An important male sex hormone called testosterone plays an important role in controlling male physical features. Women also have this hormone but in smaller amounts than men. In males, it is secreted by testicles and in females, ovaries produce it. This hormone plays an important role in development of testis and prostate which are the male reproductive tissues. It also promotes the development of secondary sexual characters in males like growth of body hair, increased muscle and bone mass, and deepening of the voice at puberty. The brain and a small gland at the base of the brain called pituitary gland control the production of testosterone. The hypothalamus, located in the brain, tells the pituitary gland how much testosterone the body needs. The pituitary gland then sends the message to the testicles. Most testosterone is produced in the testicles, but small amounts come from the adrenal glands, which are located just above the kidneys.
Causes of high and low levels:
Testosterone levels change from hour to hour being highest in the morning and lowest at night. These hormone levels are highest at the age of 20 to 30 and after 30 to 35, it slowly goes down. Causes for level fluctuations are as follows:
• Low level or hypogonadism occurs due to testicle injuries, chromosomal abnormalities, ovarian failure, or chemotherapy of nearby tumors.
• Gland malformations, decreased blood flow to glands, taking anabolic steroids to enhance muscle mass, gland inflammation due to diseases or pituitary or hypothalamus associated tumors.
• Hypergonadism or high levels occur due to adrenal or testicular tumor, precocious puberty and hyperthyroidism.
• The medical conditions which are associated with the cause for excess testosterone are rare.
Prevention & Treatment of testosterone levels:
• Treatment for low levels depend upon its cause. It’s replacement therapy is done sometimes and weight loss is the best medicine at other times.
• Any form of exercise done regularly or being physically active can raise its levels.
• Getting enough sleep, managing tension and eating vitamin D rich foods can help in prevention of it’s levels getting reduced.
• Treatment of higher levels can be done by medication by getting diabetes under control, using an anti-androgen drug.
• Through diet control by eating more soy products, adding more flax seeds to your diet, avoiding refined carbohydrates, or by reducing your fat consumption can reduce the testosterone levels.
You may get yourself checked for testosterone levels by booking a test with us here
Causes, Prevention & Treatment of Low Testosterone Levels
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