So, how do sexual hormones and arousal even work?
In: Biology
The primary function of sex hormones is to create a functional reproductive tract that can give rise to the next generation without any hiccups. This is what it mainly does but what people focus on is their secondary characteristics― body hair pattern, libido, external and secondary sex organs, muscle mass, etc. The sex hormones create sex cells, maintain them, and create new ones when the old ones become non-functional. Libido is also directly proportional to the amount of sex hormones circulating in your blood (generally).
Arousal is more of a neurogenic phenomenon than a hormonal one. While sex hormones definitely take part in it, the main mechanism is through your brain, which then activates your autonomic system to prepare for sex.
Pituitary gland is the master gland of the endocrine system (hormone producing system.) It secretes hormones that make other glands secrete their hormones that tell your body to do different things, hair growth, muscle development, breast development, metabolic regulators [mount up, lol] etc…
Anecdotally, I am hypopituitary (low functioning pituitary due to a benign tumor) and therefore hypo -thyroid, adrenal, and gonadal. My body doesn’t produce thyroid, cortisol, or testosterone in addition to some other hormones. I am on hormone replacement for all of the named, and will be my whole life.
Specifically to testosterone: when I was off it for a few years I had zero sex drive, minimal and lackluster (to say the least) erections, weak urine stream, body hair loss, depression, tiredness, loss of muscle mass, etc… I still found women attractive, thought about sex, masturbated (no sperm production though), etc… The best way I can describe being an adult male who has the desire but not the drive or capability for sex is: it was like looking at a cake, and saying man that looks delicious, and I know I would love to eat it; but I’m just not craving anything sweet.
Edit: I am not a Dr. And I probably messed/mixed up some terminology but I think I have the general idea
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