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How does testosterone affect both men and women?

Updated

Testosterone, a key hormone, impacts both men and women in various ways. In men, testosterone supports reproductive health by aiding sperm production and maintaining sex drive. It also influences physical traits such as muscle mass, bone density, and body hair growth. Metabolically, testosterone helps regulate fat distribution and stimulates red blood cell production. Additionally, it plays a role in mood regulation and cognitive functions like memory and aggression.

In women, testosterone boosts sexual desire and can affect menstrual cycles. It helps maintain muscle mass and strength, and higher levels can increase body hair. Testosterone also influences fat distribution and helps maintain bone density. The hormone impacts mood and memory, with its effects modulated by both biological and social factors. These multifaceted roles make testosterone crucial for overall health in both sexes.

Further Reading:

  1. DEWIS, P., NEWMAN, M., RATCLIFFE, W. A., & ANDERSON, D. C. (1986). DOES TESTOSTERONE AFFECT THE NORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLE? Clinical Endocrinology, 24(5), 515–521. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.1986.tb03280.x
  2. Cueva, C., Roberts, R. E., Spencer, T. J., Rani, N., Tempest, M., Tobler, P. N., Herbert, J., & Rustichini, A. (2017). Testosterone administration does not affect men’s rejections of low ultimatum game offers or aggressive mood. Hormones and Behavior, 87, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.09.012
  3. A. Romero-Martínez, E. González-Bono, Salvador, A., & L. Moya-Albiol. (2015). Declarative verbal memory impairments in middle-aged women who are caregivers of offspring with autism spectrum disorders: The role of negative affect and testosterone. Memory, 24(5), 640–649. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2015.1034727
  4. Dilek Arpaci, Fatma Saglam, Fatma Neslihan Cuhaci, Ozdemir, D., Ersoy, R., & Cakir, B. (2015). Serum testosterone does not affect bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 59(4), 292–296. https://doi.org/10.1590/2359-3997000000085
  5. van Anders, S. M., Steiger, J., & Goldey, K. L. (2015). Effects of gendered behavior on testosterone in women and men. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(45), 13805–13810. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1509591112