Testosterone (also mis-spelt testerone by some people) is a hormone of the steroid family of the androgen group and is found in humans as well as animals.

 

What is Testosterone?

It is primarily produced by the testes of males and the ovaries of females and a small amount of it is also produced by the adrenal glands. There are many cases where testosterone is wrongly called testerone by some people. So if ever somebody is talking about testerone, he/she might be actually meaning testosterone.

It is an anabolic steroid and male sex hormone. In men, this male hormone has an important role in the development of male reproductive organs (testes and the prostate) and it is also responsible for the secondary sexual traits such as muscle building, bone mass, and body hair growth during puberty.

It helps promotes men’s health:

  1. Production of Red blood cells
  2. Fat distribution
  3. Body mass
  4. Body mass, muscle and strength
  5. Bone density Libido (sex drive)
  6. Erectile function
  7. Spermatogenesis (Sperm production)
  8. Deepening voice tone
  9. Pubic and facial hairs growth

Testosterone body map with description on which part of body it affects

In males, the testerone secretion is much more in volume than in females as metabolic consumption of this hormone in males is high. Just like in the case of men, women also rely on it to maintain sex drive, bone density and muscle mass throughout their lifetime.

Low T/Hypogonadism Hypogonadism is a medical condition in which the human body is unable to produce sufficient amount of male hormone due to another health problem with the testicles or with glands that controls this process. A lab blood test is required to determine the serum testosterone level.

Reference chart showing the level of testosterone with respect to age of man

Lower than normal levels of testosterone in men decreases muscle mass, stunt growth in teenagers, causes gynecomastia, promotes feminine characteristics, curtails masculine growth, reduces sex drive and causes erectile dysfunction and can also cause sweating in excess. There are some people who are born with hypogonadism, or it can occur later in life due injury, accident or infection.

Treatments normally depend on the cause. Some types of hypogonadism can be remedied with replacement therapy. Replacement therapy (TRT) improves the signs and symptoms of low T in men afflicted by Hypogonadism. TRT is done by injections, pills, body patches and gel. Testosterone levels versus age Testosterone level is at its peaks during teenage and early adulthood. However with age the level decreases.

Please find below some of the symptoms resulting due to declining level with ageing. In some cases these symptoms forms part of the normal ageing process or side effects of medication or psychological conditions and it is very important to make the right diagnosis. Physique: Swollen or tender breasts (gynecomastia) Hair loss is possible.

Decreased bone density Changes in the physique Increased body fat Decreased muscle mass Low energy and Weakness Sweating and hot flashes Emotional: Demotivation Lack of self-confidence Depressed feelings Lack of concentrating Low memory Other Insomnia and disruption of the sleep patterns Reduced sex drive, Fewer erections Infertility. Not all of the above symptoms will occur at the same time and some of them may never occur even when there is deficiency.