Testosterone Misuse and Abuse

Iyer, Rakesh; Handelsman, David J.

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-31501-5_23

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Also consider the misuse of AAS, typically in pursuit of enhanced muscularity for performance and/or appearance purposes (see Cranswick et al, 2020, for an analysis of symbolic connections between muscularity and masculinity in men; for a broader overview of AAS misuse, see Iyer & Handelsman, 2023). AAS misuse has been characterized as an “uncommon but important cause of male infertility” by Whitaker et al (2021, p. 109).…”

Section: Ebaghs and Their Ironic Implications For Men’s Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gonadal hormones: The men, the myths, and the legends.

Burris,

Knox

2024

Psychology of Men & Masculinities

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Gender is one of the most essentialized social categories, with putative differences between cisgender men and cisgender women often framed in biological terms. We propose that the consequences of inaccurate and widely held essentialist beliefs about gonadal hormones (EBAGHs) in particular-that is, that androgens signify "men" and estrogens signify "not-men"-have yet to be fully appreciated. For example, placebo effects such as increased strength, sexual desire, and irritability have been documented for the androgen testosterone. Accumulating research also suggests that lay understandings exaggerate the causal importance of testosterone in men's aggression. Consequently, testosterone is often either eschewed (i.e., men are "poisoned" by it) or enshrined ("more is good, less is bad"). Moreover, the efficacy-bolstering role of estrogens such as estradiol across the physical, cognitive, and sexual health domains for men has been downplayed or ignored by those who assert pejorative links between estrogen and weakness or effeminacy. Critically, EBAGHs may fuel "hypermasculine" behaviors such as excessive red meat consumption, problematic alcohol intake, and anabolic steroid misuse as well as treatment seeking for "low T" in the absence of proper medical diagnosis-which can all, ironically, result in disrupting men's optimal hormonal balance. Implications of our analysis for research (e.g., EBAGHs as predictors men's health behaviors, use of bogus "hormonal profiles" to induce or assuage threats to masculinity in experimental studies) and interventions (e.g., "hormone education" to offset the adverse effects of EBAGHs) are discussed. Public Significance StatementInaccurate beliefs about gonadal hormones may cause testosterone to be either valued or devalued-and estrogen to be portrayed as the enemy-in men. Such beliefs may contribute to hypermasculine behaviors, poor diet, misguided health care, and other negative outcomes for men. Biologically accurate hormone education may therefore have beneficial consequences for men's self-perception, perception by others, and overall well-being.

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Section: Ebaghs and Their Ironic Implications For Men’s Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%