7 vital effects testosterone has on your health

Extremely high testosterone levels aren't common, but it occurs in athletes and bodybuilders who have consumed steroids or hormones to increase their body physique and athleticism. However, taking testosterone over the counter consistently can lead to enlargement of the clitoris in women after TRT, this condition is also known as clitoromegaly.

Here, we'll examine the 7 vital effects testosterone has on your health. So keep on reading for more insight!

Picture 1 of 7 vital effects testosterone has on your health

Build lean muscle mass

Testosterone causes a certain biological reaction in your body. This affects its ability to build or shed off muscles. The moment testosterone gets released, it travels throughout your body and naturally connects to muscle cells. It, therefore, stimulates the muscle cells to boost protein production.

Besides that, testosterone delivers neurotransmitters all over your body, stimulating growth hormones and tissue growth. This causes an increase in muscle mass.

Burn your body fat

Testosterone can speed up or slow down metabolism rates. In other words, testosterone controls metabolic activities. If there's a healthy testosterone balance, your body stops burning very little or excess fats.

Individuals with high testosterone levels may experience weight gain. Transgender people on HRT may also gain weight. That's because of various factors that don't show fat accumulation, plus increased muscle mass and fluid retention.

While testosterone boosts muscle mass, it may also prevent obesity and heart problems in adults.

Improve bone density

Testosterone can also interact with your bone marrow, affecting your body's bone density. That's because it may trigger the marrow to secrete higher red blood cell levels. This leads to increased body density.

Low T levels may reduce or weaken your bone density. In such cases, your bones become fragile, increasing the risks of bone fracture and breaking.

However, raising T levels may help increase bone strength. Individuals with osteoporosis can use testosterone treatment with other prescribed treatments.

Healthy hair growth

Testosterone plays a vital role at the start of the development of reproductive organs. It stimulates the growth of hair on the face, under the arms, and genitals of males during puberty.

Also, testosterone can cause a shift in the distribution of hair growth among transgender men and transmasculine individuals.

As a result, your body and facial hair growth may increase. It may also cause greater risks of patterned baldness.

Transgender women and transfeminine people on HRT may experience less body and facial hair growth and density. That's because of blocked testosterone production of the estrogen levels.

Such effects may be unnoticeable since testosterone levels fall as men age. Their bodies and heads start losing hair. Women with high abnormal testosterone levels may begin growing facial hair. That's common for women suffering from PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) that causes increased testosterone levels.

Better libido

Testosterone can affect your sexual performance. However, sexual activity also affects T levels.

Individuals with low T levels have low libido and may experience erectile dysfunction. However, staying sexually inactive for longer periods may lead to lower testosterone levels.

Higher T levels can boost libido, but there's a chance that they may lower your sperm count. It's not only men who get affected by the changes in libido. Women with low T may also have low sexual desire. However, testosterone's effects on libido levels in women after menopause are unclear.

Keeps your skin elastic

Different testosterone levels can affect your skin's reactiveness. Individuals with high T levels may suffer from acne breakouts. Sometimes, those with testosterone deficiencies may get alternatives through creams or patches. That's because applying testosterone directly can cause skin irritation.

Transgender women with high abnormal levels may have dark spots on the skin. The best remedy for such symptoms is to use hormone-blocking diuretics. Transgender men and transmasculine people may also experience these health effects on HRT.

As for trans women and transfeminine, individuals can change their skincare products and routines while on HRT.

Quality sleep

Whether low or high, testosterone levels can disturb your sleep quality and duration. But regular uninterrupted sleep is ideal for maintaining healthy T levels in your body.

Individuals with varying testosterone levels are more susceptible to suffer sleep-related disorders. According to a study, testosterone treatment can disrupt sleep and breathing, and even make worsen preexistent obstructive sleep apnea. That's why doctors don't prescribe treatment to adults with severe obstructive sleep apnea.

To this end, it is clear that testosterone can have both positive and negative effects on your overall health. That's especially if the levels are abnormal, whether extremely low or high. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a healthy balance of testosterone in your body.

Lesley Montoya

Update 13 November 2021