While it's often considered a male hormone, women also need testosterone in smaller amounts for energy, libido, and muscle strength. For many women, mood changes during menopause are the result of this dual decline in estrogen and testosterone. This process, called aromatization, means that some of testosterone’s benefits are mediated through estrogen receptors. Social connections and healthy relationships also play a role in maintaining optimal hormone and neurotransmitter levels. Chronic stress can lead to elevated cortisol levels, which can suppress testosterone production and disrupt serotonin and dopamine function. Diet plays a vital role in supporting healthy hormone and neurotransmitter levels. While the relationship between serotonin and testosterone is crucial for understanding mood and masculinity, it’s equally important to consider the role of dopamine in this intricate biochemical dance. On the other hand, testosterone, the quintessential male hormone, is responsible for the development of masculine traits and plays a significant role in various bodily functions. The most common side effects of Male Excel’s Testosterone Lipoderm Cream include increased prostate-specific antigen (a test used to screen for prostate cancer), mood swings, high blood pressure, increased red blood cell count, acne, and skin irritation where the gel is applied. Social interactions and mental simulation can enhance dopamine neurotransmission and serotonin regulation. Stress also lowers serotonin levels, increasing the risk of major depression. Testosterone also shows promising outcomes in treating major depression, particularly in individuals with low levels of the hormone. Estradiol suppresses the 5-HT1A receptor signaling resulting in an increase in the firing activity of the 5-HT neurons (Riad et al., 2001; Raap et al., 2002; Mize et al., 2003) suggesting a negative correlation between E2 and 5-HT1A activity. Altogether, these findings suggest a correlation between E2 and SERT expression and function, at least in females. Specifically, it increases transcription of TPH2, the type of TPH found in neuronal cells in both males and females (Donner and Handa, 2009; Hiroi and Handa, 2013). Estradiol is a steroid hormone that influences the serotonergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic systems. Similarly, their results indicate that when estrogen and progesterone levels are high, blood glutamate levels drop to nearly half the value seen at the beginning of the menstrual cycle (Giacometti et al., 2022). They found that when blood samples were taken while estrogen and progesterone levels were low, as seen during menstruation, glutamate levels were high. You’re functioning but you’re not really feeling anything. You literally can’t feel motivation or reward, including sexual reward, because your dopamine system is desensitized. If you have a fast COMT variant, you clear dopamine rapidly. COMT is an enzyme that breaks down dopamine once it’s been used. Others with low aromatase feel more like they have testosterone floating around but nothing is happening with it.
