Testosterone hormone: how to increase it in men and women

Normal testosterone levels in men, women and children

The study of testosterone levels is not limited to men, because women and children also produce small amounts of this substance in their bodies. The only difference is the place of production of the hormone: in men it is synthesized in the testes, in women ¾ in the adrenal cortex and a small part ¾ in the ovaries. In the female body, the function of the hormone is aimed at the development of secondary sexual characteristics, stable and healthy functioning of the reproductive system, as well as the synthesis of some protein components.

Children and adolescents need sufficient amounts of the substance due to active growth and development. Without the hormone in adolescence, the development of the musculoskeletal system, the growth of the bone skeleton and the development of the muscular system are impossible.

Testosterone circulates in the bloodstream both in free form and in a protein-bound state. Only 2% of the substance is the free fraction of the substance; the remaining amount is associated with albumins, globulins and other proteins of the human body.

The doctor usually prescribes a testosterone test in men, women or children to assess its total, total fraction. If the study revealed low testosterone, a more specific diagnosis will be needed - a test for bound testosterone.

The testosterone level in men is within certain limits depending on the age of the person being studied:

Leaning on meat for the sake of success in bed is pointless: an endocrinologist dispelled myths about testosterone

What is spring associated with? Of course, with love. Your blood is boiling and you'll lose your head, despite the self-isolation. In poetic language (and that’s exactly what we want to say in the spring), the Faun is about to chase the nymph, and the yang will rush towards the yin. One of the main and guiding factors in all these love processes is, as rumor says, testosterone. It is called the main male hormone and is associated with sexual activity, bulky muscles and masculinity.

In fact, a whole bunch of misconceptions have formed around this hormone. Having carefully studied folk beliefs, we selected several of the most common myths associated with testosterone and asked an endocrinologist, professor, doctor of medical sciences, head of the department and director of the endocrinology clinic of the First Moscow State Medical University to comment on them. THEM. Sechenov, corresponding member of the RAS Valentin Viktorovich Fadeev .

1. In men, the more testosterone, the stronger the libido.

As a matter of fact: Testosterone is important for the formation of libido. A decrease in sexual desire is, indeed, one of the possible symptoms of its deficiency (I emphasize ONE OF THE POSSIBLE ones). But I’m not sure that testosterone level is correct to call the decisive factor determining libido. After all, sexual desire is a complex complex of social, individual and cultural attitudes of the individual. Testosterone is rather a hormone that is involved in the formation and maintenance of the physiological basis of sexual desire.

2. Testosterone is a sign of a man. Estrogen is a female hormone

Actually: No, of course not! Do not talk about a person and his physiology as a certain sum of individual parameters, the concentration of which we can determine in the blood. Moreover, it is correct to say not estrogen, but estrogens, the most important of which in humans is estradiol. Libido in women is largely determined by androgens (the general collective name for a group of steroid hormones that, in certain concentrations, have the ability to cause the development of male secondary sexual characteristics in both sexes - editor's note). But, to a greater extent, it is not testosterone, but androgens of adrenal origin .

With some endocrine diseases, women can actually develop an excess of androgens, not necessarily testosterone. At the same time, she does not look like a man, but she may develop disorders of the reproductive system. Diseases in men in which estrogens circulate in excess in the blood are incidentally rare; much more often, testosterone production may decrease for many reasons.

3. The more testosterone, the more aggressive a man is?

Actually: No, of course not! Let me cite a simple and well-known fact: testosterone does not have an effect on its own, but in the cells on which it acts, it is converted into dihydrotestosterone, which affects the genome of the cell. Thus, the effect of testosterone is mediated by the activity of a number of intracellular enzymes. Aggression is a behavioral trait that cannot be determined by any one biochemical parameter. It would be very simple to give testosterone to soldiers before battle so that they fight better... Even if you give me a monthly dose of testosterone at once, I will not go out into the street to destroy store windows.

4. There is no such thing as too much testosterone; the more, the better.

In fact: Testosterone is only one of thousands of hormones known today. There is no parameter in the body in relation to which one could say “the more, the better” or “the less, the better.” What does better mean? Better for what?

For normal sexual desire, men must indeed have normal levels of testosterone, and decreased libido is one of the symptoms of its deficiency. However, low sex drive is often not due to testosterone deficiency. The quality of erection, for example, does not directly depend on testosterone levels. Erectile dysfunction often develops not due to testosterone deficiency, but for other reasons.

5. A man is naturally more emotionally stable and reliable than a woman - he does not have a monthly cycle.

In fact: The female reproductive system functions cyclically, and this approximately monthly cyclicity is determined by the work of the hypothalamic-pituitary system of the brain. The male reproductive system operates in tonic mode, that is, practically at the same level, without such significant fluctuations. Some women, indeed, exhibit a natural dynamics of their emotional state throughout the monthly cycle, but not all. Physiologically speaking, men do not have critical days, and crises, which are indeed frequent, develop as a result of emotional factors, including problems of a sexual nature, which can, especially with a low level of intelligence, be realized through aggression.

6. Men are more successful than women because of testosterone. Testosterone is associated with assertiveness, determination, increased resistance to stress, and healthy ambition

In fact: Do not reduce sexual, emotional and any other differences in the body of a man and a woman to just one testosterone molecule. I don’t remember any women of genius whose talent developed as a result of excess testosterone. A man and a woman are genetically different, their endocrine and, accordingly, central nervous systems function differently, men and women have different biological functions, they suffer from different diseases and even live different life expectancies. The social functions of men and women in the vast majority of cultures over thousands of years have been different, and this in no way belittles women or exalts men. Therefore, it is completely pointless to compare and somehow contrast organisms that are completely different from a biological point of view!

7. Testosterone turns a man into a perpetual sex engine. The presence of the hormone in the body leads to the fact that a man is always ready for sex and dreams of getting someone into bed around the clock.

In fact: Biologically, male individuals, whose task is not to bear offspring, but to conceive them, have a completely different sexuality. Apart from human intelligence, this can easily be seen in animals, including primates. But what you called “a sex machine that constantly wants to copulate” cannot be reproduced with testosterone, even in very large doses. This kind of sexual preoccupation is more typical of the mentally retarded, who can masturbate for days, including in front of strangers. I repeat once again: male sexuality is a complex product of social, personal, physiological and cultural factors, and all this cannot be reduced to one steroid molecule.

8. Testosterone decreases with age.

In fact: Yes, this is completely natural! But the level of testosterone in the blood decreases, which we determine during a hormonal study. As I already said, this does not fully mean that the intracellular effects of this hormone are reduced. A decrease in testosterone levels occurs in conjunction with other genetically programmed changes that develop with age. Everything must correspond to each other clearly! Perhaps I will say a seditious thing: but age and aging are a biological norm, this is normal, while the social essence of a person also implies that at different ages people will have different social functions. If you try to artificially change the tincture and increase the level of one hormone in an elderly body to a level corresponding to a young one, this risks coming into conflict with all other parameters and the system will become unbalanced with very sad consequences, in the form of cardiovascular diseases, the development of tumors, etc. .

9. Baldness occurs due to excess testosterone.

In fact: This is a common misconception: if you are bald, it means you have more testosterone than someone with hair! No medical or scientific evidence has been found for this claim. Studies of several thousand men have shown that there is no connection between testosterone levels and the presence or absence of scalp hair. As for male baldness, there can be dozens of reasons: heredity, illness, the use of a number of medications, and so on.

10. Testosterone is a cure for many diseases.

Not really. Although in the USA, such treatment methods are very common in the so-called Anti-Aging system (literally: against aging). This system actively promotes patches and gels with testosterone all over the world, which help “fight” chronic fatigue, erectile dysfunction and even “grown belly” and diabetes. In this regard, there is a “big” game going on with laboratory references (“standards”) of testosterone: if they are slightly changed for one or another “highly scientific” reasons, the army of men with testosterone “deficiency” can grow many times over, which is very beneficial for the pharmaceutical business.

11. Testosterone makes us taller.

In fact: Absolutely not! Testosterone is involved in the processes of growth and skeletal formation, but its excess (or level inadequate for age) in the period before the onset of puberty, on the contrary, can lead to short stature.

12. Testosterone causes hoarseness and voice changes.

Fact: Under the influence of testosterone, the larynx develops in a male pattern, resulting in lower and often more hoarse sounds, but this is not a universal rule!

13. Testosterone Causes Prostate Cancer

In fact: If you already have prostate cancer, an increase in testosterone levels, in some cases, can contribute to its progression, but on the other hand, prostate cancer rarely develops in young men, whose testosterone levels are significantly higher than in older men. In other words, prostate cancer is a multifactorial process and testosterone levels are by no means a key component in this regard.

14. Testosterone is bad for the heart.

In fact: Cardiovascular diseases are indeed significantly more common in men compared to women. But, as I already said, the differences between the male and female bodies are by no means limited to testosterone levels alone. In this regard, there are many contradictory facts: long-term and severe testosterone deficiency is associated (that is, in some way connected, probably not directly) with the development of vascular atherosclerosis.

On the other hand, prescribing testosterone to older men with low levels and pre-existing heart disease leads to an increase in mortality against this background. Conclusion: testosterone itself and its deficiency in itself does not cause the development of cardiovascular diseases. The implementation of the action of any hormone occurs through the genetic apparatus of cells, which experiences the regulatory influence of numerous factors, including those unknown to us.

15. To increase testosterone levels and become a real macho, you need to load up on meat and sour cream.

This is pointless and unsafe! Believe me, both excess and deficiency of hormones in the body are not safe! This is just one factor, the most well-known to ordinary people, which is involved in the regulation of everything related to the functioning of the reproductive system, primarily in men. The reproductive system, its normal functioning, must fit harmoniously and correspond to the work of other organs: the heart, blood vessels, liver and everything else.

This is how testosterone synthesis is regulated. If you fill a factory with raw materials, it will not produce more goods than its capacity allows, and if it produces an excess, it will rot in the warehouse, since no one needs it. Do not perceive a living organism, a biological system, mechanistically, like a blender or a meat grinder, where as much meat as you put in, you will get as much minced meat. We are much more complex.

Link to publication: kp.ru

When do hormone levels increase?

In women, a slight increase in hormone levels can be observed when taking COCs (combined oral contraceptives), as well as during pregnancy. In both men and women, increased testosterone is a consequence of taking anticonvulsants (for example, therapy for epilepsy), as well as during treatment for hyperthyroidism.

An increase in testosterone is a clear signal that allows one to suspect the development of the following conditions in a patient:

development of adrenogenital syndrome in women;
the risk of tumor formation in the ovaries in women and testicles in men;
Itsenko-Cushing's disease ¾ endocrine pathology, in which there is excessive synthesis of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) at the level of the brain, which leads to increased activity of the adrenal cortex, where, in particular, testosterone is produced;
Reifenstein syndrome (male pseudohermaphroditism);
tumor process in the pituitary gland;
excessive physical activity of patients;
in some professional athletes taking steroid drugs.

Increased testosterone ¾ is an important symptom that cannot be ignored. When testosterone increases, the doctor, as a rule, conducts additional diagnostics to find out the reasons for the change in the level of the hormone in the patient’s body.

When does a decrease in hormone levels occur?

In men over 50 years of age, reproductive function begins to decline physiologically, which is accompanied by a decrease in testosterone levels. However, doctors often talk a lot about how to increase testosterone in men in natural ways, so you should not worry about a decrease in the level of the hormone if this is the age norm.

Cause for concern arises when low testosterone appears in a man aged 18-50 years, and the patient's hormone level differs significantly from the testosterone norm for men in this age group.

A decrease in the level of the substance often indicates the development of the following pathological conditions:

diseases of the pituitary gland ¾ functional or organic lesions of the pituitary gland, which lead to disruption of the synthesis of gonadotropic hormones, which affects the production of testosterone in the gonads;
pathology of the hypothalamus, which controls the function of the pituitary gland;

pathology of the adrenal glands: insufficiency of adrenal cortex function, other diseases;
active use of certain medications, glucocorticosteroid substances;
hypogonadism (insufficient function of the gonads);
chronic prostatitis ¾ inflammation of the prostate gland;
male obesity, female alcoholism;
malnutrition ¾ insufficient amount of protein in the diet, increased level of “fast” carbohydrates that are easily digested;
certain dietary rules ¾ vegetarianism, long-term fasting;
liver cirrhosis, renal failure;
endocrine disorders that cause an imbalance in the ratio of male and female sex hormones in the human body.

A decrease in hormones in a woman by ¾ is not a very dangerous and formidable sign. As a rule, hormone levels naturally decrease during menopause. However, in this case, it may be necessary to increase testosterone in a natural way, because a lack of the hormone in the body often leads to osteoporosis, increased bone fragility, and affects the psycho-emotional sphere. For example, a woman may experience long periods of depression, insomnia, and even suicidal thoughts.

The level of the hormone in the body is determined using a special blood test. A diagnostic study allows you to detect the problem and begin drug treatment of the patient’s pathology.

When is the time to act

You can notice a hormone deficiency not only due to sexual health, but also due to other signs. The most common symptoms that appear are:

decrease in muscle mass and increase in fat:
mood instability, depressive attacks;
attention deficit;
decreased sex drive;
decreased erection frequency and quality;
decrease in sperm volume;
intense hair loss on the face, body and head;
deterioration in sports performance.

Low testosterone in men will be detected by tests. If the readings are below normal, you should consult a doctor. There are a number of natural methods that can help.

What to do with high and low testosterone levels?

High testosterone or low testosterone ¾ are manifestations of some physiological and pathological processes occurring in the human body. Often, a doctor prescribes a blood test for testosterone if he already suspects the formation of any pathology.

For example, the following conditions are considered indications for research:

doctor's suspicion of female or male infertility;
tumor process in the adrenal glands or gonads;
the patient has a certain degree of obesity;
formation of osteoporosis;
skin manifestations ¾ acne, which may indicate a significant increase in testosterone levels, oily seborrhea;
baldness.

In addition, a doctor prescribes a testosterone test in men if he suspects erectile dysfunction or decreased function of the gonads (hypogonadism). Low testosterone is often found in men who experience decreased libido. It is also necessary to check testosterone levels if you suspect the development of chronic prostatitis or osteoporosis. An enlarged mammary gland, as well as insufficient hair on the face and chest, also become a suspicious symptom. Disruption of the process of puberty in boys during adolescence, excessive sweating are also indications for checking testosterone levels.

Women are recommended to undergo diagnostics if they have the following manifestations or suspect the formation of such diseases:

unstable menstrual cycle, cycle disorders;
the appearance of uterine bleeding;
disturbances in the course of pregnancy ¾ miscarriage;
the formation of multiple cysts in the ovaries (polycystic ovary syndrome);
endometriosis.

Thanks to the testosterone test, the doctor will be able to detect the pathology that has arisen in the patient’s body. Diagnosis of testosterone levels is one of the most effective methods for assessing the risk of formation of a tumor process and disorders in the reproductive system of men and women. So, after receiving the results of the study, the doctor selects the treatment tactics necessary for the patient with individual dosages of drugs, and after some time, using repeated analysis, monitors the dynamics of treatment.

Sometimes the doctor recommends changing your diet and adding testosterone-boosting foods to your daily meals. At the appointment, the doctor will talk about how to increase testosterone in men in natural ways if the analysis revealed a decrease in the concentration of the hormone. Therefore, the question of how to do this is not too pressing in modern medicine: effective and affordable treatment methods ensure rapid restoration of the patient’s body functions. Naturally, during therapy and after treatment it is necessary to follow all the recommendations of the attending physician.

Low testosterone levels - symptoms

Low testosterone levels cause a variety of symptoms, including decreased sexual desire and vitality, as well as erectile dysfunction. Additionally, men with low testosterone levels may experience decreased testicular density, breast enlargement, and loss of muscle mass. Body hair growth occurs more slowly, but voice and penis size usually remains the same.

Hypogonadism increases the likelihood of developing osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. Low testosterone levels may also cause adverse mental changes. In this case, the behavior of a man is similar to that of a woman during menopause. The patient notes a feeling of constant fatigue, mood swings, irritability and even hot flashes.

Osteoporosis

Constant fatigue

Preparing for diagnosis. How is the analysis carried out?

At the first stage, the patient receives a referral for research. The document is issued to the person by a gynecologist, endocrinologist, andrologist, reproductologist ¾ doctor to whom the patient turned for advice. However, diagnosis requires careful preparation. This is necessary to increase the accuracy of the study.

For example, it is prohibited to donate blood for testosterone if during the day before the test you performed ultrasound diagnostics, fluorographic examination, or underwent physiotherapeutic procedures. Rectal examination during the day can also distort the results of a blood test.

The patient is obliged to warn the doctor about taking hormonal drugs (for example, if a woman takes combined oral contraceptives as a method of contraception), as well as gel-based substances and ointments. The doctor will decide on the need to temporarily stop taking medications if this does not threaten the patient’s condition. It is allowed to donate blood for testosterone 2 weeks after stopping taking hormonal medications.

24 hours before diagnosis, any physical activity or drinking alcohol is prohibited. In addition, you need to stop smoking and change your diet slightly: do not eat fatty or fried foods the day before the diagnosis. Blood sampling for testosterone levels is carried out in the morning (before 11 am) on an empty stomach. During this period, the amount of the hormone in the blood reaches its maximum value.

In addition, to avoid distortion of the results during the diagnosis (for example, increased testosterone or low testosterone when receiving diagnostic results), it is necessary to stop drinking coffee, stimulating drinks, and also avoid stress and nervous tension 1 hour before the procedure.

Attention! The patient should warn the doctor if his diet differs from the normal diet. For example, followers of vegetarianism or people who exclude certain foods from their diet need to tell their doctor about this in order to correctly interpret the diagnostic result.

Preparing for a blood test for testosterone in women has its own characteristics and depends on the menstrual cycle. It is believed that the collection of biological material should be carried out on days 6-7 of the menstrual cycle. The patient's blood serum is used as diagnostic material. The research method is called enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Progress of the study

The patient is recommended to come to the laboratory 30 minutes before blood sampling in order to adapt to external conditions and normalize breathing. In a laboratory setting, blood is taken from a patient’s vein.

A standard set of materials is used: a disposable syringe or a special system. As a rule, the patient does not experience discomfort because a small amount of blood is needed for diagnosis. After 1-2 days, the laboratory provides diagnostic results on a special form. The interpretation of the results of the analysis is carried out exclusively by a doctor who knows the characteristics of the patient’s body.

The level of the hormone can be influenced by many different factors, ranging from stressful situations and nervous tension, to a specific diet and the presence of bad habits. Chronic diseases, episodes of decreased immune defense, use of steroid substances - these conditions can cause changes in the amount of testosterone in the human body.

In addition, testosterone levels often depend on the time of year.

For example, in the fall there is an increase in the hormone in the human body. Therefore, independent interpretation of research results in most cases turns out to be incorrect. So, the analysis should only be deciphered by your attending physician.

Testosterone treatment - what tests to do?

Patients receiving testosterone therapy are advised to have their hormone levels checked every 3-4 months during the first year of treatment. The first follow-up visit to the doctor is required in a month. The urologist will evaluate the effect of therapy and determine whether the dose of testosterone needs to be reduced or increased.

The optimal time of day to measure testosterone levels depends on the form of administration. The highest concentration of testosterone in the blood serum is observed approximately 4-8 hours after administration of the drug. When using the gel, testosterone levels are maintained at a relatively constant level, so testing time is not critical.

Men using testosterone therapy should perform the following tests (before and periodically during follow-up):

PSA analysis;
Ultrasound of the prostate gland;
Rectal examination of the prostate gland - to monitor the effect of therapy on the prostate gland;
Hematocrit and hemoglobin test - to measure the number of red blood cells.

How to maintain hormone levels?

An increase in hormone levels, depending on the reasons, is often corrected with medication. The doctor prescribes a specific treatment regimen and then monitors the effectiveness of the treatment. However, there are situations when testosterone levels are low, and a man thinks about how to increase it in natural ways. This is a simple process if it does not concern organic pathology, and the decrease is explained only by functional reasons. Many doctors talk about how to increase testosterone, highlighting several main ways to solve the problem:

Proper and rational nutrition. Doctors insist on eating foods rich in zinc, vitamins, microelements and other beneficial substances.
Rational physical activity. During active sports, testosterone is actively released, which allows you to increase the level of the hormone in a natural way.
Getting rid of excess weight, eliminating factors that contribute to excess weight gain (decreased physical activity, consumption of fatty, fried, overly processed foods).
Competently designing a working day that corresponds to your biological clock. Rational distribution of work and rest time will help the body clearly and correctly adjust the hormonal balance.
Refusal of nutritional supplements and products that stimulate the production of estrogen - the female sex hormone, which is found in small quantities in the male body. With the active production of estrogen, the intensity of testosterone synthesis in a man decreases.

These five ingredients will help increase testosterone naturally. Special attention must be paid to proper diet, because nutrients, vitamins, and minerals supplied with food become the basis for metabolic processes in a man’s body. Therefore, it is very important for a man to follow the principles of a healthy diet.