Testosterone is
the male sex hormone that produces the male characteristics
of the fetus in utero as well as the secondary sexual
characteristics that arrive with puberty. Testosterone
fuels the growth of the prostate gland cells and therefore
contributes to the growth of prostate cancer. Prostate
cancer hormone therapy, ablating testosterone from the
body, results in slowing or stopping the growth of prostate
cancer for a period of time. Ablating testosterone from
the body will not reverse the secondary sexual characteristics
of a male, though the growth of body and facial hair
may be altered. Testosterone or higher levels of testosterone
is not linked to heterosexuality, so men who undergo
hormone ablation therapy and who have been heterosexual
their entire lives, will not become homosexual while
undergoing hormone therapy.
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