https://english.elpais.com/health/2024-11-27/increasing-testosterone-levels-does-not-increase-sex-drive.html _ _ _ _ Select: * - - - * Espana * America + Mexico + Colombia + Chile + Argentina * US Espanol * US English EL PAIS Health subscribeHHOLALOG IN Health Sexual desire Increasing testosterone levels does not increase sex drive The results of a recent study suggest that, if there is no deficit of the hormone, supplements are unlikely to improve a man's libido Higher testosterone levels are not associated with increased sexual desire, but are associated with increased courtship efforts.Higher testosterone levels are not associated with increased sexual desire, but have been linked to increased courtship efforts.Jordi Salas (Getty Images) Daniel Mediavilla Nov 27, 2024 - 15:42CET Until a few decades ago, physical well-being, the causes of illness, and the origins of desire were not subjects that could be fully dissected by the tools of science. Instead, they were explained through stories that helped make life more bearable. Then came discoveries like high cholesterol, positive PCR tests, and low vitamin D levels, and with them, the possibility of controlling life's parameters and even seeking happiness through data. Testosterone, a hormone primarily produced in the testicles, has long been associated with masculinity. While some may seek to downplay its significance, the popularity of testosterone supplements reveals that many men, particularly as they age, continue to view it as a vital source of energy, confidence, and sex drive. While higher testosterone levels are linked to greater muscle mass and strength -- traits often tied to traditional notions of manhood -- scientific research indicates there is no correlation between testosterone and something as elusive as sex drive. On Wednesday, the Proceedings of the Royal Society B published a study that challenges the belief that testosterone regulates fluctuations in male desire. To examine this relationship, the researchers measured testosterone levels in the saliva of 41 men over the course of a month and asked them to record their daily levels of sexual desire. Their findings revealed no positive correlation between testosterone levels and sex drive, which they interpret as further confirmation -- consistent with previous studies -- that testosterone is not linked to changes in sex drive among men with normal testosterone levels. However, the study did reveal that testosterone can help restore sex drive in men whose levels are below what is considered healthy. Additionally, women, who naturally produce much less testosterone, reported an increase in sex drive, when given testosterone supplements. But the study also found that when testosterone levels surpass certain minimum thresholds, peaks in testosterone do not lead to an increase in sex drive. The study also uncovered a result that may seem contradictory at first glance. Although no direct relationship was found between fluctuations in testosterone and sex drive, the researchers observed that when testosterone levels increased, the study participants put more effort into courtship -- particularly if they were single or in relationships with individuals they found attractive. James Roney, the lead author of the study and a researcher at the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara, suggests a possible explanation for this difference in testosterone's effects: "In some non-human species, male sexual behavior requires only minimal amounts of testosterone. However, testosterone production peaks when males are actively competing with other males for access to females or for resources like territories that help attract females. Our results suggest a similar dynamic may occur in men: sex drive requires only minimal testosterone, but courtship and other competitive behaviors for mates may respond to fluctuations in testosterone in a more continuous manner." One of the practical takeaways from these findings is that testosterone supplements are unlikely to address low sex drive in men with normal hormone levels. "We inferred this from the fact that men's sex drive was not higher, on average, on days with high testosterone than on days with low testosterone," says the researcher. Studies like this highlight once again that, while our behavior can be influenced by biological factors such as hormone levels, these factors are often shaped and altered by a variety of external influences, including personal circumstances and social context. For example, obesity is known to reduce testosterone levels, and losing 10% of body fat can significantly increase them. Testosterone levels tend to be higher in single men compared to those in stable, long-term relationships. They are also typically higher in men who do not have children, as the hormone decreases when a man spends significant time caring for children. Although higher testosterone does not directly increase sex drive, it appears to encourage the search for a partner. Several studies have shown that testosterone levels in men rise shortly after brief interactions with a potential partner, and this increase has been linked to positive effects on courtship. Once a partner is secured, testosterone levels decrease, which makes it easier to maintain a long-term relationship and, in the long term, allows the father to devote his energy to caring for his child and not to looking for new partners, or at least not as much. Evolutionary biology expert Carole Hooven, who was not involved in the study, believes these results align with earlier findings. "What matters is the difference in testosterone levels between the sexes," she notes. "We know that individuals who transition to the testosterone levels of the opposite sex develop the sex drive patterns [corresponding to that sex], which increase greatly when testosterone is increased to male levels and decrease when it is blocked or reduced to female levels." Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Tu suscripcion se esta usando en otro dispositivo ?Quieres anadir otro usuario a tu suscripcion? Anadir usuarioContinuar leyendo aqui Si continuas leyendo en este dispositivo, no se podra leer en el otro. ?Por que estas viendo esto? Flecha Tu suscripcion se esta usando en otro dispositivo y solo puedes acceder a EL PAIS desde un dispositivo a la vez. Si quieres compartir tu cuenta, cambia tu suscripcion a la modalidad Premium, asi podras anadir otro usuario. Cada uno accedera con su propia cuenta de email, lo que os permitira personalizar vuestra experiencia en EL PAIS. En el caso de no saber quien esta usando tu cuenta, te recomendamos cambiar tu contrasena aqui. Si decides continuar compartiendo tu cuenta, este mensaje se mostrara en tu dispositivo y en el de la otra persona que esta usando tu cuenta de forma indefinida, afectando a tu experiencia de lectura. Puedes consultar aqui los terminos y condiciones de la suscripcion digital. Sign up to EL PAIS US Edition bulletin More information Mitos masturbacion Ditch masturbation to up your testosterone? New myths about a safe and healthy practice Arola Poch | Malaga (Spain) Rehearsal of a play by the Sullivanians' theater company, The Fourth Wall. Psychoanalysis and free sex: The Sullivanians, a commune that mutated into a cult on New York's Upper West Side Andrea Aguilar | Madrid Adheres toThe Trust ProjectMore information If you are interested in licensing this content, please contact ventacontenidos@prisamedia.com _ Ultimas noticias 20:13 US sanctions 21 Venezuelan officials for electoral fraud and repression of opponents 16:10 Ben Feringa, Nobel Prize in Chemistry: 'A single cell is more complex than an entire city' 15:42 Increasing testosterone levels does not increase sex drive 13:22 The rise of coffee and gold prices: A blessing and a curse for Colombia Most viewed 1. The American far right is emboldened by the return of Donald Trump 2. Germany is 'kaput': Why the economic model no longer works in the proud country of automobiles 3. US targets financial structure of Mexican cartel CJNG and includes nine partners on the Treasury's 'black list' 4. Father of children who survived 40 days in the Colombian jungle arrested for sexual abuse 5. Samuel L. Jackson, the activist who became the highest-grossing actor in history Recomendaciones EL PAIS * Cursos * Centros * Frances online * Ingles online * Italiano online * Aleman online * Crucigramas & Juegos Cursos cursos MBA Especialidad en International Business con un 61% de descuento MBA Especialidad en International Business con un 61% de descuento cursos Master en Diseno Web + Triple Titulacion Universitaria Master en Diseno Web + Triple Titulacion Universitaria cursos Master de formacion permanente en Psicopedagogia Clinica Master de formacion permanente en Psicopedagogia Clinica cursos Master Oficial Universitario en Epidemiologia y Salud Publica + 60 Creditos ECTS Master Oficial Universitario en Epidemiologia y Salud Publica + 60 Creditos ECTS Centros cursosonline MBA Especialidad en Direccion General MBA Especialidad en Direccion General cursosonline Master en Marketing Digital y Social Media Master en Marketing Digital y Social Media cursosonline Master en Ciberseguridad (en colaboracion con Deloitte) Master en Ciberseguridad (en colaboracion con Deloitte) cursosonline Master en Educacion Especial + 60 Creditos ECTS Master en Educacion Especial + 60 Creditos ECTS Frances online cursosingles Mejora tu frances con 15 minutos al dia Mejora tu frances con 15 minutos al dia cursosingles Disfruta de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas. Disfruta de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas. cursosingles Obtendra un diploma con estadisticas de nivel, progresion y participacion. Obtendra un diploma con estadisticas de nivel, progresion y participacion. cursosingles 21 dias de prueba gratuita de nuestro curso de frances 'online' 21 dias de prueba gratuita de nuestro curso de frances 'online' Ingles online cursosingles Mejore su ingles con EL PAIS con 15 minutos al dia Mejore su ingles con EL PAIS con 15 minutos al dia cursosingles Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas cursosingles Evalue su nivel y obtenga un certificado Evalue su nivel y obtenga un certificado cursosingles Pruebe 21 dias gratis y sin compromiso Pruebe 21 dias gratis y sin compromiso Italiano online cursosingles Mejore su italiano con EL PAIS con 15 minutos al dia Mejore su italiano con EL PAIS con 15 minutos al dia cursosingles Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas cursosingles Evalue su nivel y obtenga un certificado Evalue su nivel y obtenga un certificado cursosingles Pruebe 21 dias gratis y sin compromiso Pruebe 21 dias gratis y sin compromiso Aleman online cursosingles Las mejores oportunidades hablan aleman. Nuevo curso 'online' Las mejores oportunidades hablan aleman. Nuevo curso 'online' cursosingles Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas cursosingles Evalue su nivel y obtenga un certificado Evalue su nivel y obtenga un certificado cursosingles Pruebe 21 dias gratis y sin compromiso Pruebe 21 dias gratis y sin compromiso Crucigramas & Juegos juegos Crucigramas minis Crucigramas minis juegos Crucigramas Tarkus Crucigramas Tarkus juegos Sudokus mini Sudokus mini juegos Sopas de letras Sopas de letras Recomendaciones EL PAIS * Cursos * Centros * Italiano online * Frances online * Aleman online * Crucigramas & Juegos Cursos cursos Curso de Ingles con profesores en directo Curso de Ingles con profesores en directo cursos Maestria en Emprendimiento e Innovacion Digital Maestria en Emprendimiento e Innovacion Digital cursos Licenciatura en Contaduria y Finanzas Licenciatura en Contaduria y Finanzas cursos Maestria en Logistica y Cadena de Suministro Maestria en Logistica y Cadena de Suministro Centros cursosonline MBA Especialidad en International Business con un 61% de descuento MBA Especialidad en International Business con un 61% de descuento cursosonline Master en Diseno Web + Triple Titulacion Universitaria Master en Diseno Web + Triple Titulacion Universitaria cursosonline Master de formacion permanente en Psicopedagogia Clinica Master de formacion permanente en Psicopedagogia Clinica cursosonline Descubra un completo Directorio de Centros de Formacion Descubra un completo Directorio de Centros de Formacion Italiano online cursosingles Mejore su italiano con solo 15 minutos al dia Mejore su italiano con solo 15 minutos al dia cursosingles Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas. Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas. cursosingles Obtendra un diploma con estadisticas de nivel, progresion y participacion. Obtendra un diploma con estadisticas de nivel, progresion y participacion. cursosingles 21 dias de prueba gratuita. !Empiece ya! 21 dias de prueba gratuita. !Empiece ya! Frances online cursosingles Mejore su frances con solo 15 minutos al dia Mejore su frances con solo 15 minutos al dia cursosingles Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas. Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas. cursosingles Obtendra un diploma con estadisticas de nivel, progresion y participacion. Obtendra un diploma con estadisticas de nivel, progresion y participacion. cursosingles 21 dias de prueba gratuita. !Empiece ya! 21 dias de prueba gratuita. !Empiece ya! Aleman online cursosingles Las mejores oportunidades hablan aleman. Nuevo curso 'online' Las mejores oportunidades hablan aleman. Nuevo curso 'online' cursosingles Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas. Disfrute de nuestras lecciones personalizadas, breves y divertidas. cursosingles Obtendra un diploma con estadisticas de nivel, progresion y participacion. Obtendra un diploma con estadisticas de nivel, progresion y participacion. cursosingles 21 dias de prueba gratuita. !Empiece ya! 21 dias de prueba gratuita. !Empiece ya! Crucigramas & Juegos juegos !Disfruta con nuestros Crucigramas para expertos! !Disfruta con nuestros Crucigramas para expertos! juegos Palabra secreta Palabra secreta juegos Juega a nuestros Sudoku medio y mejora dia a dia tu nivel Juega a nuestros Sudoku medio y mejora dia a dia tu nivel juegos Juega a las nuevas Sopas de letras clasicas y tematicas de EL PAIS Juega a las nuevas Sopas de letras clasicas y tematicas de EL PAIS _ _ Inicia sesion o registrate gratis para continuar leyendo en incognito Registrate gratisInicia sesion Suscribete y lee sin limites Ver opciones de suscripcion HOLA Subscribe for EUR 1 * My activity * My Subscription * My personal data * My newsletters * Rights and de-registration * Events and experiences logout change contrast: Buscar[ ] Select: * - - - * Espana * America + Mexico + Colombia + Chile + Argentina * US Espanol * US English If you want to follow all the latest news without any limits, subscribe to EL PAIS for just EUR1 the first month SUBSCRIBE NOW * International * U.S. * Economy And Business * Science * Health * Technology * Climate * People * Lifestyle * Opinion * Culture * Sports * EPS * Latest News Newsletter Follow on: