Male Sex hormone

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Male Sex Hormones
• Functions Of Male Sex hormone
• Factors affecting the levels of male sex hormones
• Disorders Of Male Sex hormone

Hormones are chemical messengers produced by the endocrine system. There are different types of hormones, which are naturally produced and secreted by the endocrine glands and other organs of the human body. These hormones function as messengers by carrying signals within the body from one part of the body to another. There are different types of hormones which are involved with various biological functions in the human body.

Refer more: Hormones

As mentioned above, different hormones have specific functions. Similarly, sex hormones are the specialized hormones synthesized by the adrenal glands and primary reproductive organs, such as ovaries in females and testes in males. Sex hormones are of two types: male sex hormones and female sex hormones. These hormones play a crucial role in sexual development and reproduction.

Also Refer: Female Hormones

There are several hormones in males, which are naturally produced and secreted by the endocrine glands of the endocrine system. The hormones, which are mainly secreted for the development of men’s secondary sexual characteristics and for the improvement of reproductive health are termed male hormones.

Testosterone is the only male sex hormone present in men, which causes physical changes in puberty, increases bone density and muscle mass, growth of facial, pubic, and body hair, deepening of the voice and is also responsible for sexual and reproductive development. Testosterone is the main sex hormone in men, which is naturally produced in the testes and in small amounts by the adrenal glands.

Testosterone belongs to a class of male hormones called androgens, which are also known as steroids. The production of male sex hormones is mainly controlled by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The testosterone levels gradually decrease with age, which results in impotence, shrinking of testes, low sperm count, depression, mood swings, irritability, etc.

Also Read: Sex hormones

The main functions of male sex hormones include:

• Puberty
• Body fat distribution
• Promoting hair growth
• Inflammatory responses
• Regulating cholesterol levels
• The levels of sex hormones keep on changing the entire life and irregular hormonal levels can lead to certain health issues such as hair loss, bone loss, infertility, etc.

There are several factors that affect the levels of male sex hormones. These include:

• Age
• Stress
• Surgery
• Tobacco
• Alcohol
• Medications
• Radiotherapy
• Chemotherapy
• Hormone therapy

The disorders of the male sex hormone are mainly caused by the regulation of testosterone production in the body. These may be an increase in the level of testosterone production or a decrease. Based on age and lifestyle changes, certain disorders occur in men.

As per medical records, the normal range of testosterone levels in males is about 270-1070 ng/dL and is also found to be between 400-600 ng/dL.

Listed below are the common symptoms associated with the changes in the level of the male sex hormone.

Symptoms of low testosterone levels

An individual with low testosterone levels is at a higher risk of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, osteoporosis, etc. Other symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Hot flushes
• Low libidos
• Mood swings
• Low bone density
• Erectile dysfunction
• Swelling of the breast
• Changes in weight and muscle mass

Symptoms of high testosterone levels

An individual with high testosterone levels is at a higher risk of diseases such as:

• Anxiety
• Sleep apnea
• Mood swings
• Breathing problems
• Increased body hair
• High blood pressure
• Increased muscle mass
• Swelling in the hands and feet
• Increased risk of heart disease
• Overproduction of red blood cells

This article concludes with the introduction to the male sex hormone, their functions, disorders caused by their level of production and their symptoms.

To know more about the male sex hormone, their types, functions, other related topics and important questions, keep visiting our website at BYJU’S Biology.