This can cause frustration for both partners, reduce intimacy, and sometimes strain the relationship. Testosterone is the main male sex hormone, but it is also present in women in smaller amounts. Some of these changes may be positive, while others can create new challenges in a marriage or long-term relationship. Divorce usually arises from deeper, pre-existing relationship issues that therapy may highlight. If the relationship was already strained, therapy might act as a catalyst for separation. However, if one partner feels left behind or if new behaviors feel unfamiliar, it can also create distance or conflict. With medical care, open conversation, and mutual support, many couples can navigate the changes in a healthy way. It can affect how a person feels, behaves, and interacts with their partner. These changes can trigger or amplify the feelings that people often describe as a midlife crisis. Doctors can adjust therapy to avoid extreme shifts that may affect mood or behavior. Our finding, furthermore, that testosterone levels were only lower in mothers of young children suggests that the suppression is temporary ("state", not "trait") and that as children age beyond their peak dependent years, a mother’s testosterone levels may increase. Because women with young children were disproportionately represented among subjects with testosterone levels at the LOD, it is likely that their group mean is even lower, suggesting that our findings may actually be an underestimate of the true relationship between having a young child and testosterone levels. Both studies found lower testosterone levels (32% lower testosterone in the Filipino study vs. 14% in the current study) among mothers of young children compared to women who did not have young children, despite considerable differences in culture and sociodemographics. It’s not just physical — mindset deeply impacts testosterone. If you’re trapped in the cycle, read our full breakdown on porn vs real sex dopamine. This can accelerate testosterone decline by dulling your brain’s reward system. His doctor tells him his testosterone is 320 ng/dL — borderline low. You don’t need a new wife — you need to become a new man within the marriage. But if you stay on your edge — challenge yourself, lead with presence, and stay mission-driven — your hormones will reflect that. Men who adopt a passive, approval-seeking mentality often show lower levels of free testosterone. He didn’t let marriage soften him. "Not everyone’s hormone levels are like those of people in Boston or London." "Peter’s work is important for showing that there is more variability in male hormones than you read about in medical textbooks," comments Ellison. "These results suggest that testosterone levels involve a trade-off between mating and parenting efforts," says Gray. Those with higher scores on these "spousal investment" quizzes had lower testosterone levels. Other studies have showed that testosterone begins to decline shortly after marriage, but surges upward when unions end in divorce. Because our study was cross-sectional, we cannot determine the direction of causality or reject the possibility that women with high testosterone levels are less likely to marry and become mothers. Additional research is needed to disentangle the associations between testosterone, relationship status, and sexual activity in women. Notably, single mothers of older children did not have lower testosterone levels, possibly indicating that once dependent care becomes less demanding, single mothers can again invest in mating effort.
