How Testosterone Affects Your Body
Whether you are looking for a treatment for muscle mass, memory loss, depression, sleeplessness, or osteoporosis, there are several options available to you. The first step is to determine which is best for you.
Mood disturbances
Several large-scale scientific studies have tailed the link between low testosterone and moodiness. One study found that men with lower-than-average levels of testosterone were more likely to exhibit symptoms of depression. Interestingly, women may be less prone to the ills of low testosterone, but not necessarily low mood.
For example, low testosterone levels have been associated with major depressive disorder in men with HIV/AIDS. There is also a growing body of evidence linking testosterone deficiency with sexual dysfunction in men. Fortunately, testosterone supplementation has proven effective in alleviating both of these ailments. It is also worth noting that many of these illnesses are dormant until hormone replacement therapy is employed.
Although testosterone has been associated with several neuropsychiatric symptoms, the link between the hormone and moodiness is still somewhat tenuous. Nevertheless, a few well-designed and well-executed studies have yielded some promising results. A recent study published in Nature Medicine has shown that testosterone supplementation may improve symptoms in men with bipolar disorders.
In the end, the decision is left to individual men and their doctors. If testosterone deficiency is a factor, then it is best to have a proactive plan in place for minimizing its impact on your mental health. Luckily, testosterone supplementation is a relatively inexpensive treatment that does not require a trip to the doctor’s office.
A little more research is in order to identify which hormones are most at risk for causing moodiness in men and to determine whether testosterone supplementation is a good first step in addressing these issues.
Increased body fat
Getting a little bit of testosterone can help you maintain a healthy weight, but a lot of the research on how it affects your body has been limited to animal models. There aren’t any studies in humans, but the T4DM trial, which is currently underway, may have some implications for real life.
Testosterone helps manage your metabolism and improves your body composition. It also increases your sex drive. The hypothalamus and pituitary glands stimulate testosterone production. It also assists with the growth of hair and mature sperm cells.
As you age, your testosterone level naturally declines. A low testosterone level can lead to fat storage in unwanted places. It’s also harder to build muscle and lose weight.
The hormone can also increase your cortisol levels, which increases belly fat. It can also slow your metabolism, which reduces calorie burning. It’s also a stress hormone that releases fat for energy during times of stress.
It’s not a new fact that testosterone increases your sex drive, but it’s not exactly clear how it improves your sex life.
In the study, testosterone was administered to 100 obese men. They were randomly assigned to a placebo or to a 10-week intramuscular testosterone undecanoate treatment. They were also monitored at the clinic three times a month and via a website containing diet and exercise guidelines.
The resulting changes in body composition were statistically significant. The corresponding statistical significance was compared to the results of meta-analyses of RCTs that didn’t include any weight loss measures.
Muscle mass
Among the many bodily functions regulated by testosterone, building muscle is one. Testosterone promotes the release of growth hormone, which is needed to repair the body’s bones. It also increases maximal voluntary strength in a dose-dependent manner. It is likely that the mechanisms for increasing muscle mass are related to changes in the expression of multiple muscle growth regulators.
In an attempt to understand how testosterone affects muscle mass, the authors examined 71 postmenopausal women who had hysterectomies. The study was designed to evaluate the relationship between total and free testosterone and muscle mass. They tested the association between testosterone levels and outcomes in the trunk, pelvic, and abdominal muscles. They measured the muscle areas with a 1.5-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
The results showed a dose-response relationship between testosterone and the abdominal wall and pelvic muscles. Dose-response relationships were also found for the hip-stabilizing obturator internus muscle and the ischiocavernosus muscles.
In addition, testosterone was found to increase the volume of the paraspinal muscles in hypogonadal men. This could potentially improve physical function and reduce the risk of falls and disability in older men.
These results suggest that testosterone therapy may be a useful treatment for men with pelvic floor disorders. Nevertheless, the authors caution that further research is necessary.
In the present study, a linear regression model was used to investigate the relationship between testosterone and muscle measurements. Adjustments were made for age and height-squared standardized outcomes. The main outcome was defined as the change in muscle area divided by height-squared. All statistical tests were two-sided and all data were presented in standard deviations and means.
Osteoporosis
Having low testosterone is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Fortunately, there are treatments for men who have low testosterone. There are several prescription medications that can slow bone loss and increase bone density. These drugs can be taken orally or applied to the skin.
There are many causes of osteoporosis. Some of these include low calcium and vitamin D, low testosterone, and a lack of exercise. Others may be caused by underlying diseases.
The most common cause of osteoporosis in men is a decrease in testosterone. Typically, men lose about 1% of their testosterone per year after the age of 30. These changes in testosterone affect bone mass and strength of the bones.
While the connection between testosterone and osteoporosis is relatively clear, more studies are needed to confirm this relationship. In addition, a number of medications and underlying diseases may modify the testosterone-osteoporosis relationship.
In the case of osteoporosis, low testosterone can decrease the formation of new bone tissue. This loss of bone tissue increases the likelihood of a fracture.
Testosterone is an important hormone for the growth of bones. It promotes the differentiation and apoptosis of osteoblasts. It also suppresses the activity of interleukins (IL-6), which activate osteoclasts. In addition, it can increase the level of AR, which is present in osteoblasts.
A negative T-score is a sign of a reduced density of the bone. When the T-score is -2.5 SD or more below the mean, it is considered osteoporosis. The diagnosis is usually made with a bone mineral density (BMD) scan.
Memory loss
Considering testosterone is the king of the male triumphed, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing an influx of studies devoted to the subject. A recent study of geriatric males at an assisted living facility in the ‘burbs yielded some interesting findings. Amongst other things, they found the name of the game was a sex-off, and the males were males. One notable exception was males with Alzheimer’s afflicts, which, of course, isn’t a pleasant experience.
Testosterone replacement therapy has been found to ameliorate some of these symptoms. Men who have been treated for Alzheimer’s have on the order of half the free testosterone found in the general population. There is also some evidence that the presence of male hormones may have a symbiotic effect on female adolescent testosterone levels, leading to a boost in female libido.
The same goes for testosterone in the female genital tract, which in turn leads to an increase in female genital size and female genital cancers. The best part is that it is a non-invasive procedure that has no adverse effects on males in the long run. This is just a tasteful reminder that men and women are a complex mix and that all is not black and white.
Sleep difficulties
Increasing evidence suggests that sleep difficulties are associated with testosterone levels and that this hormone plays a vital role in sleep quality and well-being. Among men, testosterone plays a central role in a number of body systems, including growth, hormone production, sexual development, muscle and bone strength, cognition, and mood. However, testosterone production can be inhibited by certain external conditions, such as an infection or cancer treatment.
For years, scientists have been interested in the relationship between hormones and sleep. It has been shown that sleep is an effective way to reduce stress, which in turn boosts testosterone and other endocrine levels.
In a recent study, researchers at the University of Chicago examined the relationship between testosterone and sleep. They gathered blood samples from 10 young men in their early twenties and measured the amount of time they spent in various sleep stages.
The best-case scenario is a seven to nine-hour night’s sleep. Unfortunately, many adult workers fail to meet this standard. They may experience a variety of sleep restrictions, and in some cases, even sleep apnea.
Fortunately, these sleep restrictions can be mitigated by developing a healthy sleep routine. For example, avoiding caffeine in the afternoon is a smart way to prepare for bedtime. Also, developing a regular sleep schedule, and avoiding screens before bed can help improve your sleeping habits.
One of the more interesting findings in the study was that testosterone treatments had an impact on the total amount of time a man spent in sleep. The total RDI, the NREM RDI, and the total respiratory disturbance index all increased.
Health Sources:
Health A to Z. (n.d.). HSE.ie. https://www2.hse.ie/az/
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Directory Health Topics. (n.d.). https://www.healthline.com/directory/topics
Health A-Z. (2022, April 26). Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/health-a-z-4014770
Harvard Health. (2015, November 17). Health A to Z. https://www.health.harvard.edu/health-a-to-z
Health Conditions A-Z Sitemap. (n.d.). EverydayHealth.com. https://www.everydayhealth.com/conditions/
