Testosterone and Men's Health

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