The history of studying testosterone is riddled with controversy and misinformation.

Testosterone secretions do not occur in social isolation or a vacuum.

Public policy should be driven by scientific data, not trends or posturing.

When I introduce my students to the concept of testosterone during our unit on the brain and biology, I generally preface the discussion with some qualifier regarding how referring to this chemical released in our bloodstream as a sex hormone is somewhat misleading. Known as the primary sex hormone in males, misinformation about testosterone has existed for as long as it has been known, going back almost 150 years (Freeman et al., 2001).

Namely, despite being strongly associated with masculinity, technically, both sexes secrete this chemical via their respective sex glands. Additionally, while secretion of testosterone is associated with both sex drive and aggression for men in particular, this is a very simplistic notion of the purpose of this hormone. In fact, testosterone is a critical hormone for the overall health and well-being in males, assisting in such far-reaching functions as immune function, energy levels, and mood regulation. It serves critical functions in women as well, such as contributing to bone density and cognitive functioning, among others.

The Problem With Reducing Body Functions to a Single Hormone

Unfortunately, outside of a holistic approach in understanding the body and its chemical processes, cherry-picking a particular secretion or chemical and........

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