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'Sexy' Hormones
Testosterone - The 'Sexy' Hormone
A product of DHEA and progesterone, testosterone takes credit for the human sex drive - or lack of, as the case may be. Testosterone is the most critical hormone involved in the human sex drive - in both men and women. Testosterone also supports bones and muscle, as well as the cardiovascular system.
At puberty and throughout the reproductive years, approximately twenty times more testosterone is produced in males than in females.
Through childhood development and male puberty, testosterone along with DHT (dihydrotestosterone) are responsible for the development of secondary male sexual characteristics such as:
* Increased muscle and bone mass
* Hair growth
* Sperm production
* Genital size
* Male behavior
Testosterone levels reach their peak in twenty to thirty year old males and decline with each passing decade. In men, low testosterone levels have been linked to:
* Decreased sex drive
* Impotency
* Infertility
* Abnormal breast enlargement
* Fatigue
* Depression
* Lowered motivation
* Irritability
* Weight gain
* Decreased body hair
* Shrinking of the testes
* Anemia
* Thinning of the skin with increased wrinkle development
* Decreased muscle size and strength
* Increased risk for osteoporosis and prostate cancer
In females, testosterone is required for:
* Proper musculo-skeletal development
* General anabolic activity
* Libido
Testosterone is the most important hormone for maintaining a sex drive in women and a deficiency can cause impaired sexual function.
Testosterone decreases with age in both men and women, and supplementation has been used successfully for the treatment of some post-menopausal symptoms such as:
* Lack of libido
* Anemia
* Muscle weakness
Testosterone supplementation has been shown to cause a gain in lean body mass and a possible decline in bone loss when used in elderly patients.
Related:
Personal Hormone Profile - Part 3
Personal Hormone Profile - Part 2
Saliva Testing: Personal Hormone Profile - Part 1
Posted December 2003 | Permanent Link
Other Articles In The August Issue
- Introduction
- Healthy Feedback
- The Hair Analysis - One Size Does Not Fit All
- Aspartame Case History
- Dr. Hull's Vitamin Directory
- Q & A with Dr. Hull
- Did You Know - About a Hair Analysis?
- Healthy Recipe
- Feature Article
Other Articles In This Category
- Aspartame Case History - August 2010
- Dr. Hull's Vitamin Directory - August 2010
- Dr. Hull's Vitamin Directory - July 2010
- The Hidden Messages in Water - July 2010
- Chlorine and Petroleum - Two Chemicals Whose Times Have Passed - July 2010
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