Q Doc, how can one tell if a male has too much testosterone? And could male hormones be influencing my sexual behaviour?
I am a guy of 19, and I seem to think of nothing but sex. I really love girls.
Although I am proud to say that I am doing well with my studies, I often find that in class I start daydreaming about some beautiful girl who is in the room, and wondering what it would be like to go to bed with her.
Even after I go to sleep at night, I often have really sexy dreams in which I am making love with several great-looking females. These dreams usually end in an orgasm. Will this type of 'sex dream' weaken my strength or affect my health?
I should mention that I am a pretty good athlete, but I am fretting because I fear that all this thinking about sex might affect my training and my good performance on the track.
I do not actually have a lot of sex, apart from masturbation, because I am a little shy. I find it difficult to approach girls, though I think they like me. Certainly, they often make admiring comments about my physique.
So I have only been out on three or four dates in my life. Only one of those led to actual intercourse.
If I went to a doctor, could he do tests to find out if I have too much male hormone?
And could he give me medication to lower my output of the hormone?
A Well, male hormone (testosterone) does influence sexual behaviour. Basically, the more testosterone a guy has, the more he is likely to want sex.
Testosterone production is at its highest during the teen years, and thereafter it gradually declines. But most men continue to produce it throughout their lives.
Because of testosterone, teenage guys are the ones who have the most interest in sex. After about the age of 20, sexual activity tends to decline very slightly over the years.
As well as making the male think about sex, testosterone has various effects on the body. For instance:
It builds up the muscles and makes them stronger;
It increases facial hair;
It increases body hair;
It deepens the voice;
It tends to increase the size of the genitals.
Also, an unfortunate side effect of testosterone is that it often makes the skin rather spotty and greasy.
Therefore, the guy who has a lot of this hormone will be more likely to 'chase girls'. He will probably have powerful muscles and be fairly good at sports. He will have quite a 'strong' beard, and have to shave fairly often. He will have a lot of body hair, and a reasonably deep voice. He will most likely have fairly sizeable genitals. And he may well be prone to facial acne.
It is also important to realise that testosterone often makes a guy aggressive. This hormone does make young men want to compete - and sometimes to compete pretty roughly.
So I think that you can see that males who have a lot of this hormone are often strongly-built, ambitious and successful at sports. It is no surprise that doctors have found high testosterone levels in many outstanding boxers, runners and footballers.
From your own description of yourself, I feel pretty certain that your testosterone level must be towards the high end of the normal range. That is why you are very interested in sex, you have sexy dreams, you are competitive and you are a good athlete!
But the important thing to realise is that you have nothing to fret about. High testosterone levels will not harm you - apart perhaps from making your skin spotty. Your interest in sex is not going to damage your health or interfere with your training. And your 'wet dreams' are completely normal, and will not 'weaken' you.
Now, should you go and consult a doctor about your hormone levels? Really, I do not think there would be much point, except if you want some medical reassurance.
From examining you, the doctor would almost certainly be able to tell that you have a reasonably high level of testosterone. If you really wanted him to, he could do a blood test to find out your exact testosterone level. But this would cost you quite a lot of money.
Normal blood levels of testosterone are between 10 and 28 units - though this varies a little from lab to lab. Many good athletes, such as yourself, will have a reading of about 20 to 25 units.
There is virtually no chance that any doc would want to give you medication to reduce your testosterone levels. This is only done in the case of men who are sex offenders. Clearly, that does not include you! Good luck with your sporting and academic efforts.
Q I am a 23-year old woman who has to use a pad and a tampon at the same time, because of heavy menstrual flow.
Is this OK, doc?
A No. Women who have to use double sanitary protection are invariably losing too much blood. This is really bad for your health. So see a doctor soon.
QWhen a couple is trying to have a baby and have not succeeded, how soon should they seek medical help?
A If you have been trying regularly for six months, then it is a good idea for you both to see a doctor for advice and some preliminary tests.
QI have heard where masturbation leads to prostate cancer. Is this true, doc?
A No, curiously enough this is the exact opposite of the truth. Scientists have recently discovered that guys who masturbate are less likely to get cancer of the prostate.
The reason for this finding is not known.
Q I am a virgin, but last week I let my boyfriend ejaculate on the front of my pants. Could this get me pregnant?
A That is quite a common query from young couples. Pregnancy can very occasionally occur as a result of sperms being deposited outside the vagina. And it is just possible that very active sperms could manage to get through the material of a pair of panties - especially if there were any holes in it.
But realistically, the odds against such a conception are very long indeed.
Q I am 24, and I quite often hear a 'clicking' from my knees when I crouch down.
Is this an early sign of arthritis, doc?
A No, it isn't. Many people who are in their 20s experience clicks in their knees. Usually, this is just due to sudden straightening of tendons located near the knee joint.
Q Doc, I am a 23-year-old female who has never had sex. However, I have realised that, at times, I have a little pus inside the vagina.
Is this serious?
A Well, as you are a virgin, it is almost impossible for you to have a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). I am not sure what this pus is, but I think you should ask a doctor to take a look at it. Good luck.