Male Hormone Testosterone Down Drastically After Having a Baby

Father and Baby

Biologically, the sex hormone testosterone in men has decreased dramatically after having a baby. The decrease is what makes a father more family-oriented and can be counted on to help care for the baby.

Serves to increase the hormone testosterone male sex drive and helps to compete with others. But a study by a team of researchers from Northwestern University found that the hormone testosterone in men can be dramatically decreased soon after having a baby.

This decrease will usually apparent in men who have a newborn who is less than one month old. A greater decrease also occurs when a man is willing to get involved in childcare.

"Being a father and the demands of having a newborn requires a lot of emotional adjustment, psychological and physical. Our study shows that substantial changes in the male body can help meet these demands," explains Christopher Kuzawa, principal investigator, as reported by BBC News, Tuesday (13 / 9 / 2011).

Researchers said the decline in male testosterone levels while just having a child will probably make him more family-oriented and tend not to do things that are deviant.

And researchers also believe that lower testosterone levels may protect men from certain chronic diseases. This helps explain why men marry and become fathers tend to have better health rates than single men of the same age.

"The level of testosterone in men generally did not change much. Testosterone can slowly decline as men get older and change in response to several medical conditions and treatment. But to see a dramatic change in testosterone in response to family life is very interesting. This observation can make some understanding of evolution if we accept the notion that men with low testosterone levels are more likely monogamous with their mates and care for children, "explained Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield.