An inordinate number of androgens in the human body, paying little mind to gender, can cause unwanted symptoms and significant side effects.
This is particularly valid for men: increased risk of cardiovascular disease, unwanted hair growth, sometimes hair loss – this is just a summary of the consequences for this gender.
At the same time, a low level of androgens can cause a decrease in libido, erectile dysfunction, as well as rapid fatigue.
The role of androgens
Human organs and systems are connected through special components that transfer and deliver information to destination points. These components are called hormones and are an elementary structural unit of the endocrine system.
Hormones allow your body to perform related actions:
- Regulate glucose
- Activate resistance mechanism
- Control hunger
- Manage mental health
Consider such an important group of hormones in men as androgens.
Here are the most significant characteristics of these hormones:
- Androgens are a collection of hormones that incorporate testosterone, dihydrotestosterone or DHT and dehydroepiandrosterone or DHEA, which act straightforwardly on the specific receptor named androgen
- Although androgens are considered male hormones, they are no less significant for the female body
- An excessive amount of androgen in the body can cause undesirable symptoms, including a danger of blood and cardiovascular systems diseases and issues related to the hairline in men
- An absence of androgens can prompt erectile brokenness, decrease sexual desire, and cause extreme exhaustion
Androgen levels in the blood diminish through the normal process of aging.
The general meaning of the term “androgen”
A group of hormones in the human body that affect specific receptors, called androgen receptors, are androgens. These hormones have a wide scope of capacities, including help for making male sexual characteristics.
Hormones of this class incorporate:
- Testosterone
- Androstenedione
- Dihydrotestosterone
- Dehydroepiandrosterone
Androgens are additionally significant for the female body. For instance, testosterone in ladies stimulates the libido, is liable for bone thickness and muscle gain.
The structures of androgens are cholesterol particles, which are likewise found in greasy nourishments and are unhealthy in excess.
Because of their structure, androgens are commonly called steroid hormones. Some portion of androgens is delivered by the adrenal organs which are situated over the kidneys. Androgen synthesis likewise happens in the male reproductive system (namely in the testicles).
The main function of androgens for the body
As recently referenced, androgens have a wide scope of actions for the body. We will consider the main functions of the most important androgens:
Testosterone
The main sex hormone in men, which is responsible for masculinity and greatly affects sex life. A decrease in its level in the body can lead to a weakening of muscle tone, increased fatigue, baldness, and depression.
Dihydrotestosterone
The biologically more active form of testosterone, formed from it in the cells of target organs under the influence of the enzyme 5α-reductase. Dihydrotestosterone is much more strongly bound to androgenic tissue receptors than testosterone.
Hypertrophy and prostatic hyperplasia, the development of prostate adenoma, and, possibly, an increase in the likelihood of developing prostate cancer is associated with increased formation of dihydrotestosterone from testosterone to prostate tissue.
The increased formation of dihydrotestosterone in the hair follicles is associated with excessive body hairiness and male type of baldness on the head in both sexes. The oily skin increases, which leads to the formation of acne.
Dehydroepiandrosterone
This hormone is extremely well known in dietary nutritional supplements, although it has not been confirmed that it positively affects the body. The substance is created normally in the body in the adrenal organs.
Dehydroepiandrosterone is a forerunner to testosterone. A considerable lot of its androgenic impacts happen after it is changed over to androstenedione A4 or androstenediol A5 and afterward to testosterone.
Moreover, this hormone follows up on estrogen receptors and influences the human nervous system. It shields the mind from the negative impacts and irritation.
Androstenedione
A4 is produced using DHEA dehydroepiandrosterone in the adrenal organs and testicles in men. At that point, it transforms into testosterone.
Androstenedione assumes a significant job in the feeling of strength and animosity in young men. A4 is regularly taken as an added substance to build muscle, however, its role in muscle development has not been validated.
Androstenediol
A5, just like A4, is produced using DHEA and is yet another hormone that transforms into testosterone. It affects the androgen and estrogen receptors. It has been explored as an approach to ensure against radioactivity, as it can build the degree of platelets in the body.
Why is the increased androgen levels dangerous?
Men seldom have too elevated levels of androgens. If so, it is because of taking supplements. The excessive consumption of normal androgens and androgenic steroids, additionally called anabolic steroids, is a typical illegal doping procedure that numerous athletes use.
Even though testosterone can build muscle and improve strength, different androgens, for example, A4 and DHEA, don’t have these properties. Simultaneously, the abuse of androgens to advance performance isn’t without dangers.
As various investigations showed, expanding testosterone levels in men above average some of the time cause manifestations of animosity and unexpected bouts of aggression.
There have additionally been instances of the abrupt demise of youthful men, after utilizing androgenic steroids, from cardiovascular breakdown, alongside other cardiovascular symptoms, including expanded cholesterol and platelets.
Another reaction of androgen misuse is a testicular contraction that causes barrenness and a reduction in your body’s capacity to deliver its testosterone.
What’s more, in men, breasts grow, because abundance testosterone regularly transforms into estradiol, and this is a sort of female hormone – estrogen.
Studies have indicated that the greater part of men taking androgenic steroids without specialist appointment encountering breast growth.
In women, notwithstanding improving athletic performance, there are likewise conditions that cause an expansion in androgen levels, additionally called hyperandrogenism.
Accordingly, the polycystic ovary condition may happen. In this condition, the ovaries produce a lot of testosterone.
This causes excessive hair growth on the lady’s body and face, acne, and is frequently connected with barrenness because of menstrual abnormalities and insulin obstruction.
Insulin obstruction happens when the liver doesn’t process glucose appropriately, which prompts an accretion in glucose. Increased insulin levels can be a manifestation or a precursor to diabetes.
Are excessively low levels of androgen bad for health?
Too low degrees of testosterone, the primary androgen, is hazardous because it can cause a reduction in libido, erectile brokenness, and cause loss of muscle, expanded to fat ratio, inordinate weakness, and regularly cause exhaustion and osteoporosis.
Excessively low testosterone levels can be recognized by blood tests. When the deficiency is affirmed, it is treated with substitution treatment.
How does the level of androgens change with aging?
Aging provokes a decrease in sex hormones in both genders. According to one authoritative study report, low testosterone levels were found in 23% of men aged 57 years, 31% of men aged 72 years, and 49.5% of men over 85 years of age.
In women, a decrease in testosterone levels was also noted. As authoritative sources showed, the level of testosterone in a 38-year-old woman is approximately half that of a 19-year-old.
Women also experience a decrease in estrogen with age, losing about 83% of hormone levels in the first 12 months of menopause. This causes many of the symptoms associated with menopause, including vaginal atrophy and loss of bone strength.
If you have any health problems, you need to consult with your doctor. Even though this article is based on scientific evidence conducted by trustworthy and vetted scientific literature, it does not replace experienced clinical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment of any disease.
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