Testosterone is a male sex hormone required for sperm production, the development of male reproductive organs and the emergence of secondary male sexual characteristics such as facial hair, a deeper voice and muscles.
In men testosterone is produced in the testes and adrenal glands.
Testosterone is also produced in women's ovaries and adrenal glands. Little is known about the exact role of testosterone in women, but scientists believe it helps maintain muscle and bone strength and contributes to sex drive or libido.
On average, men produce between 4 and 10mg of the hormone per day and overall they have about 20 times more testosterone than women.
Testosterone is also well known for its role in the hormonal hotbed that is male puberty. It promotes the growth of the reproductive tract, increases in the length and diameter of the penis, development of the prostate and scrotum, and the sprouting of pubic and facial hair. As well as these androgenic, or masculinising effects, testosterone also drives anabolic, or tissue-building, changes. These include thickening of the vocal chords, growth spurts, development of sexual libido, and an increase in strength and muscle bulk.
There's no denying these powerful physical effects which continue well into adulthood, and their driving force, hormones. But we feel compelled to box our hormones resolutely into those that belong to men, or to women. Estrogen and progesterone are the so-called female sex hormones, and testosterone, the so-called primary male sex hormone. With that we assign our hormones impossible gender roles. But of course gender ain't that simple, and nor are our hormones.
In men testosterone is produced in the testes and adrenal glands.
Testosterone is also produced in women's ovaries and adrenal glands. Little is known about the exact role of testosterone in women, but scientists believe it helps maintain muscle and bone strength and contributes to sex drive or libido.
On average, men produce between 4 and 10mg of the hormone per day and overall they have about 20 times more testosterone than women.
Testosterone is also well known for its role in the hormonal hotbed that is male puberty. It promotes the growth of the reproductive tract, increases in the length and diameter of the penis, development of the prostate and scrotum, and the sprouting of pubic and facial hair. As well as these androgenic, or masculinising effects, testosterone also drives anabolic, or tissue-building, changes. These include thickening of the vocal chords, growth spurts, development of sexual libido, and an increase in strength and muscle bulk.
There's no denying these powerful physical effects which continue well into adulthood, and their driving force, hormones. But we feel compelled to box our hormones resolutely into those that belong to men, or to women. Estrogen and progesterone are the so-called female sex hormones, and testosterone, the so-called primary male sex hormone. With that we assign our hormones impossible gender roles. But of course gender ain't that simple, and nor are our hormones.
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