Testosterone
Testosterone is an androgen made in the testes, the ovaries, and the adrenal glands. Men make far more of it. In both sexes it supports muscle, bone, mood, and sex drive, and in men it is needed to make sperm.
In women, high insulin drives the ovary to make extra testosterone, and hyperandrogenism shows up as acne, hair loss, or unwanted hair growth. In men, a low level calls for a cause. Men with sleep apnea had lower testosterone than other men in pooled studies.1
Total testosterone alone can mislead. Among men with borderline total levels, only about 25 percent had a low free testosterone when it was measured.2
Cited in this entry
- Graziani A, Grande G, Ferlin A. The complex relation between obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, hypogonadism and testosterone replacement therapy. Frontiers in reproductive health. 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37881222/
- Facondo P, Di Lodovico E, Pezzaioli LC, Cappelli C, Ferlin A, Delbarba A. Usefulness of routine assessment of free testosterone for the diagnosis of functional male hypogonadism. The aging male : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male. 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35243960/
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.
