In my quest to search for what this was, and how it helps/affects men.
Here is some information that Men should know, its helpful especially when you want to get some muscle growth.
Good tips for workouts!
**What is testosterone?
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Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands. It is the principal male sex hormone and an anabolic steroid.
In both men and women, testosterone plays a key role in health and well-being as well as in sexual functioning. Examples include enhanced libido, increased energy, increased production of red blood cells and protection against osteoporosis. On average, an adult human male body produces about forty to sixty times more testosterone than an adult female body, but females are more sensitive to the hormone.[1]](Testosterone - Wikipedia) However the overall ranges for male and female are very wide, such that the ranges actually overlap at the low end and high end respectively.
**Changes during Age - Testosterone
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Testosterone levels decline gradually with age in human beings. The clinical significance of this decrease is debated (see andropause). There is disagreement about if and when to treat aging men with testosterone replacement therapy. The American Society of Andrology’s position is that testosterone therapy “is indicated when both clinical symptoms and signs suggestive of androgen deficiency and decreased testosterone levels are present”. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists says “Hypogonadism is defined as a free testosterone level that is below the lower limit of normal for young adult control subjects. Previously, age-related decreases in free testosterone were once accepted as normal. Currently, they are not considered normal…Patients with low-normal to subnormal range testosterone levels warrant a clinical trial of testosterone.”[18]](Testosterone - Wikipedia)
There isn’t total agreement on the threshold of testosterone value below which a man would be considered hypogonadal. (Currently there are no standards as to when to treat women.) Testosterone can be measured as “free” (that is, bioavailable and unbound) or more commonly, “total” (including the percentage which is chemically bound and unavailable). In the United States, male total testosterone levels below 300 to 400 ng/dl from a morning sample are generally considered low.citation needed] However these numbers are typically not age-adjusted, but based on an average of a test group which includes elderly males with low testosterone levels.citation needed] Therefore a value of 300 ng/dl might be normal for a 65 year old male, but not normal for a 30 year old.citation needed] Identification of inadequate testosterone in an aging male by symptoms alone can be difficult. The signs and symptoms are non-specific, and might be confused with normal aging characteristics, such as loss of muscle mass and bone density, decreased physical endurance, decreased memory abilitycitation needed] and loss of libido.
Replacement therapy can take the form of injectable depots, transdermal patches and gels, subcutaneous pellets and oral therapy. Adverse effects of testosterone supplementation include minor side effects such as acne and oily skin, and more significant complications such as increased hematocrit which can require venipuncture in order to treat, exacerbation of sleep apnea and acceleration of pre-existing prostate cancer growth. Exogenous testosterone also causes suppression of spermatogenesis and can lead to infertility.[19]](Testosterone - Wikipedia) It is recommended that physicians screen for prostate cancer with a digital rectal exam and PSA (prostate specific antigen) level prior to initiating therapy, and monitor hematocrit and PSA levels closely during therapy.
Appropriate testosterone therapy can prevent or reduce the likelihood of osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, cardio-vascular disease (CVD), obesity, depression and anxiety and the statistical risk of early mortality. Low testosterone also brings with it an increased risk for the development of Alzheimer’s Disease (Pike et al, 2006, Rosario 2004).
Large scale trials to assess the efficiency and long-term safety of testosterone are still lacking. Many caution against embracing testosterone replacement, whilst others embrace the advantages that the steroid seems to offer.
**Testosterone for workout
**MUSCLE & FITNESS always recommends eating protein and carbs after every workout to stimulate protein synthesis and boost the glycogen content of muscle cells, mainly due to the insulin spike these nutrients trigger. New research, however, suggests that testosterone may also play a large role here. Did you know that when you eat after a workout, testosterone levels in the blood actually decrease? While this may sound far from being a good thing, it’s actually great for muscle growth. It appears that the decrease in testosterone levels is due to the fact that more testosterone is being taken up by the muscle to bind to its receptor, called the androgen receptor, and stimulate muscle growth.
More information here
**For more information check out the following sites:
**Natural ways to increase testosterone
http://www.ivannikolov.com/bodybuilding-articles/all/increase-testosterone-bioavailability.htm
*Men and Testosterone