What Is a Normal Testosterone Level for Men?

What is Testosterone and why it’s so important for your health

For instance, your sex drive at 500 is not going to differ from your sex drive at a level of 350. Men have much higher testosterone in the early morning than they do at night. Because of this variation, it’s important to schedule a blood draw in the morning—especially for younger men, whose testosterone levels vary more drastically than those of a man over 65. Sexual health is perhaps the most well-known function of testosterone, particularly in men.

Learning about the difference between total testosterone and free testosterone can help you better understand how this hormone may be impacting certain aspects of your health. It is recommended to consult with a healthcare provider if you have any questions about your results or symptoms. It is recommended that your blood sample is collected between 7 a.m. And 10 a.m., which is around when levels are normally the highest. Some doctors may require you to prepare for the test by fasting, which means avoiding eating or drinking anything but water for a few hours before the test. Other doctors may not require you to fast before testosterone testing.

Unlike the precipitous drop in hormones that women experience at menopause, however, the decline in men is gradual, averaging just over 1% a year. This drop is imperceptible at first, but by age 70, the average man’s testosterone production is 30% below its peak. Still, testosterone levels remain within the normal range in at least 75% of older men, which is why many men can father children in their 80s and beyond. In men, prolonged exposure to anabolic steroids results in infertility, a decreased sex drive, shrinking of the testes and breast development. Liver damage may result from its prolonged attempts to detoxify the anabolic steroids. Behavioural changes (such as increased irritability) may also be observed. Undesirable reactions also occur in women who take anabolic steroids regularly, as a high concentration of testosterone, either natural or manufactured, can cause masculinisation (virilisation) of women.

Women with high testosterone may develop masculine features. Some men who have a testosterone deficiency have symptoms or conditions related to their low testosterone that will improve when they take testosterone replacement. For example, a man with osteoporosis and low testosterone can increase bone strength and reduce his fracture risk with testosterone replacement. It’s important to note that the normal ranges for testosterone levels can vary based on the type of blood test done and the laboratory where it is done.

Testosterone also doesn’t cure erectile dysfunction, explains Dr. Patel. Low testosterone may be a contributor to ED, but for most men, erectile dysfunction is related to changes in how the body responds, delivers, and maintains adequate blood to the penis. He works as a GP in the NHS and as the Head of Medical at digital men’s health clinic Numan. At Numan, he advises on the development of new products and services, manages the clinical team, and works closely with marketing to develop medical messaging for television advertising and social media. In addition, he regularly contributes expert medical comments to mainstream media publications on behalf of Numan such as The Times, The Independent, The Sun, The Daily Mail, Men’s Health and Vice. In some conditions, an anti-androgenic birth control pill improves symptoms of high testosterone. Symptoms might reappear when the person decides to stop using hormonal contraception.

The adrenal gland produces a hormone called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is transferred into testosterone and estrogen. Testosterone is a hormone that is essential for the development of male characteristics. The level of testosterone increases at the time of puberty and starts to dip after the age of 30 years. It also plays a major role in the sex drive of the person and sperm production. Any fluctuation in the level of testosterone can affect many factors. This hormone also signals the body to make new blood cells, ensures that muscles and bones stay strong during and after puberty and enhances libido both in men and women. It also regulates the secretion of luteinising hormone and follicle stimulating hormone.

Testosterone therapy may make sense for women who have low testosterone levels and symptoms that might be due to testosterone deficiency. However, the wisdom and effectiveness of testosterone treatment to improve sexual function or cognitive function among postmenopausal women is unclear. Low testosterone can cause a lot of unpleasant effects, including a low sex drive, muscle loss, a tanking mood, and low energy. If that sounds like you, your doctor will likely rule out potential causes of low T, such as obesity, opioid use, and issues relating to the pituitary gland or testicles. Your doctor will then determine proper course of action, which could be anything from lifestyle style changes to hormone therapy. Some patients have come to us from low-T clinics with testosterone levels as high as 3,000. That’s unnecessary, and so much chemical modification increases the risk of enlarged prostate or increases the risk of prostate cancer.

The testosterone level is controlled in the blood; it peaks in the morning and reduces during the day. The hypothalamus and the pituitary glands monitor the level of testosterone hormones produced and released by the gonads. It plays a particularly important role in men, where it promotes muscle mass development, affects sex drive, and regulates sperm production. This hormone also influences behaviors like competitiveness and aggression. Benefits of Testosterone therapyThe desirable effects of testosterone administration can low testosterone cause numbness and tingling include increased libido, muscle strength, fat-free mass, and bone density. Some studies have also shown improvement in mood and cognition with testosterone replacement.

If you have low T, ask your doctor if this type of therapy might benefit you. Ranges can vary among different labs, so it’s important to speak with your doctor about your results. Testosterone triggers the development of the male internal and external reproductive organs during fetal development.

At-home test kits for checking your testosterone levels are available without a prescription. The kits provide everything you need to collect a blood or saliva (spit) sample to send to a lab for testing. If you do a home test, share the results with your provider. A testosterone level test alone can’t diagnose any health conditions, but abnormal results with symptoms may be a sign of a health problem. Prohormones can increase testosterone but boost estrogen, the female hormone, at the same time.