The idea that smoking cigars can elevate testosterone levels is a persistent health query, often fueled by anecdotal reports and the cultural association of cigars with masculinity. Testosterone is a steroid hormone that plays a major role in regulating bone density, muscle mass, and reproductive function. It is manufactured primarily in the testes in men, and its production is tightly managed by a complex feedback loop. To determine the actual effect of cigar smoke on this hormonal balance, it is necessary to examine the specific scientific evidence, which often contradicts popular perception. This analysis will focus on the physiological mechanisms, the components of cigar smoke that interfere with hormone synthesis, and the overall health consequences of cigar use.
Addressing the Claim: The Actual Effect on Testosterone
Scientific research into the relationship between smoking and testosterone levels presents a complex picture that does not support the claim of a sustainable boost. Some studies observe that male smokers sometimes exhibit slightly higher levels of total testosterone compared to non-smokers. This observation often leads to the mistaken conclusion that smoking has a beneficial hormonal effect.
This measured increase in total hormone amount is misleading because it does not reflect the amount of biologically active testosterone. Smoking tends to increase the concentration of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a protein that binds to testosterone in the bloodstream. When testosterone is bound to SHBG, it is no longer freely available for the body’s tissues to use. Consequently, while the total number may be higher, the amount of free, usable testosterone is suppressed, especially with chronic cigar use.
How Cigar Components Disrupt Hormone Production
The chemical components found in cigar smoke interfere directly with the body’s natural processes for synthesizing steroid hormones. Cigar smoke contains high concentrations of nicotine, which interacts with the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis, the system that regulates testosterone production. Nicotine disrupts the signaling cascade that instructs the Leydig cells in the testes to produce testosterone.
Beyond nicotine, cigar smoke introduces high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) into the bloodstream, even if the smoke is not fully inhaled. Carbon monoxide is disruptive because it binds to the cytochrome P-450 enzymes essential for steroidogenesis, the creation of steroid hormones. By inhibiting these enzymes, CO interferes with a foundational step in manufacturing testosterone, compromising the body’s ability to maintain healthy levels.
Why the Myth Persists: The Cortisol Connection
The perception of a testosterone boost often originates from a misunderstanding of the body’s immediate stress response to smoking. Nicotine is a stimulant that triggers the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to the rapid release of stress hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline. This acute physiological stress can cause a temporary, short-lived surge in total testosterone levels.
This transient hormonal fluctuation is a byproduct of the stress response, not a sustained anabolic effect. The adrenal glands, activated by smoking, produce a small fraction of the body’s testosterone, contributing to this brief elevation. However, this temporary rise is quickly followed by the damaging effects of the smoke’s components. Elevated cortisol itself works antagonistically to testosterone, and high cortisol levels maintained with chronic smoking are associated with long-term suppression of natural testosterone production.
Specific Health Risks of Cigar Use
Regardless of the complex hormonal effects, cigar smoking carries significant health risks unique to how cigars are typically consumed. Cigar smoke is often not inhaled into the lungs, but its prolonged contact with mouth and throat tissues exposes mucous membranes to high concentrations of carcinogens. This exposure significantly elevates the risk of developing cancers of the oral cavity, larynx, pharynx, and esophagus.
Cigar tobacco is generally less porous than cigarette tobacco, meaning it burns less completely and produces higher concentrations of toxins. A single large cigar can contain the equivalent amount of nicotine as several cigarettes. This nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth, and the smoke’s alkalinity allows it to be absorbed more readily, leading to dependence and systemic exposure to harmful chemicals.