Testosterone is a potent hormone that provides numerous functions in the body, including building muscle, producing sperm and increasing the libido. However, excess testosterone, whether from testosterone hormone replacement therapy or illegal use such as steroids, can cause a wide range of side effects in both men and women that can impede overall health.
Increases Prostate Cancer Risk
Kellogg Parsons, M.D., led a team of researchers who examined the relationship between testosterone levels and prostate cancer risk, according to the Science Daily website. Researchers analyzed blood samples of men over a 40-year period who participated in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging. They discovered that men with higher levels of free testosterone, an active form that is used by the prostate, had an increase risk of developing prostate cancer.
Increases Heart Disease Risk
In findings reported in the 2009 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism," Anne Cappola, M.D., and colleagues investigated the impact of testosterone levels on heart disease risk in postmenopausal women. Researchers measured the testosterone levels of women aged 65 to 98 years. They found that women with the highest testosterone levels were three times as likely to have heart disease compared to the lowest testosterone levels. Furthermore, the study also revealed that women with the highest testosterone levels were more likely to have metabolic syndrome and have insulin resistance compared to those with the lowest testosterone levels.
Kills Nerve Cells
In a 2006 study conducted by the Yale School of Medicine, Barbara Ehrlich and colleagues studied the impact of elevated testosterone levels on nerve cells, according to the Science Daily website. They found that elevated testosterone levels were associated with apoptosis, or cell death, of nerve cells that can cause changes in behavior and mood.
