What is testosterone? Let's understand it simply.

When we think of testosterone , we think of masculine strength , big muscles , and a deep voice, right? There is some truth to that. But did you know that this hormone is also very important for men and women? It is an amazing, essential hormone that controls many things in our body. So today, let's talk about it simply, as if we were talking to a friend, and understand everything.

What exactly is testosterone?

Simply put, testosterone is a hormone in our body. Hormones are like messengers that carry messages to different parts of our body. The hormone testosterone is mainly produced by the organs of our reproductive system. That is, in men, this hormone is produced by the testicles , and in women, by the ovaries .

In addition, our adrenal glands produce another hormone called DHEA. Our body then converts this DHEA into testosterone and estrogen.

Testosterone is the main androgen hormone. Androgens are a group of hormones that develop male characteristics. That's why men naturally have much higher levels of testosterone in their bodies.

So is testosterone a steroid?

Yes, natural testosterone is a steroid. To be precise, it's an anabolic-androgenic steroid . "Anabolic" here means it builds muscle . "Androgenic" means it increases male sexual characteristics.

Doctors use this synthetic testosterone to treat various medical conditions. But some people abuse it in high doses to enhance athletic performance or to make their bodies bigger. This is very dangerous.This can lead to serious health problems like blood clots and stroke. It can also increase the risk of prostate cancer.

What does testosterone do to our body?

The hormone testosterone performs various functions at different stages of our lives.

While in the womb (fetal stage)

Around 7 weeks into pregnancy, a male's testicles begin to develop due to a gene on his Y chromosome. These testicles produce testosterone. This hormone is the key to the development of a male's internal and external reproductive organs.

When boys reach puberty

Testosterone is responsible for many of the changes we see when a boy reaches puberty.

• Getting taller.
• Hair growth on the body and in private areas.
• Enlargement of the penis, testicles, and prostate gland.
• Increased sex drive.

For adult men

Testosterone is essential for an adult male.

• This hormone is essential for sperm production .
• Signals the body to make new red blood cells .
• Helps keep bones and muscles strong .
• Helps maintain sexual desire and overall vitality, as well as a good mental state .

For older women

Testosterone is important for women too, especially in boosting libido. However, most of the testosterone produced by women's ovaries is converted into estradiol, the main female sex hormone.

How does the body control these testosterone levels?

This is a very interesting control system. Think of it like a company. The hypothalamus in our brain is the big boss. It sends a message to the pituitary gland (which is like a middle manager). That message is called `(Gonadotropin-releasing hormone - GnRH)`.

When this message is received, the pituitary gland releases a hormone called ``Luteinizing hormone (LH)``. This ``LH`` hormone travels through the bloodstream and tells the testicles (or ovaries) "Okay, now make testosterone."

When testosterone levels in the blood increase, it sends a signal to the brain again, saying, "Enough, don't make any more." This is how the body always maintains testosterone levels at a normal level. If any of these three organs (hypothalamus, pituitary gland, testes/ovaries) are not working properly, testosterone levels can become abnormal.

How are testosterone levels measured?

If your doctor suspects that your testosterone levels are abnormal, he or she will order several blood tests.

• Total testosterone blood test: This is usually done in the morning because testosterone levels are highest in the morning.
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) blood test.
• Luteinizing hormone (LH) blood test.

What are normal testosterone levels?

Normal testosterone levels vary by age and gender. The tables below give an idea of ​​this. Levels are measured in nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL).

What are the causes of increased testosterone levels?

There can be several reasons why the body produces too much testosterone.

• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): This is a hormonal imbalance that most commonly affects women. In this condition, the ovaries produce excess androgens (testosterone). This can cause symptoms such as increased body hair and weight gain.
• Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH): This is a genetic condition in which the adrenal glands produce excess hormones, such as testosterone, instead of the hormone cortisol.
• Tumors in the ovaries or testicles.
• Adrenal gland tumors.

When testosterone increases in men

It's hard to tell if an adult male has higher than normal testosterone levels. But if boys have higher testosterone levels, they can experience precocious puberty . That is, they show signs of puberty before the age of 9.

When testosterone increases in women

If a female fetus's testosterone levels increase, her clitoris may enlarge and look like a small penis. Girls may also enter puberty earlier.

Elevated testosterone levels in adult women can be a symptom of the condition `(PCOS)`. `(PCOS)` can cause symptoms such as:

• Acne.
• Unwanted hair growth on the face and body (hirsutism).
• Irregular menstruation.
• Hair loss at the front (baldness).
• Deepening of the voice.

What happens if testosterone levels decrease?

Symptoms of low testosterone levels are mainly seen in men. This condition is called male hypogonadism . It is divided into two main types. One is the condition that occurs due to some disease or damage to organs such as the testicles and pituitary gland. The other is the decrease in testosterone that occurs with aging, especially with conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

If the time in the womb decreases

If testosterone is not enough during the embryonic stage, male characteristics do not develop properly. This condition is called Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) . In this case, even though a person is genetically male, their body does not respond to male hormones.

If it decreases during puberty

If a boy's testosterone levels are low during puberty, the following can occur:

• Height gain is slow.
• Decreased hair growth in private areas.
• Decreased growth of the penis and testicles.
• Decreased deepening of the voice.
• Decreased strength and endurance.

If it is less for adult men

Testosterone levels naturally decrease slightly as men age. However, in some older men, these levels can drop significantly. This can lead to symptoms such as:

• Loss of muscle mass and increase in body fat for no apparent reason.
• Body hair loss.
• Depressed mood.
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Decreased sexual desire.
• Osteoporosis.
• Memory and attention difficulties.

When should I see a doctor?

If you think you have symptoms of low or high testosterone levels, don't panic and talk to your doctor about it . He or she can run the necessary tests and refer you to a specialist.

Testosterone is essential for our reproductive health. It is natural for these levels to fluctuate with age and overall health. However, if these levels remain consistently low or high, uncomfortable symptoms may occur. Therefore, it is very important to seek medical advice. There are good treatments for this.