Testosterone is a male hormone and is present during pregnancy also. It causes the migration of the testes from near the kidney to the scrotum in the foetus before he is born. In the baby testosterone prepares the genitals to respond to hormonal changes later on in puberty.
The rise in testosterone level is seen in adolescent males. It is needed for:
•The growth of the testes, scrotum, penis, prostate gland and public and facial hair
•The production of sperm
•Enlargement and thickening of the vocal cords (so that the voice "drops" or deepens).
Testosterone is needed in the adult male for
•Maintaining lean body mass
•Promoting and maintaining bone tissue
•Maintaining the libido.
Symptoms of testosterone deficiency include
•Reduced libido
•Fatigue
•Impotence
•Lethargy
•Decrease in lean muscle mass
•Loss of body and/or facial hair.
The testosterone deficiency may be caused by many things but generally the symptoms result from hypogonadism or the under-secretion of testosterone by the testes.
Men over 60 often experience the symptoms associated with a reduction in testosterone, which has led to the idea that they are going through a "male menopause". But the decline in testosterone is more gradual and less obvious than that experienced when women begin to lose oestrogen.
The hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which "tops us" women’s oestrogen levels using medications and patches is now being trialled in a similar way with men. However while HRT in women has reported significant positive results, there are as yet no definitive results to whether testosterone replacement in older men reverses the symptoms of male menopause.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) is important for the treatment of hypogonadal men as it replaces the hormone that is effectively causing their symptoms.
There are several ways to administer testosterone
•Intramuscular injection every 2 to 4 weeks
•Tablets taken several times a day
•The Androderm patch (worn on the upper arms, thigh or abdomen) provides a continual release of the hormone into the body in a way which mimics the natural patters of testosterone delivery.
About the author
Julie Rimmer is a leading medical researcher and has been writing for numerous medical journals for the past 10 years.
For further information and resources on the pros and cons of testosterone, be sure to visit her site at