Thread: Testosterone NOT the male sex hormone!?

Im reading a book now called "Anabolic Steroids and the Athlete by William N. Taylor, M.D.

Just a couple of pages in the book, there is a chapter"Facts about Testosterone" In there he says the following:

Testosterone is a steroid hormone that is produced by specific glands in both sexes. It influences or regulates both sexually related and non-sexually related mechanisms. Testosterone exhibits these influences by bindingto receptors in several tissues of the body. Receptors for testosterone are located in the brain, heart, lungs, muscles, bones, skin, sexual organs, and other tissues and organs.
In men, the primary production sites for testosterone are the testicles. These glands synthesize oveer 95% of a mans testosterone. The adrenal glands, non-sexual tissue located along upper aspects of the kidneys, produce most of the remaining quantity of testosterone in men.
In women, the primary production sites for testosterone are ovaries and the adrenal glands. In general, the ovaries synthesize approximately 85% of a womans testosterone with the adrenal glands producing the remaining 15%. However, the ovarian to adrenal production ratio may vary significantly in any given woman over time and in response to stressful situations. During times of stress, the adrenal glands increase their production of testosterone. Testosterone plays such an important role in a woman`s biochemistry that two primary sources contribute to its total production.
Thus, testosterone is a steroid hormone that is produced by specific glands in both sexes. It plays an important metabolic role in both men women. Although its production is much greater in men than in women, testosteron is not the male sex steroid hormone.


I think its pretty hard to take this in. Any thought and inputs are welcome!

I would think that i would be refered to as the "male hormone" cause its what gives us our masculine traits and estrogen would be the "female hormone" cause it give you the femenine traits right?