Testosterone is the male hormone par excellence. It is produced by the testicles and especially by Leydig cells under the stimulation of the pituitary gland. A modest part of testosterone is also produced by the adrenal gland, a small but important gland that is located above the upper pole of the kidney, also present in women, and by the ovary and for this reason, a part of androgens and therefore of testosterone is also present in women. In women, testosterone is responsible for sexual desire, arousal and increases the intensity and pleasure of orgasm.
When testosterone values are low, libido and erectile response problems can arise. Disorders that can occur with andropause (a sort of menopause in men), in which the production of the testosterone hormone is reduced.
But the action of testosterone is not only aimed at the urogenital system and the sexual sphere. It also has other fundamental functions: muscle tropism, bone density, ability to memorize and pay attention, maintaining lean body mass. All conditions that are lacking whenever there is a reduced production of testosterone.
To measure testosterone just a simple blood test. There are two forms in circulation: total testosterone and free testosterone. The latter is a part of non-protein-related testosterone (SHBG), and is, therefore, that part free to stimulate the target organs. The conditions in which testosterone is produced in smaller quantities are known clinically with the term hypogonadism. Hypogonadism can be primitive in nature when the testicle is not working or secondary in nature when the pituitary gland does not produce the right amount of LH to sufficiently stimulate the testicle. The andrological examination is also mandatory for a scrotal and testicular ultrasound evaluation.
When our partner reports a reduction in sexual desire, a decrease in erection, excessive tiredness and a loss of attention, it would, therefore, be useful, if not indispensable, to think also about the possible cause of a hormonal nature. Even more, if we are in an intermediate age, in which the aforementioned phenomenon of andropause is approaching.
There is no cure for low testosterone. Substitutive or stimulating hormonal treatments can be performed but always under the close supervision of the andrologist or endocrinologist.
But the real secret would be to avoid the appearance of such problems. First of all with adequate rules of life: testosterone is produced to help our body deal with difficulties, probably in the era of prehistoric man it was used to give more strength and energy to face hunting and battles. It follows that nowadays it would be useful and indispensable to subject our body to a beneficial physical effort by facing daily physical activity which can simply be identified as long walks where, among other things, well-being hormones are also released, such as serotonin. As for dietary advice, absolutely to be avoided: foods containing phytoestrogens such as beer or non-biological meat, foods containing soy, foods with high glycemic content.
The right supplementary support is essential. Certainly, the balance and the right amount of vitamins are essential for the metabolic chain of testosterone synthesis to function optimally. It is useful to counteract the excess of cortisol, a stress hormone now produced in abundance by modern man, which can be easily counteracted with the daily evening use of melatonin. Recently, some scientific studies have clearly shown that vitamin D is able to make testosterone more bioavailable, and the right supplementation could bring great benefits.
Edited by Dr. Andrea Militello urologist and andrologist in Rome and Viterbo, perfected in the physiopathology of human reproduction clenbuterol tablets en venta and professor at the Unifeder University
