Testosterone

Testosterone, a hormone of a family of hormones called the androgens along with DHEA and androsteindione, is often acknowledged as ‘the male hormone.’

And where it is in higher amounts in men, it is still of great importance for the health and well being of women.

Like all of the other hormones, Testosterone works in concert with the other hormones, and an important relationship is how it works with estradiol (E2).  Without proper levels of estradiol, testosterone cannot attach to brain receptors as it should.

It has been proven that if testosterone is given with estradiol, it lowers ones cardiac risk.  If given without estradiol, testosterone and DHEA increase plaque formation in heart vessels with increases ones risk for a heart attack.  If testosterone is given with DHEA, they have a beneficial effect on ones arterial walls.

It is not uncommon to have excess testosterone without supplementation; in fact it occurs in approximately 10% of all women, not as common for men.

Excess androgen production is usually due to over-production by ones adrenal glands, not their ovaries.

Testosterone is made both in the ovaries and the adrenal glands, if someone was to undergo surgical menopause, testosterone levels could very well be affected.

In men the ‘normal range’ for testosterone is quite large, so patient individuality and assessing ones symptoms in addition to lab results needs to take place.

There is a precaution as well for men, and that is the risk of the testosterone to be converted to estrogen. This can be done through endogenous or supplemented testosterone. The fat cells an individual has, the higher chance for the testosterone to be converted to estrogen. It is this conversion to estrogen that is believed to contribute to cardiovascular and prostate issues.

A family of medications known as aromatase inhibitors have been given to men to help prevent or stop the conversion to estrogen.

For many years the common form of testosterone that has been given to both men and women is a synthetic form known as methyltestosterone, and ward of caution: this has been suggested to be carcinogenic to your liver.

Lastly, bio-identical testosterone as been becoming ever more popular over the last few years, to the point where drug companies have been manufacturing their own products in gels and patches. This is bio-identical, although the route of dosage does not provide as customized a dose as what can be created between a physicians order and a compounding pharmacy.

For more information on benefits, functions, and signs and symptoms check out the FULL VERSION of i Hormone in the App Store.