Long live testosterone!
Hormones are physiologically active substances that control many functions of the body. They are produced by the endocrine glands and flow with the blood flow to the destination. The endocrine glands include the pituitary, adrenal glands, pancreatic islets, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, and sex glands (ovaries and testicles). The science that studies the structure and functions of the endocrine glands, their metabolic products - hormones, as well as diseases associated with dysfunction of these glands, is called endocrinology.
Testosterone is a hormone of sexual desire (libido) in both sexes. It is a fuel that ignites the fire of love during puberty and supports it throughout life. It is thanks to testosterone that this cheerful flame plays from adolescence to the grave. Male hormones are called androgens, from the Greek word "andros" - a man, because they are responsible for activating and developing the mechanism of formation of male genital tissues, and not just because they are produced by the male body. Testosterone removes a man throughout his life. About 95% of testosterone, that is, 6-8 mg daily, is produced in the testicles, the rest is produced in the adrenal glands.
Female hormones, called estro-genes, are also formed in the testes. The male body produces 10 times less estrogen than a woman, and 10 times more testosterone than it is produced in the female adrenal glands. Children of both sexes produce these hormones in very small quantities. Androgen and estrogen have an extremely complex effect on the body, and its final results are due to the interaction with other hormones. This is a very broad topic that goes beyond this book.
Hormones during puberty
The signal that gives rise to puberty, occurs in the brain, more precisely, in that part of it, which is called the hypothalamus. This happens only when the hypothalamus reaches a certain degree of maturity. In women, this level depends on body weight: full girls mature faster than skinny girls. So far, it has not been possible to discover a similar dependence in boys. However, it seems highly plausible that a puny boy will ripen later than his peer has a dense build.
The aforementioned signal enters the pituitary gland, which proceeds to the production of hormones controlling the sexual development. The most important of them, both in boys and girls, are folliculotropic hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Since the testicles and ovaries are called gonads (this word means glands that make germ cells), both produced by the pituitary hormone are termed gonadotropic hormones or gonadotrophins.
Gonadotrophins released by the pituitary gland enter the bloodstream. Getting into the testicles, FSH stimulates the production of sperm, LH - testosterone and other androgens. If there is a breakdown in the activity of the pituitary or hypothalamus, the complex chain reaction that regulates puberty may not begin. No boy's omission will occur. His body will retain children's, juvenile forms.
The increase in production of FSH and LH takes about a year. After that, the whole machine starts moving. Maturation begins in the full sense of the word: the body acquires male forms, muscle mass increases, the genitals increase, hair appears on the pubic tubercle, etc. If your son does not show signs of virilization by the age of fifteen, that is, closure, consult a doctor. See also chapter 11.
Quality control
It is extremely important to keep the processes described above under control. If the testes produce not enough or too much testosterone, a catastrophe occurs in terms of the consequences of its effect on the organism's closure. Therefore, both FSH and LH are produced under the control of a negative reversible coupling mechanism. Testosterone production can be represented approximately as follows:
- when blood testosterone levels reach normal levels,
- information about this is returned by the feedback principle to the pituitary and hypothalamus,
- which immediately begin to slow down the production of LH,
- testosterone formation decreases in the testes;
- when blood testosterone levels decrease,
- information about this enters the hypothalamus and pituitary gland,
- that immediately resume LH production,
- testosterone production increases in the testicles,
- its concentration in the blood increases ...
- ... and so on throughout life.
As much as needs
Sometimes testosterone is called the winners hormone. The level of its content in the blood rises after the victory gained in the struggle, after successfully solving some problems. Satisfaction and festive mood, covering the winner, slow down the formation of stress hormones that ensured the achievement of victory. There is an enhanced secretion of testosterone. It is clear that stress hormones and testosterone act in the opposite way.
If a man with a normal testosterone content starts taking it from the outside, it will not cause him to increase sexual desire. He will not become more courageous, his behavior only in exceptional cases will be more aggressive. Negative feedback limits excessive sexual excitability, inhibiting the production of testosterone by the body.
Therefore, the effectiveness of testosterone injections in the treatment of stress-induced erection disorders is small.
Studies show that male sex offenders are no more pronounced than other men; they are not distinguished by increased testosterone levels in the blood. However, it is not uncommon that they shift the blame on hormones for their crimes; they say, not being able to restrain their criminal aspirations, they undergo eternal torment and live in constant fear of the force opposing their will, forcing them to repeat their crimes.
However, everything points to the fact that testosterone is by no means to blame for the perverse tendency to pedophilia (child abuse, child pornography, child abuse). And such brutal crimes as rape, torture and murder on sexual grounds are born only in the minds of the perpetrators of criminal acts.
In the past, trying to attribute the blame to the chromosomes, but this version has not been confirmed. Until the psyche of sex offenders is studied sufficiently, the only preventive way to deter crime is the complete elimination of their sexual desire. However, from an ethical point of view, this is more than a dubious decision. The person subjected to such treatment must understand its essence and give its consent to it.
One of the female hormones of synthetic origin, which in such cases can be used, is medroxyprogesterone. Regular injections of this chemical compound reduce the formation of testosterone in the testes, libido weakens and disappears after a while. Some patients who have undergone treatment claim that they are no longer pursued by criminal thoughts. However, the loss of testosterone makes them completely passive, and to an extent not inherent to both sexes.
Testosterone is becoming a valuable medicine in the treatment of certain female diseases. In this case, it is taken in very small doses, which cannot lead to the immobilization of the body, that is, to the appearance of secondary male symptoms. It has not yet been proven that as a result of such treatment, a woman increases her aggressiveness and sexual desire, or that her attitude towards men changes. However, care must be taken to ensure that such deviations do not occur.
The usual concentration of testosterone in the blood in nanograms (nanograms is 1/1000 mg) is:
- men - 385-1000,
- women - 20-80,
- adolescent boys - 120-600,
- men with hypogonadism - 100-300.
Men suffering from erectile dysfunction may suggest a lack of testosterone. However, this is a rare occurrence. An endocrinologist can check his blood levels. If it is really too low, taking testosterone from the outside causes a dramatic improvement. The sexual inclination increases, the erection becomes quite satisfactory. After that, a safe dose of testosterone is selected. The patient should be informed about the possibility of harmful side effects of testosterone in the near future and in the future.
Steroid abuse
The term "testosterone" goes back to two roots: "testes", or testicles, and "stero", meaning belonging to a group of chemical compounds, called steroids. There are so-called anabolic steroids, synthetic hormones that have a testosterone-like structure, which many athletes nowadays abuse. The fact is that testosterone stimulates the synthesis of protein in the body, and this, in turn, leads to an increase in body weight, especially muscle. Although everyone knows how serious a health hazard this practice is, it does not deter many sportsmen who are willing to pay any price for a victory.
Recent studies in the field of excessive use of steroids have revealed many new facts. Testosterone has been found to have a toxic effect on the brain. The fear of exposure keeps many athletes from collaborating with scientists. However, some studies have shown that about one-third of those who abused anabolic steroids increase the incidence of mental disorders.
First, mood swings appear. Then come frustration, irritability, bitterness. Most experienced periods of severe depression, about half of the subjects had auditory hallucinations, they heard shouts, voices, and conversations, which in fact did not exist. One of the abused steroids, traveling at a speed of 60 km / h, in front of his comrades watching him, crashed into a tree. It is estimated that steroids are purchased annually in the United States for about $ 1 billion.
Mood swings on the background of frustration, depression, quick temper in athletes were attributed to stresses associated with competition in competitions. There is a strong likelihood that further research will show their association with steroid abuse.
In one experiment, a group of athletes was given a placebo (that is, a means that does not have any effect, which the host thinks it has), claiming that these are steroids. Reception of a placebo did not lead to an increase in body weight, but all the subjects showed excellent results and broke their records. This is an example of the so-called placebo effect, or the imagination over the facts.
Klinefelter syndrome
Klinefelter syndrome is a common cause of hypogonadism and infertility in men. This disease belongs to genetic disorders, that is, instead of a set of two chromosomes (X and Y) in this case there are three defining sex chromosomes. In 80% of cases of Klinefelter syndrome, the testes produce too little testosterone, and the seminiferous tubules are damaged and do not produce spermatozoa. A young man grows thin and tall, has no hair on his body and face, sometimes there are signs of gynecomastia (breast augmentation).
Klinefelter syndrome occurs with a frequency of 1 disease for every 500 male infants. Among mentally retarded men, this ratio is 1: 100. Defect rarely can be identified in childhood, because the child is born with the testicles in the scrotum. If the disease is mild, the young man may feel that his sexual desire is simply weakened. The sad truth opens only when both partners decide to undergo a medical examination due to the long-term absence of offspring.
In severe cases of the disease, puberty may not occur at all. If your son does not show signs of puberty by the age of 15, you should consult a doctor (see Chapter 12). Treatment with testosterone usually activates the mechanism of puberty and causes libido. However, it is not able to eliminate infertility, as well as gynecomastia. If gynecomastia has acquired considerable size and gives rise to psychological problems, it is possible to perform a cosmetic surgery.
Klinefelter syndrome can be a tragedy for a young man who is otherwise healthy. In this case, the counseling of a psychologist is helpful: with the help of psychotherapy, you can ease the shock, the feeling of despair. If the boy is characterized by extraordinary passivity and tranquility, before starting treatment, it is also advisable to consult with a psychologist. There is a case in which taking testosterone caused a striking change in behavior. The boy had bouts of verbal aggression, which then turned into real physical aggression. In the end, managed to pick up the minimum dose of testosterone necessary to maintain sexual function and not causing behavioral disorders.
The reasons for such reactions in Klinefelter syndrome are not entirely clear. Perhaps this disease does not include a negative feedback mechanism that controls testosterone production. You can also assume a reaction to rudeness and bullying by peers. The appearance of male signs (virilization) eliminates stress, and the reaction to ridictions that has been suppressed so far is manifested in harsh, aggressive forms.
Down with condoms?
Research is currently under way on a new method of birth control designed for men. It is hoped that this will be the first method, when conception is prevented by a man, since the invention of a condom about 200 years ago. The experiment involved 250 pairs from around the world. Men receive injections of anabolic steroids that inhibit sperm production.
The preparation includes testosterone and chemical compounds that ensure its stay in the blood for 7-12 days. As soon as the concentration level reaches the required values, the feedback mechanism gives the command to stop the production of sperm. Doses of testosterone are significantly lower than those used by some athletes.
Previously, in previous developments of other methods of male contraception, the stumbling block was a completely unacceptable reduction in libido. If a new method is effective and safe, the drug should be available in 10 years. Thus, an alternative to vasectomy will appear (excision of a part of the semena of the wearer duct), and birth control will cease to be a purely female problem.
Male breast augmentation
In one experiment, 36% of the examined men, and there were altogether 306 of them, showed signs of breast augmentation - gynecomastia. The average breast size was 4 cm. In another study, it was noted that among men aged 45-60 years, 60% have an enlarged chest. Sometimes these numbers are somewhat lower. However, in all cases it was noticed that obese men, especially between the ages of 50-60 years, show a particular propensity for this harmless, but rather unpleasant, deviation.
Gynecomastia is more common during puberty and usually spontaneously occurs after 2 years. In young men, it is almost always associated with being overweight. In older people with a normal weight, gynecomastia may be caused by a decrease in testosterone levels in the blood due to the aging process. There is an assumption that when testosterone levels are low, female sex hormones start to act actively - estrogens, produced in small quantities in the male testicles.
Some substances that violate the natural ratio of testosterone and estrogen or hormonal balance in general, may enhance gynecomastia. Accusations of aiding gynecomastia are being prosecuted against tranquilizers, anti-depressants, alcohol, marijuana and heroin. If you are taking any medications, ask your doctor if they are causing breast augmentation. Paradoxically, the reason may be to take testosterone.
It seems unlikely that there is a connection between gynecomastia and cancer. During the 10 years of observation, none of the 200 men with symptoms of gynecomastia did not get cancer! However, if blood or other fluid is secreted from the nipple, if a seal is felt under the skin, these may be manifestations of a cancer disease. Seek medical attention immediately.
Very rarely, nipple enlargement occurs during liver disease or hormonal disorders. Most often this is not a cause for concern. If problems of psychological quality arise, plastic surgery is possible.
Excessive Exercise
In one study, 35 to 40% of those surveyed runners said they preferred to give up sex rather than jogging. They substantiated their unexpected choices with an emotional state while running, a sense of euphoria, joy, and so on. Even if we ignore this motivation, where did the sense of proportion go, the maxim about moderation in everything?
Exhausting load affects the reproductive function of both sexes. Their influence on her seems to be the opposite.
In male athletes, the hypothalamus produces less hormone that stimulates the formation of gonadotrophin, and this, in turn, leads to a decrease in the level of FSH and LH, forcing the testicles to produce testosterone and sperm. Although the level of the hormone is reduced, but still held within the normal range. The nature of its influence on the formation of sperm is not fully elucidated.
In the course of evolution, restricting reproduction during periods of high physical overload was of positive significance. If necessary, the tribe could quickly change the place of stay, which was even easier to do, the fewer pregnant women were in it. Nowadays, the problem lies in the overload resulting from intense sports training, which seems to entail a significant decrease in the level of testosterone in the blood. If a person experiencing a need for both love and running notes that his interest in sex fades away, he can make a choice and dwell on what he needs.
Substances that give sexual energy?
In some restaurants, lamb or bovine testicles are served as a delicacy. Males are confident that consuming their testicles makes them more manly. They believe that testosterone contained in the testes has such an effect on them. In turn, scientists argue that in this way testosterone cannot be introduced into the human body and that when preparing dishes, steroids usually die. Substances that have a stimulating effect on sexual desire are called aphrodisiacs, on behalf of the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite. There is a whole market of such products, from rhino horn powder and hot pepper juice to ginger and mandrake root.
For a long time, it was believed that the sexually stimulating effects are made by oysters, probably because they themselves belong to hermaphrodites (bisexual). Since they have both male and female sexual organs, it was believed that they carry a double charge of sexual energy. In ancient times, out of fear of sexual perversion, they were afraid to eat hare meat, weasels, and hyenas; the consumption of these animals allegedly could cause equally unusual sexual behavior.
The San Francisco authorities recently took a trader from Chinatown, who sold drugs advertised as drugs from the gall bladder and rhino horn, as well as the penis of a tiger. Such drugs are distributed illegally, since the animals mentioned are endangered and protected. A merchant confiscated goods for more than $ 100,000. Studies have shown that the gallbladder was borrowed from domestic pigs, horn and genitals - from livestock. An enterprising trader was punished: he was accused of falsifying advertisements.
There is no evidence that any of the aphrodisiacs exerted a corresponding effect, regardless of whether it is what it is issued for or false. But after all, sexual attraction is deaf to the arguments of science. It neglects the laws of logic, and in itself is studied rather superficially. Sometimes one belief in the efficacy of some substance is enough to actually achieve the expected result.
The power of an idea prevails over the power of facts. This is especially true for sexuality, that is, areas where everyone can feel insecure and fail. In sex, in matters related to sexual desire, the power of suggestion is sometimes underestimated. If a person has the impression that the aphrodisiac helps him in love, that he has the logic and the arguments of reason?
What are these substances?
Yohimbin
Yohimbin is a substance derived from the bark of a tropical tree. It causes increased release of norepinephrine. Yohimbin increases blood pressure, improves blood filling of blood vessels. Yohimbine is being studied in terms of use for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Its effectiveness has not yet been proven.
Spanish fly
Shpansky fly - a disgusting and dangerous tool. Effective that truth is true. But what price you have to pay for this effectiveness!
The fly is made from dried insects that live mainly in Spain and other countries of Southern Europe. The substance that causes arousal and erection is called cantharidin. It is contained in the blood and sex glands of the Spani flies. It is a toxic substance that irritates sensitive tissue and covers the inner walls of the urethra.
Irritation, especially drying of the fabric, which in the normal state should be wet, causes itching. A dry, irritated urethra becomes more sensitive, painful, and soaked with blood. This condition causes an erection.
The inflammatory process can spread to the bladder, there is a need for frequent urination, accompanied by a strong urge and pain. Large doses of cantharidin cause abdominal pain and kidney damage, up to shock. There is an assumption that the use of cantharidin contributes to the development of priapism, but this has not been proven. In large doses, the drug is a mortal danger to life.
Initially, Spanish fly was given to breeding bulls. The unfortunate animal, oshalev from itching, ereciate and cover the cow. Therefore, the fly has received the reputation of a reliable means of sexual stimulation.
After small doses of the drug, the release of sperm through the urethra somewhat reduces the irritation. An erection is repeated when the inflammatory process increases again. This leads to a man in admiration, he does not think about the consequences for health. He does not know that the urinary canal and without cantharidin suffers sufficiently from various stimuli.
The very idea of ??using a toxic substance to trigger the inflammatory process in the urethra does not hold water, let alone pain, swelling and much worse consequences. Despite this, Spanish fly is still popular as a stimulator of sexual energy. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the results of damage appear relatively late and the victim does not catch their connection with the real cause of the ailment. Remember, the fly is a danger to your health!
Good old testosterone
Both men and women of old age also feel the need to love. Although a woman's ovaries stop producing eggs at a certain age, nevertheless both they and the adrenal glands continue to produce testosterone, due to which a woman experiences sexual desire. Male testicles produce testosterone throughout life.
With age, testosterone levels can drop. Nevertheless, men do not survive menopausal women. According to some scientists, testosterone levels decrease in many men living in constant tension and experiencing stress. These experts believe that in such cases it is advisable to conduct therapeutic treatment to increase the level of testosterone, and women, after menopause, if necessary, taking estogens. But testosterone is put on the charge that it contributes to heart muscle and prostate cancer, the two greatest male killers. The issue of testosterone treatment is controversial.
We should not forget that sexual desire has its own laws. Despite a decrease in testosterone levels and a decrease in the number of erections, libido is constantly present in the body.
Although the sex life of a man in old age becomes less intense when he is lusting, he experiences the same sexual desire as in his younger years. If in his youth a man received immense satisfaction from his sexual life, then his flesh would require the same in his old age. However, he may come to the conclusion that sex is no longer a matter of prime need for him. This is a problem of personal choice.
It is not surprising that with chronic or suffering-causing diseases, libido may disappear completely. The death of a partner can cause depression. If a partner who is left alone decides to give up sex, the sex drive from a feeling that gives pleasure can turn into an unquenchable pain of loss.
Inaction entails atrophy
Sometimes a drop in testosterone levels becomes noticeable only after sixty. A decrease in the hormone level rarely causes a decrease in sexual desire. Loss of penis elasticity is associated with the natural aging process, and not with a decrease in the content of testosterone.
If a muscle is not given any physical exertion for a long time, it loses its elasticity and strength. After some time, it atrophies from inactivity and decreases in size. In the male genital organ are smooth muscles, which, like other muscles, need constant training. Night erections are actively involved in maintaining blood circulation, but this may not be enough. After all, the penis is not an isolated part of the human body. It can be represented as a part of the pipeline system: if it stops working, the entire pipeline fails. For example, the prostate gland needs regular ejaculation, although not necessarily frequent, to avoid over-exertion.
The problem of atrophy due to the lack of load does not affect young men. They can not be afraid of abstinence, in extreme cases, you can discharge through masturbation. In adulthood, the situation is different. The farther, the weaker the orgasm is expressed, the faster atrophy occurs when there is no load.
Older men usually believe that sexual intercourse should be limited to the insertion of the penis into the vagina and frictions. They do not recognize mutual masturbation, considering it something indecent. This leads to the rejection of sex as soon as the member's partial loss of elasticity begins to impede sexual intercourse. The need to love and be loved, the desire for self-expression in the act of love is not the privilege of youth. Older couples are never too old to give up sex if you wish. But a single man should not refuse to masturbate out of false feelings of guilt. Sexual activity helps to avoid atrophy of the genital organ due to inactivity.
Eunuch: Little Testosterone
From the history of literature it is known, the eunuch is a castrated man, whose testicles were specially removed. If this happens before puberty, then, despite the growth of the body, male features, signs and do not appear. In this case, the eunuch remains mentally and physically underdeveloped, like a strange overgrown child. He has weakened or no sexual desire. He is barren. Eunuchs are unusually tall, have long, thin limbs, narrow shoulders and wide hips. The palms, feet, bones of the skull are larger than usual, since the growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland is not regulated by a negative feedback mechanism. As a result, bone growth is not delayed in time.
At first glance, the eunuch may seem feminine. The absence of testosterone prevents the development of such male features as body weight, hair, low voice, etc. It has a soft, hairless body, flabby muscles, a high voice, wrinkles around the eyes. But he is not at all feminine, especially in the sexual sense. In fact, the female body produces more testosterone than the eunuch. The word "eunuch" is borrowed from the Greek and means "guardian of the lodge." At one time, eunuchs were considered harmless overseers of harems on the grounds that they had a weakened sexual desire or were completely deprived of it. But after all, affection is pleasant in itself, and time in a gilded cage flows slowly. Some eunuchs could boast such an amount and intensity of sexual contact with women that their masters never dreamed of.
In Roman times, castrated boys were used to "special arousal" for men. For this purpose, the children of poor parents were specially castrated, often right in the cradle, in order to be sold to men's brothels. Some parents themselves castrated a boy to use as a bribe. They presented him to influential people in order to get the necessary support or services in return.
In the Renaissance in Europe, before reaching the age of puberty, boys with an exceptionally clear, high voice were neutered, thus stopping the development of the vocal cords of the larynx. They were called eunuchs, those whose high, magnificent voices echoed under the arches of huge opera houses. They acquired enormous wealth, fame, they were spoiled, but nothing more.
Most eunuchs were not castrated. Their condition was caused by congenital malformations, undescended testicle, testicular atrophy due to torsion or diseases such as gonorrhea or mumps. Some eunuchs could have healthy testicles that are not acting due to a pituitary tumor. Diseases of the pituitary gland are characterized by mental retardation and color vision disorder.
Eunuchoidism is an endocrine disease characterized by dysfunction of the sex glands, hypoplasia of the genital organs, skeletal imbalances and obesity.
Advances in medicine have prevented many tragedies. If they could not be eliminated completely, there remains the possibility of improvement due to treatment. The word "eunuch" in our day is used only in historical terms. It, like a mask, hides the deepest tragedy of the human person.
Satyr: a lot of testosterone
The term "satyr" is used to refer to a man whose sexual inclination is expressed unusually powerfully, in excessive forms and causes him to lead an extremely intense, intense, not knowing any restrictions on sex life. Satiriasis means painful, immoderate sexual desire. But when exactly does sexual desire become "excessive"? What measures to measure it? Who is a satyr - a libertine or a patient with hormonal disorders?
"Twenty-nine-year-old man retires due to excessive excitability!" In 1987, the German magazine Bild am Sontag described the story of a twenty-nine-year-old joiner from Nuremberg, who was recognized as disabled due to excessive sexual excitability, which prevented him from concentrating on his work. A survey revealed that he had a twenty-fold increase in testosterone levels.
Wolfgang B., that was the name of the carpenter, turned to the doctor, hoping for the help of medicine. However, no one knew enough effective means to weaken the sexual desire. For several years he took tranquilizers and practiced martial arts, but nothing helped. The number of sexual acts during the day reached 10, he brought to exhaustion a whole group of women who, because of this, left him alternately. Recently, he fell into a depressed state, and so much so that he tried to commit suicide.
The specialist cited by the journal mentioned noted that this sexual disorder is characterized by "a state of constant tension, fear, depression, guilt and shame. Since none of the doctors could help him and curb unreasonable sexual desire, it remains to state that the rarest of cases. Our knowledge of hormonal disorders is still insufficient."
Sex as a pursuit of emotions
Sex as a pursuit of emotions, a vicious habit is a completely different problem, which is rather psychological than medical in nature. The very concept of such an attitude towards sex remains a matter of debate. Some psychologists are generally convinced that there is no such problem. Other scientists argue that about 6% of the population of the United States treat this sex, which turns into an obsessive idea and prevents them from fulfilling their duties: parental, civil, and professional. In some cases, this addiction has the most destructive effect on their bodies.
There is a point of view that the initial cause of such disorders is deprivation in childhood, in the absence of a feeling of intimacy. The child grows up in the belief that they do not like and do not want him. Most of the "sexually concerned" come from families where bad habits or manic behaviors already existed: obvious, such as drunkenness or gambling, or hidden, such as fanaticism or professional obsession (workaholism). The child grows up in a tense atmosphere, absorbs it and reproduces in adulthood.
The "sexually obsessed" lacks a high concentration of testosterone in the blood. The need for sex experienced by sexogol can be compared to alcoholism, drug addiction or the passion of a player. At its core lies the pursuit of emotions, the departure into sensuality from the problems and concerns of everyday life. Sex helps to relieve tension, satisfy the need for emotional communication and distracts from everyday problems. At the same time, the ever-waning sharpness of sensations, the dulling of feelings leads to an increase in the need for new connections. So there is a vicious circle from which it is difficult to escape.
Nowadays, the opinion that explaining any forms of destructive behavior to a disease is nothing more than an attempt to evade responsibility has become widespread. The terms "mania", "obsession", "bad habit" lead to the idea that this person is not able to control his behavior and that the inability to control the situation in a particular case has nothing to do with behavior in other areas of everyday life.
But, after all, people are actively acting individuals, and not helpless, passive victims. They have the right to choose, the right to determine their own forms of behavior. Many children of drug addicts, deprived of love in childhood, do not use drugs in adulthood. An alcoholic who has broken with drunkenness refuses from a glass of vodka, he must do it in order not to fall into binge again. There is always a critical moment when it becomes necessary to control further behavior.
The so-called sexually obsessed resign themselves to their addiction, refuse to self-control. Calling such a state a disease means making a big mistake; this decision can only lead to a dead end. With it you can not only fight, but also overcome it. Even if there is a hereditary tendency to one or another form of behavior, one can learn to restrain one's emotions and achieve relaxation in other ways, master the ability to control one's behavior. Experts - psychologists, sexologists help to overcome this condition.
Testosterone production and sunlight
Apparently, the production of testosterone by the body is carried out in a 24-hour cycle. As the measurements showed, it reaches its peak before dawn. This is a very happy circumstance. Sleep not only compensates for the loss of testosterone, but also gives energy, which helps to use an increased hormone content. Then, especially after 10 hours, the level of testosterone drops.
Another hormone of interest in connection with this problem is melatonin. This hormone stimulates the release of melanin (it causes darkening of the skin, protecting it from the action of ultraviolet rays). Melatonin acts in daylight and is believed to be involved in regulating sleep, mood, and sexual desire. Is this not an explanation of the popularity of sunbathing on weekends?
Melatonin is the compound responsible for the connection between lighting and mood swings in winter. As the day goes, the intensity of the sexual attraction decreases in about 5 million Americans with hormonal system disorders.
The testosterone levels vary throughout the year. According to research, it is melatonin that causes seasonal weakening of sexual desire. Continuing research on testosterone dependence