The Essential Roles of Testosterone

Medical Reviewed By Lucas Rosa

PhD in Molecular Biology

Testosterone is an essential hormone that plays many vital roles in body development, body maintenance, and sexual maturity.

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is the primary androgen, and androgens are hormones that regulate and develop male sex characteristics.

Men and women both naturally produce testosterone, but the levels are significantly higher in men than in women. Although the effects of testosterone are more significant for men than for women, it is still essential for both men and women to have healthy levels of it.

Testosterone Levels

Testosterone levels fluctuate as you age. During puberty, testosterone levels increase drastically, and when you reach around 30-40 years old, testosterone levels usually tend to gradually decline.

Test results may vary depending on the lab you use for the test. If your testosterone levels are higher or lower than 270 - 1,070 ng/dL (for men) or 15 - 70 ng/dL (for women), then you may want to seek professional advice.

• For adult men, 270 - 1,070 ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter) is the typical range
• For adult women, 15 - 70 ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter) is the typical range

Testosterone's Vital Roles

Testosterone plays vital roles in various functions all over our bodies making it an essential hormone for our bodies.

Development

It is well known that testosterone is essential for developing sex characteristics, but it has other essential roles in our bodies too.

Testosterone assists in muscle and bone development. It stimulates protein synthesis and this is critical for muscle growth. Testosterone also stimulates bone formation and reduces bone resorption which leads to having healthier and stronger bones.

Additionally, testosterone contributes to body and facial hair development. It activates hair follicles, and this activation leads to an increase in hair growth and thickness in our bodies.

For hair on the scalp, the relationship is more complex. Hair on the scalp is primarily influenced by one's genetics, the genetics will determine the sensitivity that scalp hair follicles have to testosterone. 

Maintenance

In addition to development, testosterone has essential roles in helping maintain balance within our bodies. Testosterone has been shown to influence emotions, mood, and energy levels.

Low testosterone has negative effects on quality of life. Testosterone imbalances in men have been proven to be a cause of depression, mood swings, and lack of energy.

Furthermore, testosterone regulates body fat distribution. Testosterone prohibits the creation of new fat cells and promotes the burning of existing fat cells for energy.

Men with low testosterone tend to have an increase in body fat in their abdominal region. An increase in abdomen body fat can lead to higher visceral adipose tissue, and this tissue is seen as a crucial risk factor for obesity-related diseases.

Also, testosterone helps stimulate the production of red blood cells in our bodies. These cells are fundamental for living as humans, they transport oxygen from our lungs to the rest of our bodies and take carbon dioxide to our lungs to be breathed out.

Sexual Maturity

Testosterone has essential roles in sexual maturity, such as developing sex organs and promoting sex characteristics.

Puberty begins the journey of sexual maturity in men and women. During puberty, there is a drastic increase in testosterone in our bodies, and this increase leads to sex organs and sex characteristics being developed.

Testosterone's primary role in those assigned male at birth is to develop the testes, facilitate the production of sperm, and help regulate penile health. In those assigned female at birth, testosterone helps promote menstrual health, breast health, and vaginal health.

Testosterone's secondary sexual characteristics are the deepening of the voice and development of the Adam's apple.

Additionally, testosterone has a strong correlation with sex drive (libido). Low testosterone has been shown to be a cause for having low sex drive in men and women.

Conclusion

Testosterone has various essential functions throughout our bodies. It is the primary androgen that is crucial for maturing men and women. It has key roles in body development, body maintenance, and sexual maturity.

The effects of testosterone are greater in men than in women, but it is essential for both to have healthy levels of it. Testosterone is an essential hormone that significantly helps our overall health.

Sources:

American Red Cross. (n.d.). Red Blood Cells. Importance of Red Blood Cells | Red Cross Blood Services. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/red-blood-cells.html#:~:text=What%20Is%20the%20Function%20of,our%20lungs%20to%20be%20exhaled. 

Gu, X., Zhu, F., Gao, P., Shen, Y., & Lu, L. (2024, April 23). Association between visceral adipose tissue and total testosterone among the United States male adults: A cross-sectional study. Nature News. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41443-024-00856-z#:~:text=Visceral%20fat%20accumulation%20in%20men,but%20negatively%20with%20testosterone%20levels. 

Roland, J. (2023, March 17). What is testosterone, and how does it affect your health?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-testosterone 

LeWine, H. E. (2023, June 22). Testosterone - what it does and doesn’t do. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/testosterone--what-it-does-and-doesnt-do