy, testosterone levels will be between 400-600 nanograms per deciliter. Of course, your body will produce peak testosterone during late adolescence to adulthood, then gradually decrease with age. This can be noticed after age 40 or during andropause, with irritability.
Having too low male sex hormone is also not good. In cases of low testosterone during adolescence, it may affect the development of genital organs, scrotum, sperm production, deep voice, sparse facial hair, and muscle size and strength development. Another case is low testosterone with increasing age, causing erectile dysfunction, mood swings, and decreased sexual performance….
If you have low testosterone, what are the causes and symptoms to watch for, and how is low testosterone treated…
Of course, aging is an important factor, but there are other causes that can lead to low testosterone or fluctuating testosterone levels that affect daily life.
What causes testosterone levels to decrease?
- Having chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes or obesity
- Kidney health problems, hepatitis, AIDS, injury to the genital organs
- Cancer treatment with radiation therapy or chemotherapy
- Alcohol addiction
Having low testosterone levels or low testosterone syndrome also affects physical health. If you do not know you have low testosterone, watch for the following symptoms:
- Noticeable decrease in physical strength
- Weight gain, joint and bone pain
- Often have trouble sleeping or sleep but not deeply
- Feeling lethargic and depressed; some feel less enthusiastic
- Decreased sexual desire
Symptoms that may indicate you have low testosterone
- Feeling that the penis does not get as hard as usual
- Lack of energy, feeling tired as if not fully rested
- Noticeable decrease in sexual feelings
- Easily stressed, anxious, and less confident
- More mood swings than usual
Male hormone deficiency or low testosterone mainly has two treatment methods:
- Lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of low testosterone
- Avoid alcohol and smoking
- Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight, not too low or too high
- Get enough rest and try not to stress too much
- Eat a proper and nutritious diet
- Treatment with testosterone replacement therapy
Currently, testosterone replacement therapy is used to balance the functions of various body systems to normal, including sexual desire and performance. Today, there are many testosterone replacement options available, including oral medication, injections, topical gels, or patches, depending on the doctor’s recommendation to suit you.
