Testosterone In Children

Talk to your children about their changing bodies

If your child is going through puberty, it may be time to start explaining the difference between testosterone and estrogen to them. While testosterone is thought of as the 'male' hormone, and estrogen the 'female' hormone, there are small amounts of estrogen in males, and small amounts of testosterone in females. This helps the body to maintain balance, and a talk with your children about hormones and physical development may give them a clearer understanding of what it means to undergo puberty.

The effects that testosterone has on the body should be healthy and expected; especially when a male child reaches puberty and begins to undergo hormonal changes that mature the body and cause significant growth and development. Here are some of the main results of effects you should see from testosterone if your son--or daughter---is going through puberty.

The emotional changes that your children will experience is one of the first things that you should mention when you're explaining puberty. Testosterone may bring out new side of your son; he may begin to be more aggressive, will want to talk to girls more (or be afraid to do so), or may become more competitive. Estrogen could cause your daughter to be more emotional, or to have mood swings from time to time. If you are living with two or more children who are going through puberty at the same time, you should explain these changes to them, so that they can learn to be more understanding of each other. You should also let your children know that the physical changes they may notice are normal; testosterone is responsible for hair growth on the chest and face for boys, and causes boys to develop a lower voice register than girls.

The hormone can affect the body in two main ways--emotionally and physically. This is the reason why many young men who experience higher levels of testosterone during puberty are more aggressive, and have a shorter temper. The hormone builds up strength and competitiveness in men, which makes young boys angrier and more athletic. The thought process changes during puberty as well; young men start to think about how to 'beat' their counterparts in a sports game or academic activities more often, and may be more likely to use physical aggression to solve problems.

Sometimes boys experience higher testosterone levels than normal - this may be evident if he exhibits aggressive behavior very often, becomes withdrawn or depressed, or begins to eat substantially more than normal. You can change your child's diet to include more raw fruits and vegetables, or even a daily vitamin to regulate hormone production, as well as take your child to the doctor to find out about alternate methods of hormone therapy.

In order to somewhat regulate the amount of testosterone that is being processed in your child's body be sure to provide a healthy diet for him or her. Testosterone levels rise in female children during puberty as well, and is produced in the ovaries which prepares the body for the menstrual cycle. The hormone is also partly responsible for the growth spurt that girls experience during puberty. So, providing your son or daughter with meals that are high in protein, moderate in carbohydrates, and full of fiber and vitamins is the best way to make sure that he or she is growing properly. The diet will help to regulate the natural hormonal functions in the body, and could cut down on aggression or emotional imbalance. You can also encourage organized physical activity for your child; joining a sports team or spending time working out with family is a great way to keep testosterone levels normal.