10 Facts Every Man Should Know About Testosterone UPMC HealthBeat

Bigger, Faster, Stronger? 6 Benefits of Testosterone

People who are overweight are at an increased risk of low testosterone levels due to a higher amount of aromatase being produced in belly fat. That is also why doctors recommend losing weight to improve testosterone levels. Testosterone therapy may make sense for women who have low testosterone levels and symptoms that might be due to testosterone deficiency. However, the wisdom and effectiveness of testosterone treatment to improve sexual function or cognitive function among postmenopausal women is unclear. In recent years, researchers (and pharmaceutical companies) have focused on the effects of testosterone deficiency, especially among men. In fact, as men age, testosterone levels drop very gradually, about 1% to 2% each year — unlike the relatively rapid drop in estrogen that causes menopause.

No part of the company’s strategy involved dispensing androgen blockers to change levels of testosterone in men’s bodies. The focus was on collective goals, admitting and learning from errors, and disentangling notions of competence from displays of machismo. Asked to reflect on what being a man meant to them, the workers ended up describing manliness in non-stereotyped ways, often drawing on ideas of approachability, compassion and humility. In 2025, clinics like AlphaMan, a men’s health center specializing in hormone optimization, are rethinking how testosterone therapy fits into modern masculinity.

The primary objective was to ensure participants remained engaged in core-strengthening exercises for the entire 5-minute session, even if they needed brief pauses or modified movements. The total number of repetitions or the duration of continuous exercise was recorded for each participant, with any modifications duly noted. Male sex drive can be affected underlying health conditions, mental health, trauma, lifestyle factors and relationship problems. If you have low testosterone levels, you are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis and breaking your bones. If you think that you have any of the symptoms of low testosterone you should talk to your doctor. They will ask you about your medical history, perform a physical examination and send you for a blood test. They may then refer you to an endocrinologist — a doctor who specialises in hormones.

You acknowledge that sex is an important variable for understanding mating, and you don’t endorse radical sex-neutral theories. But then you take T-Rex (and me along with him) head-first into straw-man territory. This is where maleness is described as ‘a sort of “essence” that determines … predispositions of the male sex role.’ what helps with testosterone serious biologist thinks this? My view is that the sexes are born (on average, as always) with different predispositions, leading to what are called ‘traditional sex roles’, which T-Rex gets right. This pattern, of females being more nurturing and males being more competitive, applies to our own species. We do agree on some things – such as the value of reproductive autonomy, a world free of the threat of male violence, and flexibility of gender expression.

It also plays a role in maintaining the health of the testes and prostate gland. Low levels of Testosterone can lead to infertility, decreased libido, and erectile dysfunction. Testosterone deficiency is a medical condition that occurs when the body does not produce enough testosterone to fulfill the needs of the androgen receptors. Another aspect of low testosterone occurs when testosterone bound to sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) cannot break free of the bind to enter the androgen receptors. In that scenario, a person could have normal total testosterone but low free testosterone levels. For example, the hormone stimulates the body to make new red blood cells. Testosterone can also affect a man’s bone density, fat distribution, and muscle strength.

Testosterone hormone function in females is not very different from that in males. You will find that many of the same actions of testosterone occur in females, so we will not duplicate those answers here. Any time you’re worried about your sex drive or your ability to get an erection, or you just feel tired or down all the time (or you have any of the symptoms listed above), you should talk to your primary care doctor. Here’s what you should know about testosterone’s main functions and what can affect your T levels.

I wouldn’t presume that these men are repressing a predisposition to be bellicose womanisers. ​​This doesn’t mean that men spend their lives trying to tear each other apart. We are not a highly polygynous species like the elephant seal, in which lots of fierce aggression is a sensible reproductive strategy. All animals use aggression judiciously, but it depends on the costs versus the rewards for particular animals in a given environment. In humans – who are arguably mildly polygynous – individual proclivities for aggression vary widely, but males still have a heightened propensity for it. Given enough alcohol, an honour-based culture, the right kind of threat or the ready availability of guns, it will show itself.

In this account, ‘T’ becomes the potent, hormonal essence of competitive, risk-taking masculinity. Sex drive is a nonclinical term that means enthusiasm or interest in sexual activity. The presence of it (or lack thereof) can indicate the state of your mental and physical functioning.

Despite being a male sex hormone, testosterone also contributes to sex drive, bone density, and muscle strength in women. However, an excess of testosterone can also cause women to experience male pattern baldness and infertility. As surprising as it may be, women can also be bothered by symptoms of testosterone deficiency.

Free testosterone (the active form) also matters, as does the patient’s overall health picture. It is important to note that testosterone production is a complex process, and the factors that affect it can be interrelated. Suppose you are experiencing low testosterone symptoms, such as decreased libido, fatigue, and muscle weakness. In that case, speaking with a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and explore treatment options is important.