Overview

Testosterone is a reproductive hormone found in both males and females. 
In men, special cells called the Leydig cells are responsible for the production of this hormone. The rest gets produced by the adrenal glands, which are small structures located at the top of the kidneys.

While most people think of testosterone as a strictly male hormone, it is also found in the bloodstream of females; however, its concentrations are negligible.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of testosterone and consider what happens when it becomes abnormally high or low.

Why is testosterone important?

Testosterone plays a major role in male development, and its effects are first noted during the intra-uterine phase.

During fetal development, testosterone will induce the growth of male sex organs. It then becomes the cornerstone of puberty and sperm production later in life.

It is the hormone responsible for giving males their physical features. For instance, have you ever wondered why women can’t naturally grow big muscles like men? Well, testosterone!

Aside from physical and genital functions, testosterone is also part of several metabolic pathways that lead to Red Blood Cells (RBC) production, bone metabolism, and liver function.

This is merely a scoop of what testosterone offers to the body, and discussing every possible function would be out of the scope of this article.
Elevated Levels of Testosterone

Unlike testosterone deficiency, having too much testosterone in the blood is relatively rare. Additionally, this condition is hard to quantify since there are no established guidelines about normal testosterone levels.

In fact, if you measure testosterone levels during various times of the day, you will find completely different levels in the same person, which renders the definition of “normal levels” somewhat challenging.

Nevertheless, here are some signs and symptoms of high testosterone levels, which were documented by surveilling athletes who use anabolic steroids and testosterone to increase their performance.

Low sperm counts

Shrinkage of the testes

Impotence  

Increased risk of cardiomyopathies

Prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement) associated with urinary symptoms

Liver disease

Acne

Fluid retention and edema (swelling of the feet)

Weight gain

Blood hypertension

Insomnia

A dramatic increase in lean muscle mass

Increased risk of blood clots

Stunted growth in adolescents

Mood swings, euphoria, irritability, impaired judgment, and delusions

Testosterone Deficiency

As men age, testosterone levels start to decline. This is a physiological process, but it can happen abruptly in some cases, leading to testosterone deficiency. 
Some estimates report that approximately 1/3 of males over the age of 45 have low levels of testosterone.

Here are some symptoms of testosterone deficiency:

Decreased lean muscle mass

Loss of hair in some areas of the body (e.g., facial hair)

Atrophy of the sex organs (e.g., penis, testes)

Decreased libido

Reduced sperm count and infertility

Gynecomastia (male boobs)

Hot flashes

Mood swings, irritation, and decreased concentration

A decline in mental clarity and performance

Increased risk of fractures due to low bone mineral density

Takeaway message

Testosterone is a major hormone in the human body, as it contributes to numerous functions in males, including physical traits, fertility, and behavior.

We hope that this article successfully highlighted the role of testosterone in the human body.