Androgens are hormones that control male development and function. They play a role in the growth of gonads, development of male physical characteristics, and sperm production. Androgen therapy can be used to treat prostate cancer and symptoms in women.
Androgens are hormones that control the development and function of male tissues and characteristics. This term can refer to both natural and synthetic androgen hormones. There are several types of androgens, the most important of which is testosterone. Each androgen controls one or more aspects of male development or function. Note that while androgen hormones are defined as controlling “male” characteristics, these hormones are present and active in females and males.
One of the first things that androgen hormones control is the growth of the gonads of a developing fetus. At about four weeks of age, the gonads of a human fetus have begun to develop and may become ovaries or testicles. In the presence of androgen hormones, the gonads are induced to develop into testicles. Once the gonads have differentiated into testicles, they themselves will begin to produce androgens. When these hormones become active in the developing fetus, they control the development of the penis, scrotum, and other structures in the male reproductive system.
Androgens play an important role in development during puberty, supporting sperm production and the final stages of sexual organ maturity. The function of androgen hormones in sperm production continues throughout adulthood. These hormones also inhibit the deposition of excess fat and promote the deposition of muscle tissue. As a result, males tend to have less body fat and more muscle than females.
In addition to regulating the development of male physical characteristics, androgen hormones are also thought to play a role in psychological characteristics. For example, aggression and libido have been suggested to be linked to androgen levels. Male hormones alone don’t control psychological characteristics like these; rather the answer lies in a much more complex interplay between female and male hormones and other factors.
Androgen hormones produced in the testicles are strongly implicated in prostate cancer and have been shown to promote the growth of prostate cancer cells. For this reason, a common treatment for prostate cancer is androgen therapy, used to reduce androgen levels and lower the growth rate of prostate tumors. This treatment cannot cure the cancer but it can slow its progression.
In other situations, androgen therapy can also be used for the treatment of women. Around menopause, many women experience symptoms such as fatigue, low libido, reduced sense of well-being, reduced motivation, and other symptoms that can mean reduced androgen levels. Taking prescribed androgens as a means of therapy can help reduce the severity of these symptoms.
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