The Sex Hormones: Testosterone and Estrogen by Dr. Rick Cohen

Testosterone: The Master Male Hormone – Suppose someone told you there was a magical substance that could increase your sex drive, strengthen your bones and muscles, decrease your body fat, improve your thinking ability, boost your energy levels, and guard against the onset of depression and heart disease as you age. You might be skeptical. Or you might be tempted to go out and buy a whole truckload of it. In reality, these effects are all a real possibility. And they are made possible by a substance that is naturally produced by your own body—the male sex hormone testosterone.

What is Testosterone? It’s a powerful anabolic hormone that stimulates and controls the development of muscle, bone, skin, sex organs, and most other masculine, physical features. Recently, scientists have discovered that testosterone also aids mental function, enhancing both visual and perceptual skills. Male, testosterone is produced in the testes by a group of cells known as the Leydig cells. These cells begin secreting high doses of testosterone during puberty to trigger increased lean muscle mass, sex organ development, bone formation and higher energy levels. Testosterone levels peak during a man’s early to mid twenties.

As a man ages, the amount of testosterone produced by the Leydig cells decreases. By the age of sixty, the average man will have lost nearly 50% of his testosterone supply. In addition, other factors (such as stress, lack of sleep, physical inactivity, the use of prescription medication and drinking) can cause testosterone levels to drastically decline. Although there is a growing awareness of the vital role testosterone plays in a man’s overall health, the vast majority of men still don’t recognize the key symptoms of testosterone deficiency. These symptoms include depression, fatigue, low sex drive, irritability, loss of facial/body hair, thinning and/or wrinkling of skin, weight gain, and the weakening of both bone and muscle tissue. Eventually, imbalances of testosterone can set the stage for the development of more serious disease. Low testosterone levels can also disrupt the body’s blood sugar metabolism, leading to obesity and diabetes. Chronic deficiencies may also promote the early onset of osteoporosis and heart disease.

Can low testosterone affect your sex life? Yes! Since ancient times men have searched for ways to increase their virility. Today, there are many popular medications that improve the physical factors (such as circulation) needed to sustain an erection. Yet many men do not realize that none of these medicines are long-term solutions, as they simply cannot play substitute for testosterone. Testosterone is, in a sense, your body’s own natural aphrodisiac.

Estrogen: Not for women only – Just as many women are not aware that their bodies produce and rely upon small amounts of testosterone for healthy physical and mental function, most men don’t know that their bodies produce and depend on small amounts of estrogen. Produced in the fat cells and liver of a man’s body, male estrogen is a natural by-product of testosterone metabolism. There are three main forms of estrogen—estradiol, estrone, and estriol—with estradiol being the most biologically-active. Obesity, pesticides, nutritional deficiencies, prescription medications and excessive alcohol intake can all promote the onset of high estrogen levels, which can directly inhibit the production and activity of testosterone. This condition commonly leads to a high body-fat percentage and often to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and prostate enlargement. Since high levels of estrogen are typically linked to low bio-available testosterone levels, those experiencing symptoms or low testosterone levels should also assess their levels of estradiol.

The Stress Hormones: Cortisol and DHEA – Your body responds to stress by producing increased amounts of cortisol and DHEA, hormones that minimize the negative, physiologic effects of stress. Because the body was designed to manage acute, life-threatening stress, it is not well equipped to handle the more constant on-going stress with life in the modern world.

Because of this, the body can easily become overwhelmed and incapable of producing adequate supplies of cortisol and DHEA. The end result? Stress hormone imbalance, which can lean to fatigue, insomnia and loss of libido. Chronic stress and stress hormone imbalance can also cause low testosterone, mood changes, depression, anxiety, poor immune response, cancer, cardiovascular disease, pre-mature aging and auto-immune disorders (such as lupus, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome).

Cortisol: Important for protecting the body in times of stress – Cortisol is an important steroid hormone produced in the adrenal glands. Without proper cortisol levels, meeting life’s daily challenges would be difficult. While short-term elevations of cortisol represent a normal adaptive response to life-threatening situations, injury and/or illness, prolonged cortisol elevations are extremely unhealthy and harmful. Chronically-high cortisol levels have been linked to depression, osteoporosis, obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

:: DHEA :: An important building block – DHEA is the most abundant steroid hormone found in the human body, and it has long been identified as an important building block (precursor) for testosterone. Over the past 10 years, however, research has also confirmed that DHEA performs many other important functions. The most critical of these? Aiding the body in adapting to and coping with stress. Low levels of DHEA have been associated with poor immune function, depression, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimers disease, hypothyroidism, and diabetes.