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Andrology

Unique insight into the physiological functions of testosterone

Nature Reviews Urology volume 10, page 616 (2013)Cite this article

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A landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine details how researchers have teased out the physiological functions of different levels of testosterone in men. Moreover, the investigators found that some symptoms often attributed to testosterone deficiency are actually caused by a lack of oestrogen.

Joel Finkelstein and colleagues, from Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA, report that testosterone levels regulate lean body mass, muscle size and strength, whereas oestrogen levels regulate fat accumulation. Both hormones contribute to sexual function, which encompasses both sexual desire and erectile function.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Finkelstein, J. S. et al. Gonadal steroids and body composition, strength, and sexual function in men. N. Engl. J. Med. 369, 1011–1022 (2013)

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  1. Sarah Payton
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Payton, S. Unique insight into the physiological functions of testosterone. Nat Rev Urol 10, 616 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2013.223

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