Testosterone

Testosterone is an androgen or sex hormone, produced by both males and females. It plays a role in puberty and fertility. A testosterone test detects the amount of testosterone in the blood sample. Testosterone is a hormone that helps in detecting sexual dysfunction, PCOS, hypogonadism and cancer. When the testosterone levels are too high or low, both men and women experience health issues. Testosterone is a type of sex hormone that plays a vital role in both men and women. It controls sex drive, bone mass, muscle mass and sperm count in men. In women, ovaries generate testosterone in small amounts to help with growth and maintenance. Testosterone is responsible for hormone balance and other bodily processes. Male gonads produce large amounts of testosterone during puberty. Testosterone affects secondary sexual traits such as muscle development, beard, moustache, chest hair, voice deepening and increased genital size. In men, decreased levels of testosterone mean decreased libido. Clear causes for testosterone elevation in the blood are still under research. However, genetic diseases such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia, cancers of the adrenal, testicular and ovarian tumors cause a spike in testosterone values. Excessive use of testosterone supplements is one of the most common causes of high testosterone. In women, high testosterone means increased masculine traits. In women, abnormal testosterone levels can be distressing. Excess testosterone in women causes hirsutism, acne, menstruation issues and infertility. Females may notice symptoms like loss of libido or mood changes as testosterone levels decline. Low testosterone levels in men can cause partial or total hypogonadism. In hypogonadism, there will be changes in male secondary sexual characteristics and reproductive functions. In men, low testosterone levels create few or no symptoms.