Men do not usually consider the affects of testosterone mental processes. When thinking of testosterone, the role it has on the body comes to mind. But new research implies that testosterone has a greater impact on the mind than previously thought.

Testosterone is a hormone, or androgen. Androgen productions require a complex chain of events. Begining in the brain, the hypothalamus develops gonadotropin-releasing hormones. Hormones are chemicals that are produced in glands, then travel to another part of the body to act. Gondadotropin-releasing hormones act on the pituitary gland, which then secrete two additional hormones. These hormones are the follicle-stimulating hormone and the luteinizing hormone. These hormones act on the testicles triggering testosterone and promoting sperm production. Testosterone is more potent than any other hormone in the male body.

Testosterone affects male anatomy and metabolism, but the hormone crucially affects male behavior. It contributes to aggressiveness, and is essential for the libido. It stimulates the testicular growth during puberty and stimulates sperm production throughout adult life. Cholesterol metabolism can be influenced by testosterone, but scientists continue to theorize about its effects.

Less desirable effects of testosterone result from being converted to a different, but related androgen called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT can cause acne, growth or loss of hair, and stimulates growth of prostate cells, which contribute to benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer in elderly men.

At puberty, testosterone production stimulates growth of bones, muscles, facial and body hair, promotes red blood cell production, a growing voice box and enlargement of the genitals, and the maturity of reproductive capacity. Maximum production is reached at age 17 and remain at these levels until about 40 years old, when testosterone levels gradually decrease.

A “normal” measurement of testosterone is not an indication of potency. Testosterone levels vary daily, so diagnosing one’s level of testosterone is not necessarily accurate. Furthermore, testosterone travels throught the blood either bound to one of two proteins, or unbound and free. Only one of these hormones is biologically active. As men get older, the hormones bound to non-biologically active proteins increases. Therefore, bioavailable testosterone levels decrease, not total testosterone levels.

A man need not know all of the complexities of testosterone metabolism. These complexities cloud the results of research on testosterone replacement therapy. If you are concerned about your testosterone levels, be sure that you not only measure your total testosterone levels, but also the bioavailable testosterone levels.

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