The reflexive testosterone increases in male mice is related to the male's initial level of sexual arousal. Every mammalian species examined demonstrated a marked increase in a male's testosterone level upon encountering a novel female. Testosterone levels follow a circadian rhythm that peaks early each day, regardless of sexual activity. Serious side effects may include liver toxicity, heart disease (though a randomized trial found no evidence of major adverse cardiac events compared to placebo in men with low testosterone), and behavioral changes. As demonstrated by a meta-analysis, substitution therapy with testosterone results in a significant reduction of inflammatory markers. Attention, memory, and spatial ability are key cognitive functions affected by testosterone in humans. Conflicting results have been obtained concerning the importance of testosterone in maintaining cardiovascular health. Testosterone does not appear to increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. The brain is also affected by this sexual differentiation; the enzyme aromatase converts testosterone into estradiol that is responsible for masculinization of the brain in male mice. It regulates acute hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA axis) response under dominance challenge. There has been speculation that these changes in testosterone result in the temporary reduction of differences in behavior between the sexes. Testosterone may be a treatment for postmenopausal women as long as they are effectively estrogenized. There is no FDA-approved androgen preparation for the treatment of androgen insufficiency; however, it has been used as an off-label use to treat low libido and sexual dysfunction in older women. So, while leg training DOES increase testosterone production, the effect is relatively small and doesn’t last long (3). After all, your legs are the largest and strongest muscles in your body, so lower body workouts are usually demanding by default. But do exercises like squats, deadlifts, and leg presses boost testosterone? The deadlift is a classic multi-jointed exercise that works the biggest muscle groups in your body, perfect for manufacturing more testosterone. Unilateral exercises are great for developing balance and symmetry, especially for those whose bodies have been weakened by injury or disease. In short, your current T level is more influential in building muscle than post-training boosts. The more you challenge your muscles, the more muscle growth you have. It causes your muscles to build up in response, which makes you stronger and more muscular the next time you head out for a workout. Your body is equipped to deal with the stress of intense exercise.
