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Updated: Sep 10, 2026

Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
Published on: March 3, 2011
Sex steroids and sexual desire mechanism
V Rochira1, L Zirilli, B Madeo
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Policlinico, Modena, Italy. rochira.vincenzo@unimo.it
Abstract:
Sexual behavior is mainly controlled by cognitive functions in men, though hormones, particularly sex steroids, may modulate some aspects of male sexuality. This review focuses on the role of both estrogens and androgens on male sexual desire, starting from both animal and human studies. Estrogens could play a role in human male sexual activity, similarly to what happens in animals, but even though physiological levels of estrogens could be probably required for a completely normal male sexual behavior, testosterone remains the major determinant of human male sexual behavior.
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