Testosterone is a steroid hormone produced predominantly in the testes; it provides male characteristics. A 2006 article published in the "Medical Journal of Australia" refers to testosterone as one of the oldest drugs in medicine. The article notes that the greatest misuses of this androgen hormone are the over prescribing for male aging and the self-administration for use in the sports industry. Because testosterone is an anabolic steroid, symptoms of high testosterone levels in men are the same as for steroid use.
Physiological
The "Medical Journal of Australia" notes the use of testosterone on the world stage of sports since the cold war. Known as anabolic steroid doping, the hormone is administered to enhance physical performance and gain an upper edge in competitive sports. The Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine and Science attributes aggressiveness, increased sexual behavior and violence to high testosterone levels; other effects mentioned include criminal behavior, hair loss, sleeping disorders, hallucinations and addiction.
Voice
A study published in 1999 in the journal "Personality and Individual Differences" measured testosterone levels in 61 males and 88 females. It found a high correlation between men, high testosterone and low pitched voices. The same was not evident with the women. It postulated that the elevated testosterone levels affected the physiology of the vocal chords and testosterone may affect the way a man speaks in a social setting.
Reproductive
With prolonged use of testosterone, the Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine and Science notes that hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is possible. This is a decrease or absence in the functioning of the testes, secondary to issues with the pituitary or hypothalamus gland. It may cause sterility in males. In some instances, the infertility may be reversed. Breast formation, or gynecomastia, may also occur. Sexual desire may increase along with erectile dysfunction.
Liver Functioning
The Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine and Science states that testosterone may have a deleterious effect on the liver. The liver may exhibit decreased hepatic excretion, jaundice and hemorrhagic cystic degeneration that may lead to fatal bleeding. Both benign and malignant tumors can develop on the liver due to excessive use of testosterone.
References
- "The Medical Journal of Australia"; Testosterone: Use, Misuse and Abuse; David J. Handelsman; 2006
- Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine and Science: ANABOLIC STEROIDS: Side Effects
- ScienceDirect.com: "Personality and Individual Differences"; High Testosterone Levels Predict Low Voice Pitch Among Men; James M. Dabbs Jr., Alison Mallinger; Oct. 1999
