![]() Among women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a male-typical play in childhood correlated with reduced satisfaction with the female gender and reduced heterosexual interest in adulthood. Prenatal androgens apparently influence interests and engagement in gendered activities and have moderate effects on spatial abilities. This period affects the femininization or masculinization of the fetus and can be a better predictor of feminine or masculine behaviours such as sex typed behaviour than an adult's own levels. Specifically, testosterone, along with anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) promote growth of the Wolffian duct and degeneration of the Müllerian duct respectively. ĭuring the second trimester, androgen level is associated with sex formation. There is also development of the prostate gland and seminal vesicles. Examples include genital virilisation such as midline fusion, phallic urethra, scrotal thinning and rugation, and phallic enlargement although the role of testosterone is far smaller than that of dihydrotestosterone. The first period occurs between 4 and 6 weeks of the gestation. Before birth Įffects before birth are divided into two categories, classified in relation to the stages of development. For postnatal effects in both males and females, these are mostly dependent on the levels and duration of circulating free testosterone. Testosterone effects can also be classified by the age of usual occurrence. Many of these fall into the category of male secondary sex characteristics. Androgenic effects include maturation of the sex organs, particularly the penis, and the formation of the scrotum in the fetus, and after birth (usually at puberty) a deepening of the voice, growth of facial hair (such as the beard) and axillary (underarm) hair.Anabolic effects include growth of muscle mass and strength, increased bone density and strength, and stimulation of linear growth and bone maturation.Testosterone can be described as having virilising and anabolic effects (though these categorical descriptions are somewhat arbitrary, as there is a great deal of mutual overlap between them). reported that endogenous and exogenous testosterone play a permissive role in adaptation to exercise training in younger and older men. In general, androgens such as testosterone promote protein synthesis and thus growth of tissues with androgen receptors. The World Anti-Doping Agency is listing it as S1 Anabolic agent substance "prohibited at all times". It is also used illicitly to enhance physique and performance, for instance in athletes. Since testosterone levels decrease as men age, testosterone is sometimes used in older men to counteract this deficiency. In addition to its role as a natural hormone, testosterone is used as a medication in the treatment of hypogonadism in men and breast cancer in women. Females are also more sensitive to the hormone. As the metabolism of testosterone in males is more pronounced, the daily production is about 20 times greater in men. ![]() ![]() On average, in adult males, levels of testosterone are about seven to eight times as great as in adult females. In humans and most other vertebrates, testosterone is secreted primarily by the testicles of males and, to a lesser extent, the ovaries of females. It exerts its action through binding to and activation of the androgen receptor. It is biosynthesized in several steps from cholesterol and is converted in the liver to inactive metabolites. Testosterone is a steroid from the androstane class containing a ketone and a hydroxyl group at positions three and seventeen respectively. Insufficient levels of testosterone in men may lead to abnormalities including frailty, accumulation of adipose fat tissue within the body, anxiety and depression, sexual performance issues, and bone loss.Įxcessive levels of testosterone in men may be associated with hyperandrogenism, higher risk of heart failure, increased mortality in men with prostate cancer, male pattern baldness, criminality, impulsivity, and hypersexuality. In addition, testosterone in both sexes is involved in health and well-being, where it has a significant effect on overall mood, cognition, social and sexual behaviour, metabolism and energy output, the cardiovascular system, and in the prevention of osteoporosis. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as testes and prostate, as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle and bone mass, and the growth of body hair, and psychological characteristics in males such as increased aggression, violence, and criminal behavior, sex drive, the inclination to impress partners and other courting behaviors. Testosterone is the primary sex hormone and anabolic steroid in males.
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