How To Know If Your Testosterone Levels Are Low

What To Tell Your Doctor

Ideally, your doctor will bring up the topic during an office visit. âThat doesnât mean coming right out and asking, âDo you have low testosterone?â but âHowâs your sexual function?ââ Ramin says. âItâs usually the first question I ask.â

Still, you might need to broach the topic on your own. You can make an appointment with your primary care doctor or seek the help of a urologist, who specializes in male sex organs. If fertility is an issue, you can talk to a reproductive endocrinologist. They treat hormone imbalances in both men and women.

Since you may feel self-conscious, thereâs no need to tell the scheduler at your doctorâs office that you think you have low testosterone. Nor do you have to tell the nurse when she comes into the exam room to take your vital signs. âItâs OK to list a few of your symptoms, then wait for the doctor before you go into more detail, Werthman says. âYou can tell him, âIâve been having these symptoms lately.’ Then after you list them, suggest, âMaybe itâs testosterone.ââ

Itâs normal to feel embarrassed, especially if low sex drive is one of your complaints. But it can help to think of this like any other health problem that needs attention, Werthman says.

âAs medical providers, weâre not here to judge, but to help,â Ramin adds. âAs we age, our bodies tend to change. Itâs a natural process.â

Urology Care Foundation: âWhat is Low Testosterone?â

Alternative And Complementary Therapies

• Lose weight. Losing the pounds often causes testosterone levels to come up, especially if you are obese or have an underlying medical condition such as diabetes that can contribute to low T.
• Limit alcohol consumption. Consuming alcohol can convert testosterone to estrogen.
• Calm yourself. The stress hormonecortisol can compromise testosterones effects.
• Get a full nights sleep. Sleep deprivation shoots up cortisol levels.
• Work out. Interval exercise can build muscle mass, which in turn releases testosterone from protein.
• Avoid BPA. Drinking out of plastic cups made with the chemical bisphenol A can lower testosterone levels.
• Get your zinc. Found in shellfish and pork, this mineral can support testosterone levels naturally. If you take a supplement, take 12 to 15 milligrams daily.
• Eat healthy fats. Add fats to your diet such as those found in nuts, avocado, and olive oil.
• Avoid sugar. This can decrease testosterone.

RELATED: 9 Natural Testosterone Tuneups

Signs Of Low Testosterone In Men

Testosterone is a naturally produced hormone thats found in both men and woman along with many animals.1 While men have a much higher percentage of testosterone than women, the hormone helps keep bodily functions working in balance for both sexes. In males, the testicles make the majority of testosterone and in women, the ovaries make small amounts of testosterone.1 The endocrine system monitors your bodys hormone levels and sends signals to your organs to produce testosterone when needed. In addition to the sex organs, the adrenal glands of both men and women also contribute to producing testosterone.

When speaking about testosterone levels, we primarily associate it with men, as its directly linked to puberty, sex drive, and mood.1 When testosterone levels are too high, it can cause changes in behavior and increased sex drives. When testosterone levels are too low, men will often experience a range of symptoms.2 The problem is, many of these symptoms are subtle, so its difficult to notice them unless you know what to look out for. In this article, well cover 11 signs of low testosterone in men.

You May Like: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Therapy

No : Problems Concentrating

Testosterone deficiency can have more than a physical impact. It can also affect your ability to concentrate. Men with low testosterone are more likely to experience memory problems and have difficulty focusing. This can impact your work performance as well as your ability to accomplish everyday tasks. Fortunately, TRT has helped many men restore their cognitive abilities.

Growing older doesnt have to mean putting up with uncomfortable symptoms. Men everywhere are discovering the benefits of TRT. For more information, schedule an appointment online or over the phone with Balance Hormone Center today.

You Might Also Enjoy…

It Can Affect You In Ways You Don’t Expect

Testosterone levels can influence more than sex drive and sperm count. Testosterone is very important for cellular functioning, so its not just sexual symptoms it can affect your cognitive ability, energy level, strength, vitality, bone health. All of these things can be reduced if someone has low testosterone, Paolone says.

At the same time, it can be easy to mistakenly attribute the conditions vague symptoms including weight gain, difficulty concentrating and fatigue to low testosterone when they could be caused by another health problem, such as depression or sleep apnea, he says.

Read Also: Does Taking Estrogen Make You Gain Weight

Could You Have Low Testosterone Here’s How To Tell

The signs and symptoms aren’t always easy to spot. Our guide will help

If you’re worried about low testosterone but unsure of the symptoms, you’ve come to the right place. But let’s clear up a misconception first a gradual decline in testosterone as we age is perfectly natural. Levels generally peak around the age of 18-20, then, from age 30, they’ll drop by about 1% a year.

However, for a small percentage of men, this drop can be sharper, and the body might stop producing enough testosterone to keep you healthy and energised. Perhaps the most famous example of this is Robbie Williams: after seeking professional help for depression in his thirties, tests revealed he had the hormone levels expected of a man in his eighties.

It’s an easy shift to miss. After all, the symptoms of low testosterone can be very similar to those associated with ageing in general. But there are a few signs that something’s amiss.

Can Testosterone Increase Penile Length

How Do You Know Your Testosterone Levels Are Low Magic Pill Male Enhancement Increase Testosterone Benefits, How Can I Get Testosterone Naturally How To Lose Belly Fat With Testosterone What Is The Expect Testosterone Lab Values For Women On Pellets.

A Male Bodybuilder Takes Testosterone Supplements To Increase His Muscle Mass Nutrigenix Testosterone Booster. Natural Testosterone Booster Side Effects In Women Raspberry Ketones Increase Testosterone Prednisone Increase Testosterone. Does Testosterone Pills Show Up On Drug Test Amazon Male Enhancement Pills Viril.

Also Check: How Many Milligrams Of Melatonin Can You Take At Night

Causes Of Low Testosterone

Our lifestyle choices influence our testosterone levels. Healthy choices lead to healthy testosterone levels as we age. But unhealthy ones can be destructive and lead to serious testosterone-related issues later in life.

Keep the following choices in mind if your health and T-levels are important to you:

Cut the junk food – If you’re always eating junk food, your body is going to suffer in many ways – your testosterone levels are no exception. Overeating or eating processed foods gives you more calories than you need, which can increase estrogen levels and decrease testosterone.

Eat healthy fats – Low-fat diets can lead to testosterone drops. Make healthy fats an integral part of your diet to keep your levels where they should be. Examples include walnuts, pistachios, avocados, and fish.

Supplement your Vitamin D – Vitamin D deficiency becomes extremely common during the winter months, especially in colder climates. A lack of exposure to sunlight is the cause, and there is a correlation between this deficiency and low testosterone.

Get in the gym – A lack of a regular exercise routine is one of the most common culprits of low T. Lifting weights or doing HIIT workouts is the best way to raise your testosterone levels naturally. When you lift weights regularly, testosterone production allows your muscle groups to recover and grow stronger.

What’s A Normal Testosterone Level

Testosterone is a natural hormone produced primarily in the testicles, and it helps men maintain everything from bone density and body hair to sex drive and sperm production. However, you don’t have to hit a certain number or level to be “a real man,” despite what the constant flow of ads may tell you. What matters is who you are and where you are in your life.

On average, a testosterone level of 3001,000 nanograms per deciliter of blood is normal. Hypogonadism reduced testicular function generally occurs when the total testosterone is less than 300 ng/dL. However, a healthy level for you depends on your age, lifestyle, and bioavailable testosterone level the unbound testosterone your body isn’t using for daily functions.

Unlike many low-T clinics, we calculate bioavailable testosterone by measuring levels of two proteins, sex hormone binding globulin and albumin, that typically bind to testosterone. It’s possible to have a normal total testosterone level and experience low-T symptoms if this balance is off.

Having a normal bioavailable testosterone level tells us your body is making plenty and you likely won’t benefit from testosterone replacement therapy. If your bioavailable testosterone level is low, we can discuss options.

Also Check: Does Melatonin Cancel Out Birth Control Implant

Average Testosterone Levels In Men By Age

The biggest concern that doctors specializing in hormone replacement often have is that men who are considered to be on the lower end of what is held as normal are actually dealing with the possible debilitating effects of Low T but are not properly diagnosed and prescribed medication to correct this testosterone deficiency.

This is where a specialist will do more than look at a number in a testosterone blood test result, although that is a crucial part of the diagnosis and determination of medication dosage to prescribe. Information gleaned from a physical examination, as well as current symptomology along with the severity of the issues that are present will all go into the equation when a diagnosis and treatment plan are devised.

What are normal testosterone levels in men at the various stages of ones life?

The information below will help to break it down further:

• Testosterone levels in men over 30:

Free: 8.7 25.1 pg/mL

Total: 219 1009 ng/dL Normal 600 675 ng/dL

• Testosterone levels in men over 40

Free: 6.8 21.5 pg/mL

Total: 201 993 ng/dL Normal 500 550 ng/dL

• Testosterone levels in men over 50

Free: 7.2 24.0 pg/mL

Total: 170 918 ng/dL Normal 400 450 ng/dL

• Testosterone levels in men 60 and over

Free: 6.6 18.1 pg/mL

Total: 156 700 ng/dL Normal 300 350 ng/dL

Some studies have shown that men over sixty are often found to have total testosterone levels under 241, which could explain the many changes they are experiencing.

Disadvantages Of Male Enhancement Pills

How Common Is Low Testosterone In Older Males Does Physical Activity Increase Testosterone Amazon Male Enhancement Pills. How Do You Know If Your Testosterone Levels Are Low Testosterone How To Take How To Boost My Testosterone Level Why Do People Inject Testosterone Instead Ofo Eat It.

You May Like: How To Get Estrogen Mtf

How Is Low Testosterone Diagnosed

Low testosterone is diagnosed by measuring the amount of testosterone in the blood with a blood test. It may take several measurements to determine if a patient has low testosterone, since levels tend to change throughout the day. The highest levels of testosterone are generally in the morning, near 8 a.m. This is why doctors prefer to measure testosterone levels in the early morning.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy And Prostate Cancer: Is There A Link

In past decades, many scientists believed that higher levels of total testosterone came with an increased risk of prostate cancer.

It was thought that low testosterone production actually helped protect against prostate diseases, so restoring testosterone to normal levels â through testosterone therapy â could mean a greater chance of prostate cancer.

So could prostate cancer be a potential risk of TRT?

Not likely, says todayâs researchers. While initial studies suggested a link between high T levels and prostate cancer, much more modern research â using much more rigorous methods â has convincingly shown that testosterone therapy comes with âlittle if any riskâ of prostate cancer.

Recommended Reading: What Causes Breakthrough Bleeding When On Bioidentical Hormones

Signs And Symptoms Of Low Testosterone

Feel like you’re losing your mojo? Find out if your low sex drive or other signs and symptoms could be due to a lower-than-normal testosterone level.

Tired? Feeling blue? Low libido? This vague collection of symptoms may just seem like a slump, but it could actually be caused by low testosterone, also called hypogonadism or low T.

As with all hormones, testosterone levels can change. Experts estimate that more than 4.5 million men in the United States have low testosterone levels. Signs of low testosterone include difficulty achieving an erection and shifts in your body fat and muscle mass. These signs and symptoms might not seem urgent to treat, but they still deserve attention because low testosterone can affect your long-term health and quality of life. Whats more, low testosterone can itself be a symptom of a more serious health condition.

What Is Low Testosterone?

Testosterone is known as the male hormone both men and women produce testosterone, but men produce tenfold more, explains Alan Shindel, MD, director of mens health at the University of California, Davis, Health System in Sacramento. Testosterone in men, which is made by male reproductive glands called the testes, is responsible for the development of typically masculine characteristics during puberty, such as a deeper voice and facial hair. During adulthood, testosterone helps maintain your sex drive and appears to play a role in keeping your overall physical health on track.

Other Signs Can Include:

Common causes of high T levels in people with penises include:

• Tumor growth near hormonal glands, such as your adrenal gland or your testicles.
• Using anabolic steroids to build muscle mass or enhance athletic performance.
• Taking T supplements or T replacement therapy for abnormally low T levels. In this case, your doctor will closely monitor your T levels to make sure they dont get too high.
• Accidentally touching testosterone gel. This can cause it to absorb into your skin and make your T levels spike.

Common causes of high T levels in people with vulvas include:

• Hirsutism, which causes the excessive growth of body hair.

You May Like: Estradiol And Progesterone Side Effects

You Feel Less Strong And More Fatigued

Testosterone helps your body build muscles during puberty and maintain them through adulthood, so as levels decline, so might your muscle mass. As a result, you could feel weaker physically and have a more difficult time engaging in weight-bearing activities such as weight training or lifting heavy objects. After exerting yourself even moderately, low T can lead to a sense of fatigue and weakness two other common symptoms that bring patients in for testing.

How To Use Testosterone Pellets How Do You Know Your Testosterone Levels Are Low

How Is Testosterone Affected By Vasectomy Which Anterior Pituitary Hormones Stimulates The Gonads O Secrete Progesteroneand Testosterone How Does Dhea Increase Testosterone What Is The Mechanism For Testosterone Increasing Hemoglobin. How Much Should I Reduce My Testosterone If I Develop Polycytemia Blue And White Testosterone Pills Bedroom Products Manufacturer Male Enhancement.

Read Also: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Therapy

How To Check Your Testosterone Levels

How can you ever know if your testosterone levels are where they should be, or if you are at risk of developing low testosterone?

Keeping an eye on your testosterone levels is essential for all men.

You could be full of energy and all muscular one minute, and then suddenly you could start feeling lethargic and weak, with no motivation or get up and go.

If you ever start feeling like that, its time to check your testosterone levels.

With Low T being responsible for all sorts of health and lifestyle problems, its important that you are aware of, and treat any changes quickly.

This article tell you:

• How you can check your t-levels
• The signs of low testosterone.

What Will I Learn

What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy And Is It An Effective Treatment

Testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, can help treat some low testosterone symptoms in men. Doctors often recommend TRT as a treatment option for male hypogonadism, a condition in which the body doesnât make enough testosterone . Ultimately, this condition can lead to symptoms of low testosterone in males.

Testosterone therapy can improve muscle strength and erectile function in hypogonadal men, as well as boost energy and protect against bone loss.

Testosterone can be administered in several different ways, including skin patches, gels applied to the skin, injections, and implants.

Also Check: Does Nugenix Have An Estrogen Blocker

How To Tell If Your Testosterone Levels Are High Does Testosterone Replacement Therapy Increase Aggression

How Much Extra Is Actually In A 10cc Bottle Of Testosterone Cypionate How Do Vegans Address Low Testosterone How To Tell Your Testosterone Level Is Low. Male Enhancement Vacuum Cup Rev Boost Testosterone What Does Low Testosterone. Gas Station Male Enhancement Pills That Work Gnc Testosterone Boosters That Work Gta V Bull Shark Testosterone How.

How To Tell If You Have Low Testosterone

This article was co-authored by Erik Kramer, DO, MPH. Dr. Erik Kramer is a Primary Care Physician at the University of Colorado, specializing in internal medicine, diabetes, and weight management. He received his Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012. Dr. Kramer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and is board certified.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 27,115 times.

Testosterone is the male hormone, but it is also found in women. In men, it is produced in the testes.XResearch source In women, testosterone is produced in the ovaries, the adrenal glands, and in various tissues of the body.XResearch source Both women and men can suffer from low testosterone. If you believe this might be a problem for you, there are ways you can tell if have low testosterone.

Also Check: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Therapy