Here’s What You Need to Know About Testosterone

Testosterone is important for the physical changes that happen during male puberty, and features typical of adult men, such as facial and body hair. Shutterstock*

Testosterone is blamed for violence in males, implicated in sport scandals, linked to sexual prowess, desired by gym devotees, and promoted as a tonic for ageing. But how many of us really understand what testosterone is, what it does, and why it’s important?

Testosterone levels are about ten times higher in men than women. While it does have important functions in women, its role is quite different so this article will focus on testosterone in men.

Testosterone and Development

Testosterone is the most important male sex hormone (androgen); it’s needed for normal reproductive and sexual function. Hormones are chemical messengers made by glands and carried in the blood to act on various organs.