Testosterone and men's health

Medical and behavioral research depicts the influence of testosterone on he alth in opposite ways, the former finding beneficial effects and the latter potentially detrimental ones. We investigate the relationship between test osterone and health risk behavior indicators of disease, and overall health in a sample of 4393 men who were interviewed and medically examined. Analy sis revealed that having a high level of testosterone, compared to a low le vel, increased the odds of health risk behavior With respect to disease, hi gh testosterone increased the odds of some health problems but decreased th e chances of others. At very high levels testosterone loses many of its ben eficial effects. Overall, men with high testosterone would be healthier if they did not engage in health risk behavior.