Testosterone

About Testosterone

The human body produces a variety of hormones for different purposes. The male body produces a group of sex hormones called androgens. The most crucial hormone amongst the androgens is called Testosterone. The average male body makes about 4-10 mg of Testosterone a day. It uses cholesterol as its base.
Testosterone has a very important role to play in the male body. It’s primary responsibility being the development of secondary sexual characteristics in the male body. Secondary sexual characteristics include body hair, deepening of voce, and development of the penis, libido and male aggressiveness.

Testosterone also helps in the growth of muscles, assists in the generation RBC (Red blood Cells), helps hasten the recovery time from physical injuries etc.

It’s at the time of puberty that Testosterone levels are at its maximum. This level is maintained until early twenties and then start to decline. At that point intervention needs to be done to maintain an adequate level of Testosterone in the body and there’s where Testosterone therapy comes into picture. Without such therapy to replace the short fall of Testosterone, signs of aging sets in rapidly. Reduced level of testosterone hormones like Estrogen and progesterone effect brain functions and can lead to memory los and other brain related issues.

The process of release of Testosterone in the body is fairly complex.

Hypothalamohypophysial testicular axis is the one responsible for regulating the testosterone production level in the body. If the blood has a high level of testosterone, the hypothalamus receives a signal from the testes to release LHRH (luteinizing hormone releasing hormone). This in turns makes the hypophysis to releases lower amounts of gonadotropin LH Testosterone (luteinizing hormone) and FSH Testosterone (folic stimulating hormone). The reverse is also true, if the testosterone level is low the testes orders more to be produced and released to the blood stream. Hence the testes, or more precisely the Leydig's cells in the testes control the testosterone levels in the blood.