HOUR-BY-HOUR HOW MEN ARE RULED BY HORMONES TOO . . .

WE ALL know women have ups and downs thanks to our monthly hormone cycle.

But what is less talked about is the fact that men have a hormonal cycle too — only theirs renews every 24 hours, and it can affect them physically and emotionally.

The chief hormone in question is testosterone. ‘This is produced on demand and the body does not store it,’ explains Dr Richard Quinton, senior lecturer in endocrinology at Newcastle University.

‘Testosterone levels are at their highest at 8 to 9 in the morning, then steadily decline as the day goes on.’

8am-noon

MEN have a hormonal surge overnight, waking up with peak testosterone levels. ‘Men will feel more virile in the mornings when they wake up,’ says Professor Malcolm Carruthers, author of The 50+ Plan: His & Hers HRT (Clink Street Publishing).

‘These high levels mean men tend to be larks, not owls, and will feel more dynamic, have get up and go, and feel armed to tackle the day.’

According to Professor Carruthers, this morning surge has an evolutionary basis. ‘Men were designed so they could recharge overnight then get up and hunt and provide for their mates, so this surge was necessary for their survival.’

The morning boost makes men more productive and bold in their decisionmaking first thing.

Testosterone reduces anxiety, works as an anti-depressant and improves spatial abilities and memory.

But the morning surge can also make men more argumentative. ‘If you’re producing a lot of testosterone and have a short temper, you might get angry and aggressive towards a partner or your colleagues,’ says Dr Marion Gluck, a women’s health specialist who treats hormonal imbalances.

‘Hormones are like mind-altering

drugs and they have receptors on the brain which can directly impact your mood.’

Noon-6pm

STRESS plays a huge role in sapping men’s testosterone levels, so a stressful day at work will send levels falling. ‘Working in stressful and noisy environments is known to reduce testosterone levels,’ says Proffessor Carruthers. ‘Research shows that worknoisy ing in a turbine factory

for an h by half.’ After a morning driven by testosterone, the afternoon drop could be marked. ‘If a man is very driven, and gets to the office early and push, push, pushes because he needs success, he will feel

empty towards the end of the day, and come home and not feel like having sex because he’s too drained,’ says Dr Gluck.

Dr Quinton agrees: ‘When times are tough, whether from excessive stress or ill health, our bodies are designed from an evolutionary perspective to redirect resources into survival, so testosterone levels will go extremely low. It’s the same when women lose loads of weight or are stressed and their periods stop.’

A lunchtime workout at the gym could, however, help. Research shows that resistance training with weights can boost levels. Men who exercise regularly have overall higher levels than those who are sedentary.

6pm-midnight

IN THE evenings, testosterone levels are at their lowest, and this means increased lethargy, irritability and less energy. ‘How happy and sexy you feel can be dependent on your testosterone levels, and in the evenings, men may feel more depressed,’ says Professor Carruthers. ‘It certainly isn’t the time to approach men with sensitive issues.’

For their own good, it’s worth encouraging your partner to have sex even if it’s the last thing he wants, as it could give him a temporary evening boost.

‘Having an active sexual partner does tend to promote testosterone secretion and maintain it throughout life,’ says Professor Carruthers.

Midnight–8am

OVERNIGHT is when testosterone levels start to build. Men aged between 26-64 need between 7-9 hours sleep a night.

‘A good night’s sleep always increases his levels,’ says Professor Carruthers. ‘That’s why sex on a holiday is often much better because he’s getting better quality sleep and not feeling stressed.’

Low testosterone levels in the over-50s can lead to poor mood and impact selfesteem. ‘Men can feel like they’re not wanted or needed,’ says Dr Marion Gluck. ‘This is why they might seek affairs or change their clothing and cars.’