Hormones and the male body

Hormones are chemical messengers that send messages to different organs and cells to do their functions. These hormones are different in males and females, and they work in diverse ways and perform different functions. Want to know in detail how hormones affect your body functions? This article gives an insight into male hormones.  

Male hormones are responsible for muscle growth, fat distribution, red blood cell production, facial hair growth, sex drive, and voice changes (during puberty) in males. Hormones are produced by different glands in your body and travel through the blood and work as controllers of distinct functions in the body. Call us on 1-347-384-5690 to get a consultation or REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT with Doral Health& Wellness.  
 

There are 3 main hormones present in males: 

1. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): This hormone is produced by the anterior pituitary gland (located underneath the brain). It controls the production of sperm. FSH also performs a significant role in sexual development and functioning.  

• • Functions  

• • • • It is used to manage the production of sperm. Although the levels of this hormone don’t vary much, levels can rise to produce more sperm (to prevent the death of cells by type A spermatogonia).  
      • It works with another hormone- the luteinizing hormone to control sexual functions.  
      • It helps to signal the testes to produce testosterone.  Its levels are low in children until they hit puberty and then levels begin to rise.  

• • Diseases: Elevated levels of FSH can damage the testicles (that produce sperm). It can happen due to chemotherapy, radiation exposure, infection, or drinking excessive alcohol which can lead to infertility.  

• • Symptoms 
    • • Infertility 
      • Lower sex drive 
      • Early or delayed puberty in men. 
      • Low production of sperm  
  • Treatment: Treatment is done through testosterone therapy if your FSH levels are high. If the low levels of FSH are not treatable you can choose fertility treatments such as IVF to achieve pregnancy. 
  • Prevention  
    • • Make changes in your diet 
      • Take herbal supplements 
      • Reduce your stress and don’t do heavy exercise 
      • Take alternative therapies like acupuncture therapy.
         

2. Luteinizing hormone (LH): Produced by the pituitary gland, it plays a significant role in signaling testicles to produce testosterone. It works with FSH to control sexual functions. It also helps in improving sex drive. 

• • Its levels in adults don’t vary much unless you are exposed to chemotherapy, radiation, infection, and alcohol abuse. In the case of children, it is quite low until you reach puberty then it begins to rise.  
  • Other than that, its functions, disease, symptoms, and treatment are similar to FSH. Because they are similar types of hormones that work together to regulate the functions of sexual activities.  

3. Testosterone: This is the most important hormone in males. It is produced by testicles. There are many functions that it performs in males:

• • • • It is required for sexual function. 
      • It helps to bring about puberty (changes the physical appearance of your body parts such as the penis, testicles, facial and body hair, and muscle growth). 
      • It signals the cells of the testicles to produce sperm.  
      • It helps in the growth of bones, and sex drive and affects your mood.  
  • Disease 
    • • Low testosterone or hypogonadism can lead to erectile dysfunction, reduce sex drive, etc. Over time it can become chronic and leads to diseases like osteoporosis, testicle shrinkage, type 2 diabetes, obesity, kidney, and liver disease, etc. 
      • High testosterone can trigger puberty earlier than 9 years in kids. But this is exceedingly rare.  
  • Symptoms  
    • • Low sex drive 
      • Erectile dysfunction 
      • Decreased sense of well-being 
      • Depression 
      • Difficulties in concentration and memory 
      • Fatigue 
      • Moodiness and irritability 
      • Loss of strength  
      • Decrease in hemoglobin and mild anemia 
      • Decreased body hair 
      • Thinning bones (osteoporosis) 
      • Increased body fat 
      • Infertility 
  • Treatment  
    • • Treatment is done through supplements and medications. But keep in mind that these treatments have their side effects.  
      • Testosterone supplements such as methyltestosterone even if approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are still dangerous (it might lead to liver damage).  
      • Testosterone replacement therapy is useful to restore some functions of low testosterone such as bone strength or hemoglobin levels. You can take this in the form of injections, skin patches, gels, and tablets. But it has side effects- increased red blood cell count, breast enlargement, acne, difficulty in breathing while sleeping, and risk of cardiovascular disease. It is not recommended for men below the age of 65, even if they have low testosterone levels. Because the benefits and risks are still unknown due to less research available on this.  
  • Prevention 
    • • Although you cannot prevent low testosterone levels if it is caused by genetics or damage to the testes or pituitary gland, a healthy lifestyle with a good diet, regular exercise, meditation to avoid stress and depression, and avoiding alcohol and smoking can keep your hormone levels normal. 

Hormones are especially important for our body as they control many essential functions of your body. You can’t control hormonal imbalances that happen genetically or accidentally, but you can take care of your lifestyle by doing exercises, eating healthy foods, trying to control your stress and depression, and avoiding things like smoking, drinking alcohol, and drugs to keep your hormonal level in the range.

Want more detailed info about hormones? Contact our endocrinologists for a consultation. What are you waiting for?  At Doral Health and Wellness, we have doctors that can help you manage your condition. For more information, you can visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11212, or call us on 1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at https://doralhw.org or contact us at info@doralhw.org if you have any queries.