What is Testosterone?
Testosterone in men is primarily produced by specialized cells in the testes, with smaller amounts made in the adrenal glands. The ovaries are the main source of testosterone in women until menopause, with some contribution by the adrenal glands and soft tissues. Most of the testosterone circulating in your bloodstream is tightly attached to a transport protein, making it unavailable for activity in the tissues. Smaller amounts of the hormone are loosely attached to the protein albumin or circulating free of any protein. These forms of testosterone are biologically active, or bioavailable.
Testosterone in men is primarily produced by specialized cells in the testes, with smaller amounts made in the adrenal glands. The ovaries are the main source of testosterone in women until menopause, with some contribution by the adrenal glands and soft tissues. Most of the testosterone circulating in your bloodstream is tightly attached to a transport protein, making it unavailable for activity in the tissues. Smaller amounts of the hormone are loosely attached to the protein albumin or circulating free of any protein. These forms of testosterone are biologically active, or bioavailable.
Male Testosterone Levels
Normal testosterone levels in males vary markedly with age. For the first few months after birth, levels range from approximately 70 to 345 ng/dL, then drop to less than 10 ng/dL until age 8 to 10, as measured at Quest Diagnostics laboratories. With the onset of puberty, levels rise gradually through the teen years to as high as 1,000 ng/dL. Normal adult values range from 300 to 1,100 ng/dL, with an individual’s testosterone level dropping slowly within this range beginning sometime after age 30.
Normal testosterone levels in males vary markedly with age. For the first few months after birth, levels range from approximately 70 to 345 ng/dL, then drop to less than 10 ng/dL until age 8 to 10, as measured at Quest Diagnostics laboratories. With the onset of puberty, levels rise gradually through the teen years to as high as 1,000 ng/dL. Normal adult values range from 300 to 1,100 ng/dL, with an individual’s testosterone level dropping slowly within this range beginning sometime after age 30.
What Does it Mean If I Have a Testosterone Level of Below 200 ng/dl?
A testosterone level below 200 ng/dl is called hypogonadism, and can lead to several medical conditions, including fatigue, low sex drive and reduced muscle mass. Risk for developing hypogonadism increases with excess weight gain, trauma and severe illness.
Both men and women can develop low levels of testosterone, and treatment is usually in the form of hormone replacement therapy. If you think you suffer from hypogonadism, order a blood test today to confirm testosterone levels.
Hypogonadism occurs when the primary sex organs fail to produce testosterone, or when the hypothalamus or pituitary glands fail to release appropriate levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone or follicle stimulating hormone. Hypogonadism can occur in both men and women. A testosterone level above 200 nanograms per decilitre (ng/dl) in men is considered the low end of normal.
Symptoms
Decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and inability to achieve meaningful orgasm are strong indicators of hypogonadism. Anaemia, depression, fatigue, low energy, impaired cognition and diminished bone density, muscle mass or strength may also point to low levels of testosterone. Obesity can also cause hypogonadism. The increased adipose fat elevates oestradiol levels and inhibits gonadotropin secretion in the pituitary.
Testing
To confirm hypogonadism a blood test is completed to check testosterone levels. If the results are positive and confirm testosterone levels are below 300 ng/dl treatment would be required to restore testosterone to a normal range. Click here to purchase you blood test.
Treatment
Restoring serum total testosterone levels to a normal range is the primary goal of treatment, and is usually done with testosterone replacement therapy using a transdermal patch, oral pill or injection. Patient compliance is vital to the success of treatment, and requires careful follow up by a doctor to ensure effectiveness and to monitor for side effects.
Decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and inability to achieve meaningful orgasm are strong indicators of hypogonadism. Anaemia, depression, fatigue, low energy, impaired cognition and diminished bone density, muscle mass or strength may also point to low levels of testosterone. Obesity can also cause hypogonadism. The increased adipose fat elevates oestradiol levels and inhibits gonadotropin secretion in the pituitary.
Testing
To confirm hypogonadism a blood test is completed to check testosterone levels. If the results are positive and confirm testosterone levels are below 300 ng/dl treatment would be required to restore testosterone to a normal range. Click here to purchase you blood test.
Treatment
Restoring serum total testosterone levels to a normal range is the primary goal of treatment, and is usually done with testosterone replacement therapy using a transdermal patch, oral pill or injection. Patient compliance is vital to the success of treatment, and requires careful follow up by a doctor to ensure effectiveness and to monitor for side effects.
Why Are Testosterone Levels Lower More Now Than 20 Years Ago?
We believe that there are three main areas in the life of today's modern man that is causing this faster rate of testosterone decline:
Diet
Men today are not eating as healthy as they used to. The food industry has continued to evolve and become much more sophisticated with marketing and advertising to the point where even "healthy" packaged foods are loaded with testosterone-killing additives and preservatives. Then there's just the sheer amount of junk food and fast food that is more available at a cheaper price than ever before. Foods high in simple carbohydrates, trans fats, hydrogenated oils, soy, and a bunch of other things that we can't even spell or pronounce either directly produce more oestrogen which kills testosterone, or they lead to significant weight gain and obesity, which also kills testosterone.
Lifestyle
Men are less physically active than they were in generations past. Men used to be outside more hunting, fishing, building things, farming, hiking, camping, etc. Satellite TV, the Internet, computer games, computers, and social media, today's modern day man has no incentive to ever get off the couch or out of his chair to go outside and do something physical. This includes working out. With so many things making it so inviting to stay inside, men are having a harder time disciplining themselves to go work out to at get some physical exercise and activity. Along with this, men seem to be more chronically stressed out than previous generations when life was simpler. They got better quality sleep because they did more physical things and got physical exercise.
Environmental Factors
This has to do with the emergence of all the different chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and so forth that are used all over our foods or the foods given to the animals that we eventually end up eating. Many of these chemicals and so forth have been studied and proven to show that they are highly estrogenic, meaning they produce a high amount of oestrogen, and oestrogen kills testosterone plain and simple. Not to mention, excess oestrogen in a man causes all kinds of serious health problems and issues. Also included in this bucket are things like BPAs (the synthetic chemical compound found in many plastics and resins in water bottles, food containers, etc.)
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