THE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON TESTOSTERONE IN MALE

Abstract

There are many forms of stress, including psychological stress, can affect male fertility. The autonomic nervous system and adrenal hormones participate in the stress response while also influencing the reproductive system. This article presents an overview of research on the effects of stress on testosterone production in men. There is evidence that mild to severe emotional stress reduces testosterone and interferes with spermatogenesis in men. However, there are difficulties in proving individual cases of infertility due to psychological factors without evidence of psychiatric pathology. There are many ways to measure stress and different types of stress. One of the most reliable ways to measure this physiological response is through the hormone cortisol. Therefore, this article also summarizes research on cortisol and testosterone, how these substances interact with each other, and some measures to reduce stress.