testosterone

Everyday

(science) Testosterone is a hormone, a chemical messenger in the body. Men and boys have much more of it, but women and girls have some too. It helps the body grow muscles and bones and causes many changes in boys during puberty, like a deeper voice and facial hair. tree →

In the lessons

Science and PSHE (growing up): during puberty, hormones such as testosterone (mostly in boys) and oestrogen (mostly in girls) make the body change. In sport news, testosterone is mentioned in doping rules, because extra testosterone taken as a drug is banned. Myth: people sometimes blame all anger or showing off on «testosterone», but behaviour depends on many things and every person is responsible for their choices.

Examples

• Testosterone is a hormone. tree →
• During puberty, testosterone makes boys' voices deeper. tree →
• Girls have some testosterone too, just less. tree →
• Athletes are not allowed to take extra testosterone. tree →
• Hormones like testosterone travel in the blood. tree →
• Testosterone helps build muscle and bone. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Said «tes-TOS-tuh-rone». Hormones are chemical messengers carried in the blood. Not something you take yourself unless a doctor says so.