Dihydrotestosterone imbalance in men and what to do if it rises

Dihydrotestosterone is a very important hormone for the male body. It is a product of the synthesis of testosterone and enzymes that interact with it. He is responsible for erection, growth of genitals and prostate, proper maturation during adolescence. DHT is produced in the testes, and the highest concentration of the substance is concentrated in the epithelial covers of the genitals and hair follicles.

Functions

Dihydrotestosterone is present in the body of women and men, even from the moment it is in the womb. During life, in men, its amount grows in waves.

In the first week after birth, the level of the hormone in boys is from 2.5 to 10 microns / l, then it decreases and up to three years of age its content is approximately 0.6 microns / l. By the age of 6, the value rises to 5 microns / l, and by 8 it decreases by half. In adolescence, its concentration in the blood gradually increases from 2.5 to 10 microns / l. The highest DHT value is reached at the age of 25, after which there is a decline of about 2 - 3% per year.

While the fetus is in the womb, the substance affects the development of the testes and external genitals. In puberty, the DHT level increases, the testes are stimulated, the genitals are actively developing, secondary sexual characteristics are formed, and sperm production begins.

Dihydrotestosterone in the male body stimulates the neuromuscular system, the function of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles, and is responsible for hair growth. The hormone is important for the normal functioning of the reproductive system, it is responsible for libido, arousal and sexual sensations.

The rate of this steroid in the blood varies with age, and is greatly reduced in older men. If the level of DHT deviates from the norm at a young age, this leads to various consequences, including prostate adenoma.

How deviations manifest themselves

The synthesis of the hormone DHT in the male body decreases and symptoms appear that speak of imbalance and its lack. For control, experts have established norms at each age, depending on various factors. Decrease or increase, which leads to abnormalities in the body.

A reduced value of this hormone leads to:

• delayed puberty in adolescents;
• lack of secondary sexual characteristics;
• lengthening the limbs;
• enlargement of the hips;
• decrease in muscle mass;
• decreased sex drive;
• impotence;
• infertility;
• obese;
• diabetes mellitus;
• prostate adenoma;
• lack of libido;
• deviations of the genitourinary system.

If the content of DHT in the body is exceeded, then you can observe the following signs:

• premature puberty;
• hair loss up to baldness;
• prostatic hyperplasia;
• hirsutism;
• prostate cancer.

For an accurate diagnosis, you need to see a doctor, he will conduct a study that determines the level of DHT in the body.

Reasons

Dihydrotestosterone is elevated in men who use steroid anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass. After a course of anabolic drugs, the level of female hormones in the male body rises, this condition can lead to hormonal disruption.

The content of DHT in the blood rises for the following reasons:

• Itsenko-Cushing's disease;
• malignant tumor of the adrenal glands or testicles;
• Leydig cell hyperplasia;
• enlarged prostate;
• Morris syndrome;
• hypergonadism.

Low DHT can be observed if a man suffers from a congenital disorder of steroidogenesis. If the body lacks the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, then the synthesis of testosterone does not occur. In children with such a pathology, pathologies of the genital organs are observed.

With a decrease in DHT in a patient, sex life becomes indifferent, he does not feel a craving for intimacy, sexual desire disappears. Sexual life is directly related to the functioning of the genitals, so a decrease in its quality can lead to penile atrophy. A decrease in the hormone dehydrotestosterone with age is fraught with abnormalities in the work of the nervous, genitourinary and cardiovascular systems.

Diagnostics

If a person has an elevated dihydrotestosterone, this indicates certain diseases. In order to determine the level of the hormone, a blood test is performed. If a man has benign prostatic hyperplasia, then the study is carried out to monitor the condition and track changes when taking medications with the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme.

The analysis must be taken in the morning from 8 to 11 o'clock, on an empty stomach.Before delivery, you can drink clean non-carbonated water, do not use teas, juices, soda. In the evening, you cannot eat fatty, smoky, spicy foods.

1 - 2 days before taking the test, it is necessary to exclude drinking alcohol and smoking, heavy physical activity, including lifting weights and active sports. It is necessary to stop taking medications, but only after consulting a doctor.

On the eve of the test, you must avoid stressful situations, for an hour before it you need to calm down and relax.

It is contraindicated to conduct research after ultrasound and X-ray, as well as massage and physiotherapy. It is handed over after a certain time several times. To track the dynamics, the conditions and time of delivery of the analysis must exactly coincide. Certain medications may distort the test results and should be discussed with your doctor.

Treatment

Modern medicine has not yet learned how to eliminate the cause of hormonal disruptions in the body, but it is important to normalize the level of DHT in the blood in time. If you find an increase or decrease in the concentration of the hormone, it is recommended to contact a urologist and endocrinologist. Methods of lowering the hormone in the body are directly related to the cause of the increase, the characteristic features of the clinical picture and the general condition of the patient.

Therapeutic agents and treatment regimen are prescribed individually, this is determined by the fact that hormonal processes in the body are interrelated. All the details of the work of the endocrine system are known only by a specialist, who can also choose a treatment. In most cases, medications are prescribed based on their own hormone production. Therapy for men is selected complex using various methods and means.

For example, patients with dihydrotestosterone levels above normal are prescribed inhibitory drugs to 5-alpha reductase in order to reduce testosterone synthesis. These include Suprefact, Deslorelin, Buserelin, Medroxyprogesterone, Veraplex, Spironolactone. But it is important to know that only an experienced specialist can prescribe medications and the duration of the course of administration, self-medication leads to an imbalance of hormones, worsens the condition and harms health.

Folk remedies

Such folk recipes will also help to lower the level of the male hormone:

Before using alternative therapy, you should consult with a specialist.

Dihydrotestosterone plays a very important role in the body, takes part in many processes, and its deviations from the norm can lead to various pathologies and diseases. For this reason, it is very important to monitor your health and pay attention to alarms that indicate the presence of abnormalities. If you notice symptoms of hormonal imbalance, you need to seek qualified medical help.