What Happens to a Man's Testosterone As He Gets Older?
Testosterone is the most important male sex hormone. During puberty, it is responsible for the development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics. It also has emotional and psychological effects that make males more aggressive. Production of testosterone remains fairly level in normal healthy males from puberty until about middle age. Reductions in testosterone production are linked with many of the signs of aging. Testosterone is also involved in male pattern baldness.-
Testosterone Production
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Testosterone production in the human male peaks during adolescence. It remains at a fairly high level until about age 40, when levels of production begin to decline. Though the decline is modest in most men, in some it can be quite marked, giving rise to a phenomenon called Andropause, or male menopause. The comparison to menopause is a bit misleading because hormone levels in women change dramatically over a short period of time, whereas men will only experience a decline in testosterone production of 1 to 1.5 percent per year. Eventually, however, the effects of the decline can be quite pronounced.
Signs of Declining Testosterone
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Acute andropause can be experienced like puberty in reverse. Low testosterone results in decreased sexual function (reduced libido and erectile dysfunction), decrease in muscle mass and bone density, increase in body fat percentage and reduced strength. In fact, many of the symptoms of aging in men can be linked to a decrease in testosterone production. At the same time, mental and psychological effects including memory loss and depression are not uncommon.
Hair Loss
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Another aspect of aging that's linked to testosterone is androgenic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness. This is not related to levels of testosterone production, but hinges on how testosterone is used in the body. In the presence of a certain enzyme, testosterone is converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In this form, testosterone actually interferes with hair follicles and inhibits hair growth. Genetic factors seem to dictate the onset of male pattern baldness, but medical treatments that block the conversion of testosterone into DHT have been effective in limiting this form of hair loss.
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