Men with lower testosterone levels are more protected from one of the most common health problems affecting the male sex. This is according to a new study and proves that high testosterone is not always a positive state for men’s health. The evidence for this comes from the highest possible level – from the research center of the University of Oxford. A scientific team there proves that men with the lowest testosterone levels are least at risk of prostate problems, including cancer. The study by British scientists is the largest to date, tracking the relationship between hormone levels and the state of the prostate in men. Until now, several risk factors for the development of prostate problems have been clarified – advancing age, genetic predisposition, sedentary lifestyle, inadequate nutrition. Naturally or artificially increased testosterone can already be counted among them. The role of testosterone in prostate enlargement and in the development and progression of prostate cancer has been proven in 2 directions: On the one hand, the main derivative product of testosterone – dihydrotestosterone – can accumulate in the glandular tissue of the prostate, provoking its enlargement and inflammation; On the other hand, testosterone itself accelerates the development of cancer cells and, at high levels, can significantly accelerate the progression of prostate cancer; The negative influence of persistently high testosterone on the condition of the prostate has been proven in the follow-up of 19,000 men between the ages of 35 and 75. Based on their testosterone levels and prostate condition over a period of several years, it was found that with blood levels of the hormone slightly below normal, the risk of prostate problems decreases by at least 20%. NEWS_MORE_BOX However, the study found another important feature. If a man with low testosterone does develop prostate cancer, it is very likely that it will be in a more aggressive form. The role of testosterone and its derivatives in the body has long been suspected as a cause of prostate damage. Concrete evidence of this already obtained may facilitate the prevention and treatment of these problems in the future. The monitoring of testosterone in men, especially after the age of 50, will support the timely diagnosis of benign and malignant changes in the state of the prostate gland – one of the main problems with men’s health worldwide.