ANDROGEN TESTOSTERONE HORMONE INJECTIONS

Many conditions affect men and women differently. One of these conditions is asthma. It has long been known that pre-pubertal males tend to have more issues with asthma than females of the same age, but the underlying reasons why have not been so clear.

Recently, researchers from Johns Hopkins have explored the effects of Testosterone concerning asthma. It's critical to understand how men and women differ physiologically because it leads to different risks and different factors that impact potential treatment options.

While this study was conducted in mice, its results are hypothesized to be transferrable to humans. The research was published via the Journal of Immunology last October. While women are less likely to experience asthma than men in adulthood, Testosterone activated inflammation receptors in the lungs in response to exposure to an allergen known as ovalbumin. Obviously, these results give some mixed messages.

Asthma Risk Dependent on Age and Sex

Asthma is an interesting condition because its prevalence changes among males and females depending on age. Prior to puberty, boys are more liable to have issues with asthma than girls. After puberty, however, the situation changes. Then girls and women are more likely to have asthma. This is a clear example of how sex hormones lead to wellness-related sex differences. By exploring the mechanisms behind these differences, we can improve asthma diagnosis and treatment protocols.

A previous study investigated how Estrogen effected lung inflammation in mice. They found that Estrogen triggers inflammation. As we mentioned earlier, post-pubertal girls and women have a much higher incidence of asthma than men of the same age. This data led researchers to hypothesize that Testosterone would provide benefits against lung inflammation. For example, while still in experimental phases, male hormones have been prescribed as a successful treatment for women with asthma.

Mouse Testosterone Asthma Study

In order to learn more about how Testosterone impacts asthma, researchers needed mice that couldn't produce their own sex hormones. By using castrated mice, they could precisely control hormone levels using Testosterone Implants, which slowly and steadily release hormones.

Researchers also had to simulate asthmatic allergic reaction in the mice, because mice don't normally experience allergic asthma. Researchers aerosolized albumin to trigger a lung reaction similar to what humans experience when they have an asthma attack.

Testosterone and Lung Inflammation

Lung Inflammation is triggered by specific immune cells known as Alveolar Macrophages. These microscopic phagocytes absorb and break down debris in the lungs. They also trigger inflammatory activity, including the cascade of symptoms associated with an asthma attack. Researchers expected Testosterone to protect against lung inflammation in the mice.

What they discovered was more complicated. While Testosterone suppressed most markers of inflammation, it activated lung inflammation, specifically in Alveolar Macrophages. Researchers then bred male/female mice without Testosterone Receptors in their Alveolar Macrophages. Here, they discovered a critical sex-difference. Male mice had less inflammation when these receptors were deactivated. Female mice saw no such change. This means that in male mice, Testosterone is more intricately involved in how irritants trigger asthma response.

This provides evidence for why Testosterone can help women with asthma, but those results are sex-specific. This research highlights that a person's individual characteristics are very important to consider when deliberating upon treatment options.

In the future, research like this will likely lead to treatment options that differ for men and women. While an asthma attack looks the same in males and females, the mechanisms which trigger the attack clearly differ, which provides different opportunities for ideal treatment. Antihistamines and Steroids are the go-to treatment for asthma, but males with severe asthma may benefit more from an alternative form of therapy.

Normal Testosterone Levels by Age

Early Development In Boys In Girls

0-5 Months Years 75-400 ng/dl 20-80 ng/dl

6 Months-9 Years Less than 20 ng/dl Less than 20 ng/dl

10-11 Years Less than 130 ng/dl Less than 44 ng/dl

During Puberty In Boys In Girls

12-13 Years Less than 800 ng/dl Less than 75 ng/dl

14 Years Less than 1200 ng/dl Less than 75 ng/dl

15-16Years 100-1200 ng/dl Less than 75 ng/dl

During Adulthood In Men In Women

17-18 Years 300-1200 ng/dl 20-75 ng/dl

19+ Years 240-950 ng/dl 8-60 ng/dl

Tanner Scale for Measuring Adolescent Development

While the guidelines above are generally correct, many physicians choose to evaluate Testosterone Levels in children and adolescents according to visual phase of development. In order to do this, doctors refer to a clinical schema known as the Tanner Scale. This scale is useful because children reach puberty and mature at different rates.

Stage I on the Tanner Scale is associated with the period before puberty, and Stage II is reached when visible signs of puberty first appear. The following provides information regarding the Testosterone Levels related to Tanner Stage in both boys and girls:

Tanner Stage In Boys In Girls

Stage I Less than 20 ng/dl Less than 20 ng/dl

Stage II 8-66 ng/dl Less than 47 ng/dl

Stage III 26-800 ng/dl 17-75 ng/dl

Stage IV 85-1,200 ng/dl 20-75 ng/dl

Stage V 300-950 ng/dl 12-60 ng/dl

What Are the Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency in Men?

• Low Sex Drive

• Thin, Easily Damaged Skin

• Issues with Concentration and Memory

• Fatigue

• Thinning Hair on Head, Face, and Body

• Weight Gain

• Depression and Anxiety

What Are the Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency in Women?

• Low Fertility

• Osteopenia/Osteoporosis

• Low Libido

• Missed or Irregular Periods

• Sexual Lubrication Issues

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Testosterone Levels

One of the most common reasons for excessive Testosterone in women is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Women struggling with PCOS experience elevated Testosterone Levels, which can lead to issues such as the development of facial and body hair, acne, oily skin, and absent or irregular periods.

Steroid Use and Testosterone Levels

Steroids are anabolic organic compounds which share similarities with Testosterone. Steroids are commonly used to increase body mass and build muscle. They are often utilized illicitly by men and women looking to bulk up. Steroid use and abuse can have a dramatic effect on natural Testosterone Production.

When guys abuse steroids, it can cause Testosterone Levels to drop precipitously, leading to low libido, temporary infertility, increased body/facial hair, acne, and testicular shrinkage.

In women, Steroid abuse can disrupt fertility and period timing while also causing baldness, acne, unfortunate hair growth, and deepening of the voice.

Testing for Testosterone-Related Issues in Men and Women

If an individual believes that they are having issues related to Low-T or Elevated Testosterone Levels, they should strongly consider reaching out to a doctor or Hormone Specialist for evaluation.

When evaluating for Testosterone Abnormalities, it is common for physicians to follow some general guidelines. For example, opiates have a dramatic effect upon the body's ability to produce Testosterone, so they will likely ask about prior opiate use along with the use of steroids. Men will often be measured for waist circumference, BMI, prostate/testicle size, and evaluated for signs of baldness. Women will be assessed for symptoms of masculation and also for acne and menstrual function.

How Are Testosterone Levels Tested?

Free and Total Testosterone Levels are evaluated using a blood test. To provide the most accurate results, Serum Testosterone is best tested during the morning hours, which gives the doctor the best idea regarding your peak Testosterone Production. The established Low-T Threshold for men varies depending upon the source, but most medical professionals consider Testosterone Deficiency to be associated with Testosterone Production lower than 230-350 ng/dl. Healthy women should have Testosterone Levels registering at 15-75 ng/dl.