About Marquis Synan
Androgel, a popular testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) gel, is widely used among American men to combat symptoms of low testosterone, such as decreased libido, fatigue, and mood swings. Your healthcare provider may adjust your testosterone dosage, switch you to a different form of testosterone, or recommend further testing to evaluate the extent of the liver damage. Individuals with these conditions should exercise extra caution and consult with a hepatologist before starting testosterone therapy. How often should I have my liver function tested while taking testosterone? Is it safe to drink alcohol while on testosterone therapy? The relationship between testosterone and liver health is complex. The frequency of monitoring depends on the individual’s risk factors, the form and dosage of testosterone, and their overall health.This may seem surprising, but it makes sense when looking closely at how testosterone works in the body. Doctors also look at other risk factors when checking the liver. If enzyme levels stay high or keep rising, more testing is usually needed to find the cause. Doctors might need to order an ultrasound, a FibroScan, or other imaging tests to see how much fat is in the liver. In others, it could make liver problems worse, especially if the therapy is not watched closely. That means someone might begin TRT already having a liver that is not completely healthy.
Sexual arousal and masturbation in women produce small increases in testosterone concentrations. Testosterone levels follow a circadian rhythm that peaks early each day, regardless of sexual activity. Testosterone is included in the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines, which are the most important medications needed in a basic health system. Testosterone is used as a medication for the treatment of male hypogonadism, gender dysphoria, and certain types of breast cancer.
With the right approach, it is possible to get the benefits of testosterone while protecting one of the body’s most vital organs—the liver. If testosterone is used at too high a dose or without a prescription, the risk for liver stress goes up. Not all liver enzyme elevations are caused by testosterone.
Still, regular monitoring and a full view of a person’s health are needed to make sure therapy is safe and effective. Using testosterone without proper testing or using very high doses can harm the liver instead of helping it. After therapy, energy often improves, and people may become more active. The liver then starts turning sugar into fat, which can build up in liver cells. When the body stops responding to insulin properly, blood sugar rises. Testosterone therapy may also help the body use insulin better. As this fat decreases, the pressure on the liver goes down too.
In addition, the amount of testosterone produced by existing Leydig cells is under the control of LH, which regulates the expression of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The number of Leydig cells in turn is regulated by luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The male generative glands also contain Sertoli cells, which require testosterone for spermatogenesis. In the final and rate limiting step, the C17 keto group androstenedione is reduced by 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase to yield testosterone. In the next step, two additional carbon atoms are removed by the CYP17A1 (17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase) enzyme in the endoplasmic reticulum to yield a variety of C19 steroids. The first step in the biosynthesis involves the oxidative cleavage of the side-chain of cholesterol by cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc, CYP11A1), a mitochondrial cytochrome P450 oxidase with the loss of six carbon atoms to give pregnenolone.
This relationship between testosterone and liver health elucidates why keeping your liver in top condition is paramount. The liver’s efficient functioning ensures your body’s metabolic and synthetic processes remain uninterrupted. Research indicates that over 500 functions have been attributed to the liver, as detailed in this study. Your liver, a vital organ like an intricate machine, serves multiple critical roles, ensuring your body functions smoothly. There’s a reason why declines in cognitive abilities often correlate with decreasing testosterone levels as you age. Low testosterone levels can be a culprit.
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