Testosterone

Testosterone is the most important male sex hormone and plays a large role in the maintenance of general good health. It helps in the growth of bones and muscles and as well as affecting mood, sex drive and certain aspects of mental ability including care-giving and empathy. Due to its large range of actions, low testosterone can have a large range of effects. Many of these effects are related to mood and sex drive however low testosterone also increases the risk of chronic conditions including stroke, heart disease and osteoporosis.

Testosterone is the most important male sex hormone and plays a large role in the maintenance of general good health. It helps in the growth of bones and muscles and as well as affecting mood, sex drive and certain aspects of mental ability including care-giving and empathy. Due to its large range of actions, low testosterone can have a large range of effects. Many of these effects are related to mood and sex drive however low testosterone also increases the risk of chronic conditions including stroke, heart disease and osteoporosis.

Aside from low testosterone caused by a genetic disorder, damage to the testes and a lack of LH and FSH hormones made by the brain, low testosterone was considered for a long time to be a natural consequence of aging. This was due to findings that showed a 1-2% drop in testosterone every year after the peak age of 20-30. However recent research has suggested that testosterone drops are linked more to chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes rather than aging per se. Men who remain very healthy in old age can maintain the same testosterone levels that they did when they were young.