What happens to your body on testosterone Aside from just getting stronger more muscular and looking leaner maintaining healthy testosterone levels will benefit your heart bones mood and even verbal memory and reasoning skills Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone also known as an androgen which promotes the development of masculine characteristics and traits The process of testosterone production The process of creating testosterone starts in the hypothalamus which is the part of your brain that regulates hormones The hypothalamus releases gonadotropin releasing hormone GnRH which stimulates the pituitary gland to release luteinizing hormone LH and follicle stimulating hormone FSH LH stimulates the conversion of cholesterol to androgens while FSH stimulates sperm production Factors Affecting Testosterone Levels Testosterone production is controlled by a negative feedback loop that measures androgen and estrogen levels in the body When testosterone levels are high the hypothalamus stops stimulating the pituitary gland When levels are low the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to produce more LH and FSH to increase testosterone and sperm production Factors that can cause low testosterone include poor health poor nutrition or a gonadal disorder It s important to note that not all testosterone produced in the body impacts the body in the way it s supposed to Some testosterone gets converted into estrogen and DHT which have different effects on the body Estrogen and DHT Conversion About 10 of testosterone gets converted into estrogen through the aromatization process Estrogen is vital for regulating libido erectile function and sperm development However too much conversion can lead to issues like gynecomastia About 10 of testosterone gets converted into DHT which has more androgenic effects but is less effective for muscle growth Free Testosterone and Bound Testosterone Only about 2 of testosterone in the body is free testosterone which is ready to bind to androgen receptors and perform its biological functions The other 98 is bound to sex hormone binding globulin or albumin and cannot bind to receptors Free testosterone is responsible for muscle growth while bound testosterone has limited physiological functions Effects of Testosterone on Muscle Growth and Fat Loss Increasing testosterone levels can have powerful muscle boosting effects A study found that men who received testosterone without resistance training gained more muscle compared to those who only did resistance training Testosterone also has an impact on fat burning and weight loss Low testosterone is linked to increased body fat while higher levels help you get and stay lean Testosterone may increase metabolic rate and enhance fat burning Other Effects of Testosterone Testosterone is also linked to an increase in red blood cell count which carries oxygen throughout the body It can also have psychological effects though it does not necessarily increase aggression or anger as commonly believed Overall maintaining healthy testosterone levels is important for various aspects of health and well being The effects of testosterone replacement therapy on aggression and anger were studied It was found that testosterone replacement therapy actually led to decreases in anger irritability sadness tiredness and nervousness Additionally there were significant improvements in energy levels friendliness and overall well being However it is important to note that higher testosterone levels can increase a man s desire for social dominance which may indirectly lead to aggression in certain situations Nevertheless testosterone does not directly increase anger and aggression especially when not abused Bodybuilders often use anabolic steroids to increase testosterone levels However injecting large amounts of testosterone can suppress natural testosterone production leading to side effects such as infertility and testicular atrophy Some of these effects may be reversible but long term steroid use can cause complete cell death in the testes impacting fertility Steroid use can also have other negative effects on a man s health including addiction accelerated aging and hair loss Elevated testosterone levels can cause the conversion of testosterone into DHT which plays a significant role in male hair loss Another common side effect of increased testosterone levels is gynecomastia also known as man boobs This occurs when testosterone is converted into estrogen stimulating the growth of breast tissue in men Overall testosterone is a crucial hormone for body composition health and well being It has both beneficial effects and potential adverse effects when present at excessively high levels Thank you