Female hormones in the male body: influence and role

Female hormones play a very important role in the male body, no less important than testosterone in the female body. Unfortunately, studies on this subject have been conducted in a very small amount, so the role of female hormones in the sports life of men can be talked about with a fair degree of admission. All female sex hormones are divided into estrogens and progestins.

From estrogen, combining estradiol, estriol and estrone, the most active and significant length is the first, it is in it has the ability to convert excess testosterone in peripheral tissues (especially in the fat layer and liver). Of progestins, progesterone is of greatest interest to our topic. Estrogen in the female body is produced in the adrenal and ovary; in the male, the excess of male sex hormones turns into estradiol. In the blood, most of the estrogens are bound by globulin - SHBG, the same one that binds testosterone.

Both the excess and the lack of estrogen in the male body leads to a decrease in the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicle arc, and hence to a decrease in the production of its own testosterone. Excessive increase in the level of estrogens about the blood of men begins to occur and in itself, beginning with 45-50 years. Together with the age-related decline in the level of production of own testosterone, which occurs at the same time, this leads to various and very unpleasant disorders - problems with the cardiovascular system, memory, diseases associated with immunosuppression and age-related gynecomastia.

Strange as it may seem, at the same time, an increase in mood and general vitality was observed experimentally under the influence of estrogen on the male organism. Yes, and the increased sexual activity of men during the intake of anabolic steroids, some scientists associate with a high level of estradiol. There is also a positive effect of elevated levels of estrogen in the blood of men not on anything, but on the most sacred - the growth of muscle volumes. This effect is associated with the ability of estrogens to increase levels of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor in the body. The thing here, again, in the ratio of testosterone and estrogens - below a certain level - is bad, and higher - even worse. The ability to convert androgens to estradiol provides them with several other useful qualities: flavoring preparations significantly better promote the accumulation of glycogen by cells than their non-aromatizable counterparts; the use of such drugs leads to androgens receptors, which is also important.

With progesterone is exactly the same story. This hormone is something between testosterone and estradiol. Progesterone is produced in the adrenal cortex, but the main place of its formation in the female body is the yellow body.

Progesterone has a calming effect on the central nervous system and can help men with premature ejaculation in solving their sexual problems. Moreover, some athletes take progesterone to increase muscle growth - he and appetite stirs up, and water, along with sodium in the body, delays. However, all this is true if the level of progesterone in the blood of men does not exceed a certain value. Excess progesterone leads to no less sad consequences than an excess of estrogen: this is the risk of the same gynecomastia, and the fall of muscle volumes, etc. Etc.

Which of the above should be? Female sex hormones can be for men and other, and the enemy, it's all about the ratio of their amount in the blood with the amount of testosterone. To be afraid of aromatic and progestagenic anabolic steroids is not worth it - due to the transformation into female sex hormones, they can work much more efficiently than their non-aromatizing counterparts. The main thing is to know when to stop, not to cross that line, after which the friend turns into an enemy.

[1], [2], [3]