I would say that I’m not an aggressive kind of guy. Pretty non-aggressive. So I don’t think that I would have abnormal levels of testosterone beyond that which is considered normal for a guy.
But then I DO think about sex (and want it) an awful lot. Almost all of the time.
How much of this is a psychological trait and how much is testosterone driven?
I would think that greater levels of testosterone would result in somewhat more aggressive behaviour, and a special men’s issue of Scientific American (it’s pre-1999 so I can’t find a link for it on thier website) alludes to this.
But does it ALWAYS result in greater levels of sexual desire? And if so, do we know why exactly?
Sorry if this seems obvious, but I have read articles that have described how it can lead to greater stress+anger (and thus lead someone to more aggresive behaviour), but my understanding stops short of how it possibly makes me think of naked women.
Incidentally, are testosterone levels higher in certain (I hesitate to use the word “ethnic”, since I know how it’s frowned upon here, so I’ll use) cultural groups than in others? I mean groups of people sharing a particular geographic location (or relatively homogeneous) with similiar linguistic and blood-line backgrounds?
Absence of testosterone will usually result in diminished sex drive. But elevated testosterone does not necessarily correlate with elevated sex drive. In short, some testosterone is necessary for sexual arousal (even in women) but more does not mean more arousal.
The sex drive is so multi-factorial (yes, even in guys) that no single component can be pointed at as the critical factor, as long as enough testosterone is present in the first place.
And there are no studies of which I am aware that indicate different testosterone levels for different ethnic groups.
BTW, the whole testosterone/aggression link is being re-evaluated also. Once again, many more factors than simple testosterone level seem to come into play here.
I am sure the physician has a better grasp of the technical concepts of the effects hormones have on ones emotional state, but I would like to interject.
I have been on complete testosterone replacement since August of 2002 due to a bi-lateral orchiectomy. I have noticed, through my clinical research, that my sex drive is highest approximately 48-72 hours before I feel the negative effects of low testosterone levels. I receive 1cc intramuscular injections of testosterone every 10-14 days. The day or so after my injection my sex drive is somewhat subdued. It is definitely there, but it is not quite as influential as it is the day or so before my injection.
(I am a 26 years old non-drug user of average health.)
Another thing I could throw out there is that high levels of androgens in the blood could indicate problems with endogenous androgen receptor levels.
A physcian/endocrinologist could shed more light on this. I really am not qualified to make any more than general, non-specific observations about this.
But in the case of many hormones, an abnormally high level in the blood of that hormone could be an indication of receptor resistance.
Most hormones are found in the blood in levels that are regulated by the body in ‘negative feedback loops’.
This means that when the level of ‘hormone A’ goes up, something like ‘hormone B’ responds to ‘A’ and tells the body that there is enough levels of ‘A’ which tells the body to stop producing ‘A’. As ‘A’ is dropped so is ‘B’ so so forth the cycle that maintains the balance.
Leptin resistance in obese patients seems to be a well characterized example–the hormone is present in the blood, but it can exert its effects because the cell can’t ‘detect’ it.
Leptin resistance in obese patients seems to be a well characterized example–the hormone is present in the blood, but it can exert its effects because the cell can’t ‘detect’ it.
Ouch–I meant that leptin CAN’T exert its effects…
I once knew a “reformed” bodybuilder. He was fairly successful, but gave it up because he became unhappy with the effects of the steroids he was taking, and especially what he was convinced were their health implications. He claimed that a common effect of high steroid doses was to suppress sex drive.