What Effect Does Testosterone Have on the Body What does testosterone do, and how do you increase low testosterone? The primary objective was to ensure participants remained engaged in core-strengthening exercises for the entire 5-minute session, even if they needed brief pauses or modified movements. The total number of repetitions or the duration of continuous exercise was recorded for each participant, with any modifications duly noted. Male sex drive can be affected underlying health conditions, mental health, trauma, lifestyle factors and relationship problems. If you have low testosterone levels, you are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis and breaking your bones. If you think that you have any of the symptoms of low testosterone you should talk to your doctor. They will ask you about your medical history, perform a physical examination and send you for a blood test. They may then refer you to an endocrinologist — a doctor who specialises in hormones. As with any other hormonal imbalance, women with symptoms of overly high testosterone should always seek professional advice before starting treatment. Oral contraceptives like birth control pills can be a cause of testosterone deficiency in younger women. It’s a good idea to talk to a family doctor or OBGYN to discuss another contraceptive method. People should seek medical advice if they experience any unusual symptoms or suspect a hormonal imbalance. While most studies on testosterone and body composition have focused on men, particularly in populations with spinal cord injury (SCI), some emerging evidence supports similar benefits in women. Testosterone plays a key role in skeletal muscle development and maintenance. Similarly, Miller66 reported that although low testosterone in women may not significantly alter fat mass, it can affect skeletal muscle dynamics. Despite lower concentrations than in men, testosterone plays a crucial role in women’s musculoskeletal health, cognitive function, and cardiovascular well-being54. Women naturally secrete higher total amounts of androgens compared to estrogens, with testosterone being a key androgen and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) forming through peripheral metabolism51. Testosterone is a sex hormone that helps develop the male reproductive system including the penis, testes and prostate. Sex does indeed help us understand why, across species, some sex differences are more common than others. This diversity reflects the many innovations evolution has found to help species reproduce – innovations that, in humans, include our capacities for cooperation, social learning and cultural transmission across generations. A healthy level of testosterone helps protect against bone diseases like osteoporosis. In women, testosterone plays a role in ovarian function, bone health and sexual health, though “data is mixed” on the latter point, explains Narang. Treating the condition that is causing high or low testosterone levels can help restore levels. But it’s not always possible to find a cause of testosterone imbalances. Your doctor can prescribe testosterone replacement to correct low levels. Men with hypogonadism reported improved mood and well-being, and reduced fatigue and irritability. I (like every other biologist) don’t think sex differences in behaviour are immutable or invariant, or that testosterone can create sexed ‘essences’ or ‘natures’ that separate the behaviour of the sexes into two discrete categories. Testosterone stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow, which helps prevent anemia. Anemia is characterized by a deficiency normal range of testosterone in males red blood cells, leading to fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. An important takeaway of this diversity of sex roles across species is that we need to be cautious when generalising findings to humans. Every species has its own evolutionary history when it comes to solving the problem of reproduction, and our own evolutionary pathway is a unique one – not least the cumulative culture and social learning I mentioned before. On my account, cultural norms don’t just ‘dial up or dial down’ evolved traits. Let me recap what I understand your position, and the ‘sensible’ T-Rex approach, to be. Stronger sexual selection on males gave rise to masculine physical and psychological traits that facilitate male competition for mates, status and resources. Testosterone ties all this together, making it ‘the hormone that dominates and divides us’, as you’ve written in your 2021 book. Given testosterone’s importance in female physiology, our study provides practical implications for designing exercise regimens that optimize hormonal balance and musculoskeletal health. Testosterone is what coordinates sperm production with the vastly complex physical and psychological traits that are necessary to get sperm to egg, and when advantageous, to invest in one’s mate and offspring after that. In men, testosterone directs the development of primary reproductive traits such as the genitalia, and secondary sexual features such as muscularity and a deep voice. At around week seven in utero, the sex-related gene on the Y chromosome initiates the development of the testicles in male infants. Testosterone is a hormone that your gonads (sex organs) mainly produce. More specifically, both testicles and ovaries produce testosterone. Abnormally low or high levels can affect a man’s mental and physical health. You may be a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy if low T is interfering with your health and quality of life. Artificial testosterone can be administered orally, through injections, or with gels or skin patches. Reduced testosterone production, a condition known as hypogonadism, doesn’t always require treatment.