The male sexual characteristics are not infrequently given a particularly high degree of importance. However, an expression of the male sexual characteristics would not be possible without the help of special hormones. Therefore, androgens prove to be extremely valuable in terms of human development. Among the best known androgens is the hormone testosterone.
What are androgens?
In modern medicine, the group of androgens includes both synthetic hormones and natural hormones. The group of androgens is basically involved in the development of male sexual characteristics. However, according to a recent study, not only men have the male sex hormones. Various androgens can be detected more and more frequently in the blood of females. For the female organism, the androgens represent a precursor of the female sex hormones. In men, androgens are produced both in the adrenal cortex and in the scrotum. In the female body, the production of male sex hormones is completed in the area of the adrenal cortex as well as in the ovary. In order for androgens to fully exert their effects, regular monitoring of androgen levels is essential.
Measure and examine androgens (healthy levels).
Androgens can be detected in both a person’s blood and saliva. However, because consumption of certain foods can distort androgen levels, conducting the appropriate tests is usually initiated early in the morning (on an empty stomach, before breakfast). If a blood sample is considered, up to three different blood samples are taken. This is the only way to reliably determine a person’s androgen level. In principle, the values determined are strongly dependent on the sex as well as the age of the respective person. For adult males, a value between 3.5 and 8.6 micrograms per milliliter is considered normal. Before the actual onset of puberty, only a concentration of up to 1.2 micrograms per milliliter should be present in male blood. Sexually mature women should not exceed a level of 0.6 micrograms per milliliter, according to medical recommendations. For menopausal women, a maximum level of 0.8 micrograms per milliliter is considered normal. The possible effects of androgens have been studied in more detail as part of a long-term study.
Function, effects, and roles
For the human body, androgens represent an important component. For example, androgens are primarily involved in the development of male sexual characteristics. In addition, low levels of androgens can cause infertility, especially in men. A relatively high concentration of male sex hormones has an inhibitory effect on the storage of fats in fat cells. For this reason, men in particular have a less pronounced fat tissue than women. At the same time, a high concentration of the sex hormones has an anabolic effect on the growth of muscles. However, androgens are not only involved in the development of the human body. According to recent studies, a person’s androgen level has a significant effect on his or her personality. In particular, a high level of steroids can often contribute to aggressive behavior. In modern medicine, androgens are used in the treatment of breast cancer. Primarily, the effect of the female hormone estrogen is to be suppressed. The hormone is largely responsible for rapid growth of tumors in the area of the breasts.
Diseases
Since androgens usually have a high impact on a person’s development, it is not uncommon for serious side effects to occur. Resistance to the male sex hormones is particularly frequently diagnosed in the course of a comprehensive examination. In the context of a resistance, the affected patients do not respond to the androgens in the body. This can result, for example, in infertility or a pronounced state of intersexuality. If a therapy with the male sex hormones is considered, sometimes dangerous complications may occur. For this reason, androgens should not be used as doping agents, even in sports.
Typical and common testosterone disorders
- Testosterone deficiency in men in old age (andropause).
- Hormonal hereditary hair loss (alopecia androgenetica).
- Steroid acne
- Gynecomastia (enlargement of the mammary glands in men).