Testosterone is a natural hormone produced in the male sex organ, also called Androgens. Let us try to understand its functions in our body and why its presence is essential. We shall discuss why people want to increase their testosterone levels in the perspective of bodybuilders.
What is testosterone?
The endocrine system of our body produces many hormones and male testicles produces large amount of testosterone. Women too produce small amount of this hormone in their ovaries and some amount of this hormone is produced in the adrenal glands of both men and women.
The testosterone production level is generally controlled by the pituitary gland, which is also called master gland, since it controls the production, function and secretion of many other hormone glands of our body.
The male characteristics like facial hair, growth of body, sex drive, deeper voice and the ability of erection of sex organ are due to the presence of testosterone. Male sex organ not only produces, testosterone but also sperm.
However, when bodybuilders inject testosterone from external sources, when their internal system is also producing this hormone, then the levels may get disrupted in the body. In such situation, the pituitary gland instructs the testicles to reduce the production of endogenous testosterone. For proper body growth, it is essential that the hormone functions in the body is carefully balanced.
Steroid testosterone for bodybuilding
Bodybuilders take this testosterone in steroid form externally to increase various male functions like tissues and muscle growth, changes in bone structure, strength in the body etc. However, if there is excessive presence of such hormone then there can be overgrowth of jawbone, swelling and many other kinds of deformities in the body.
Therefore, it is necessary to take testosterone in combination with other steroids so that the effects can be neutralized and bodybuilders can achieve well regulated and controlled muscle growth in their body.
Before taking testosterone steroids, it will be better if bodybuilders are aware of their present level of testosterone. Following are testosterone levels based the age of the person.
- Men of age between 17 to 18 – 300 to 1200 ng per deciliter
- 19 years and above – 242 to 950 ng per deciliter
- Average adult male – 270 to 1070 ng per deciliter
Men with low level of testosterone may experience following problems:
- Lower sex drive
- Erection problem
- Decrease in sperm production
- Infertility and impotence
- Decrease in muscle mass
- Body fat increases
- Bone density decreases
