Other studies showed that mRNA for the androgen receptor is present in cardiomyocytes isolated from men and women, as well as in cardiomyocytes from rats and dogs . As a consequence, some studies of the effect of androgens on the cardiovascular system use the non-aromatizable androgen DHT, rather than testosterone or its derivatives, for example 38-40. Thus, effects of testosterone supplementation with derivatives that can be aromatized may actually be due, at least in part, to estradiol rather than androgen. Furthermore, certain anabolic steroids, including testosterone esters as well as nortestosterone derivatives (e.g., nandrolone decanoate and nandrolene phenpropionate), can be aromatized to estradiol . Conversion of circulating testosterone to 17ß-estradiol by these tissue-based aromatase pathways may increase 17ß-estradiol levels under conditions such as obesity . Interestingly, aromatase also is present in a number of extragonadal sites including adipose tissue, bone, and the brain in both men and women . Adolescent boys with too little testosterone may not experience normal masculinization. A "feedback loop" closely regulates the amount of hormone in the blood. It is essential to the development of male growth and masculine characteristics. They travel from one organ or another place in the body, usually through the bloodstream, and affect many different bodily processes. There's more to testosterone than guys behaving badly. For example, did you know that testosterone is a key player in prostate cancer? When you think of testosterone, what comes to mind? The ten eligible studies were observational and analytical studies published between 2019 and 2024. Figure 1 shows the selection procedure for eligible studies and the reasons for exclusion. After screening, ten studies were deemed appropriate for qualitative analysis. We evaluated the quality of the included studies using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale (Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 2024). We performed qualitative analyses and comparisons without conducting quantitative analyses because statistical analyses and presentations differed across the studies. Therefore, the role of androgens in regulating the intestinal barrier and microenvironment may affect and govern the gut microbiome. This is consistent with the findings of Matsushita et al. (2022b), who discovered a more significant number of gut microbes in the high-testosterone group than in the low-testosterone group. Furthermore, some studies have reported only phyla rather than specific microbiome species (Jie et al., 2021; Matsushita et al., 2022b; Shin et al., 2019). Several microbiome types were consistently reported across studies, such as the phylums Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes (Jie et al., 2021; Koliada et al., 2021; Matsushita et al., 2022b; Mayneris-Perxachs et al., 2020; Shin et al., 2019; Wilmanski et al., 2019). All the included studies had different microbiomes and statistical outputs; therefore, we could not continue the quantitative analysis or meta-analysis. The prevalence of the gut microbiome may be influenced by comorbidities, obesity, dietary patterns, and lifestyle factors. Koliada et al. (2021) reported similar findings, in which the type and number of specific microbiomes differed between men and women. It is significant to emphasize that since this study reviews already published studies pertaining to patient data, ethical approval is not necessary. Essential for bone maturation, testosterone helps bones reach maximal mass and preserves bone density, all during adulthood; it also promotes skeletal growth by improving mechanical loading . Dysregulation of this feedback mechanism can lead to a variety of pathophysiological conditions, particularly testosterone deficiency; such disruptions may occur due to aging, disease processes, or lifestyle factors, underscoring the importance of accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic interventions . An outline of the major hormonal changes that take place in men throughout their lives is given in this introduction, with special attention to testosterone's crucial role in controlling a wide range of physiological processes. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 4.0., which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. By the time a person reaches menopause, their testosterone levels may have decreased by half of what they once were. They can evaluate you and assess if testosterone levels may be responsible. A blood test is the only way to know if your testosterone levels are low. The side effects of testosterone on females aren’t fully understood. Healthcare providers measure testosterone levels with a blood test. But you can experience low testosterone levels at any time in your life. Testosterone is a type of androgen hormone (or sex hormone) in your body. The first step is the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is synthesized and secreted from hypothalamic neurons . Testosterone biosynthesis in men is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis , as shown in the overview of major gonadal pathways for testosterone biosynthesis in Figure 1. Testosterone production in men begins in utero, rises sharply in puberty, and then declines with age 17,18. Testosterone is produced primarily by the testes in men, although it also can be produced by the adrenal glands and other sites including adipose tissue and bone 14,15. The following discussion provides a broad overview of testosterone, and its receptors, including pathways involved in its biosynthesis, regulation, and metabolism. Here, we review emerging evidence that suggests testosterone influences myocardial function at the cellular level by modifying processes involved in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Testosterone levels in males naturally decline with age. It affects male fetuses as they develop in the uterus, as well as teenage sexual development during puberty. In female adults, high levels of testosterone may be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).