Testosterone and the Microgenderome

Men are manly and it’s because of their testosterone. They bump heads with each other to prove their macho-ness. 

They show off in front of attractive women.

They rag on other men’s problems to beat out the competition — to win the affection they crave. 

Males of all species do this — humans, bucks, lions, and dogs.

They compete, it’s just in their nature, but what happens when their natural instincts are increasingly becoming obsolete?

Can the male species die out because of lowering levels of testosterone?

Do they really need to ‘buck up’ and ‘be a man’ to continue the male species altogether? 

Actually, yes.

And gut microbes may be the way to save the male gender as a whole!

What is Testosterone and What Does it Do to Men?

Testosterone (T) is an androgen hormone — meaning it is more dominant in the male species.

Hormones are the main difference (other than genitalia) between men and women. 

Testosterone levels in men allow for denser muscles and bones, higher levels of energy and aggressiveness, and more hair growth. 

These are just the physical aspects that we can see. In the body, testosterone allows men to have lower levels of inflammation which may be why fewer men suffer from autoimmune disorders. 

Some important factors when it comes to testosterone are:

• Leydig cells 

• • Reside in the testicles where they produce a majority of testosterone. 
  • Contribute to the development of all parts of the male genitalia. 

• Luteinizing hormone (LH) 
  • A hormone that’s secreted from the anterior pituitary gland.
  • Works with testosterone to create healthy sperm.

What Happens When a Man’s Testosterone Level is Low

They turn into women! Just kidding, but they really do start taking on more feminine qualities. 

With low testosterone levels, men experience:

• Moodiness
• Breast growth and pain
• Anxiety
• Hot flashes
• Lowered muscle and bone density
• Increased fat mass
• Loss of pubic and underarm hair
• Tiredness and inability to sleep 

Men will also notice hypogonadism — shrinking testicles.

What Causes Testosterone Levels to Change?

Since all of those symptoms sound miserable, what exactly causes that to happen?

Age

Age is a huge factor when it comes to changing hormone levels. When boys hit adolescence and go through puberty they get a surge in testosterone. 

Think back to middle/high school when boys all of a sudden go through a voice change, become more competitive, and way more interested in “getting the ladies”. That’s good ol’ testosterone ramping up.

As men age, their testosterone levels tend to drop a little bit.

Energy levels decrease, libido is a little less, and they start accumulating some more fat. 

Once they get even older, men will notice problems like erectile dysfunction and low sex drive. 

All of these changes are due to changes in testosterone levels. 

Sleep Duration and Quality

Sleep is essential to have a healthy, well-functioning body. 

A study was done on 10 healthy young men to see how sleep affected their T levels.

During the first 3 days, they slept for 10 hours and for the last 8 days they were only allowed to sleep for a total of 5 hours. 

T levels were tested throughout the study and during the days where the men got less sleep, their T levels dropped about 10-15%.

It’s fun to party in your teens and early 20’s but sleep deprivation can lead you to inadequate testosterone which can contribute to infertility.  

Pornography

Recently it has been discovered that pornography affects testosterone and sperm levels. 

Men are being desensitized to women’s bodies because they see them frequently in porn.

This desensitization changes the entire mating game. 

Instead of the build-up that courting used to have — dates, cuddling, waiting for marriage until having sex, less access to sex and porn — men have access at any time to the female body, making it less exciting. 

Obesity — The GELDING Theory

GELDING stands for Gut Endotoxin Leading to a Decline IN Gonadal function.

Currently only a hypothesis and not completely proven, the GELDING theory, definitely has potential in providing a link between obesity and low T. 

In an obese state, a bad diet allows for bacteria and endotoxins to pass through the intestinal lining (leaky gut).

The circulating bacteria and endotoxins force your body into an inflammatory state to fight them off. 

Your body is trying to fight these “invaders” with white blood cells and other immune cells.

Increases in these circulating immune cells can cause a decrease in testosterone levels since the body sees itself as sick. 

‘Survival of the fittest’ should probably be changed to ‘survival of the healthiest’.

Our bodies were created to reproduce. If your body is in a state of disease, it isn’t able to make optimal sperm to have healthy offspring. 

How Your Brain and Gonads Talk — The HPG Axis

This isn’t proof of the old saying “he’s thinking with the wrong head”. This is a legitimate way that a man’s body will communicate through different hormones and neurotransmitter’s to get things done. 

The hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is a ‘pathway’ that allows your body parts to cross-talk. 

Your hypothalamus is in charge of secreting the neurohormones

corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP). 

Both of these neurohormones stimulate the anterior pituitary gland to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

ACTH stimulates your adrenal glands to secrete cortisol. Cortisol is produced in times of stress to keep your adrenaline going. 

Cortisol is found at high levels in those with anxiety and depression.

These disease rates are higher in men than in women because testosterone is a natural cortisol inhibitor. 

Testosterone and Gut Health

The GELDING theory is one of the biggest ways that your gut can affect testosterone levels. Leaky gut leads to a ton of other problems and low testosterone is one.

Gut bacteria convert glucocorticoids (which are produced from the adrenal glands) into androgens so they can be recirculated through the blood. 

A healthy microbiome is known to help increase pheromones and testosterone in men to make them a more ideal mate. 

You can naturally increase your T levels while creating a healthier microbiome by:

• Eating a diet high in dietary fiber, probiotics, prebiotics, and polyphenols
• Taking Atrantil to support your gut health which can help avoid the GELDING theory
• Decreasing inflammation-causing foods like unhealthy fats and animal proteins
• Exercising frequently
• Limiting exposure to environmental toxins

There are other methods to increase testosterone levels, but these are the best and most natural ways to do so. 

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