✅ How Testosterone Affects Height: The Science Behind Growth and Hormones.
When we think of height, genetics is usually the first think that comes to mind. But did you know that hormones, particularly testosterone, have a large say in how tall we become? Testosterone is not just a “male” hormone; male and female humans make it, and without it boys and girls would grow and develop differently. We are going to discuss here how testosterone impacts height — when it promotes growth, when it helps end it.
🧬 What Is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a steroid hormone produced mainly in the testicles in males and in smaller amounts by the ovaries in females. It’s responsible for many physical changes during puberty, including muscle development, voice deepening, and yes, bone growth.
📈 How Testosterone Promotes Growth.
Testosterone, in combination with growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), contributes to long bone elongation during puberty. Here’s how it happens:
Activates Growth Plates: It turns on the growth plates (also called eipphyseal plates) in the bones to allow your bones to grow longer.
Raises GH Production: Increases levels of growth hormone thereby improves height potential.
Increases Bone Strength: Improve your posture and physical structure with stronger bones.
It’s why boys generally go through a growth spurt during puberty — because their testosterone levels soar and their height goes up in a hurry.
🛑 When Testosterone Can Limit Height.
Ironically, while testosterone helps high heels grow to begin with, it can also serve as the signal that tells them to stop. How?
Epiphyseal Plate Closure: The growth plates harden and close as a boy’s testosterone levels rise during puberty (epiphyseal fusion).
It’s All About Timing: Raised levels of testosterone will cause growth discs of bone to close too early, if your testosterone levels rise too early (eg puberty) then growth plates will seal too soon and you will be short.
📊 Graph: Testosterone Levels vs Height Growth.
Here’s a simple way to visualize how testosterone affects height over time:
