Hormones are chemicals that travel throughout the body to signal to hormone-responsive tissues. Hormones are typically secreted by endocrine glands and get released into the bloodstream. Circulating hormones bind to proteins on cells, called hormone receptors. The binding of the hormone to the hormone receptor activates a biological response in the cell. There are a range of types of hormones that can produce a number of biological responses throughout the body, and disruption of hormone regulation leads to a number of adverse effects. Hormone imbalance in men can result from a number of underlying factors.
Obesity
One potential cause of hormone imbalance in men is obesity. Obesity develops when more calories are consumed than are burned in daily activity and exercise. The excess energy gets stored in fatty tissue called adipose tissue. Men typically deposit adipose tissue in their midsection, and obese men also develop fat deposits within the abdominal and chest cavities, called visceral fat. Fat cells secrete estrogen, so men with more fat cells have more circulating estrogen, leading to a hormonal imbalance.
Science Daily indicates that the hormonal imbalance caused by obesity in men has a number of side effects.Obese men have a lower sperm count than men with average weight, and obese men are more likely to be infertile. Additionally, Science Daily reports that obese men have a less satisfying sex life--an effect that can be reduced by losing weight and decreasing estrogen levels. Maintaining a balanced diet and a consistent fitness routine can allow for weight loss to reverse the hormone imbalances associated with obesity.
Incorrect Anabolic Steroid Use
Another potential cause of hormone imbalances in men is incorrect long-term use of anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids mimic the effect of testosterone levels in the body, which promote muscle growth and affect a number of other processes. These steroids can be used to supplement abnormally low testosterone levels in men.
When men with normal testosterone levels take anabolic steroids, their body responds as though testosterone is being over-produced. This can lead to hormone-related symptoms like aggression, acne, and liver cysts, reports The Hormone Foundation. Steroid use itself mimics a hormone imbalance from excess testosterone. Over time, the body begins to produce less and less natural testosterone in response to the chronically high perceived levels of the hormone. When the man stops taking anabolic steroids, he may have insufficient testosterone production, leading to hormonal imbalances.
Cancer Treatments
Another potential cause of hormone imbalances in men are cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses toxic drugs to target proliferating cells, such as cancer cells. Chemotherapeutic agents also affect normal cells throughout the body, especially rapidly proliferating cells such as those found within the testicles. Since testosterone is normally secreted by the testes, damage to this tissue as a result of chemotherapy can lead to hormonal imbalances.
ChemoCare indicates that men undergoing chemotherapy synthesize testosterone slowly, leading to lower levels of testosterone in the blood. Some forms of cancer therapy, called androgen deprivation therapy, also directly decrease levels of testosterone. In some cases, the hormonal imbalance as a result of cancer treatment can be treated with hormone replacement therapy.
