Testosterone is arguably one of the most essential hormones for supporting men’s health. It plays a role in supporting sexual, bone, muscle, and mental health.
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Testosterone is arguably one of the most essential hormones for supporting men’s health. It plays a role in supporting sexual, bone, muscle, and mental health.
Testosterone levels that are higher or lower than typical can cause problems.
For example, low testosterone (aka “low T”) can impact your libido and energy levels. High testosterone may cause problems like aggression, acne, and low sperm count.
So, what are normal testosterone levels in men? What causes male testosterone levels to change? And how do you check your testosterone levels? We have all the answers below.
Testosterone is the primary sex hormone (androgen) in your body. Androgens give you characteristically male features.
Average testosterone levels for adult males range from 300 to 1,000 ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter of blood). The American Urological Association (AUA) defines low testosterone as a total testosterone level below 300 ng/dL. To confirm the diagnosis, testosterone should be tested on two separate mornings, and the low levels must be accompanied by symptoms of testosterone deficiency, such as low libido, fatigue, or reduced muscle mass.
It’s entirely normal for testosterone levels to fluctuate throughout your life. Factors like aging, lifestyle, health problems, and certain medications might increase or decrease testosterone production.
Testosterone levels in men can even change from hour to hour — they’re typically highest in the morning (which is why you’re supposed to get your blood test for testosterone before 10 a.m.) and lowest at night.
Low testosterone levels are also known as testosterone deficiency, male hypogonadism, or simply low T. It’s a common health concern in males since it can impact sexual health and other key functions, such as the ability to put on muscle.
Symptoms of low testosterone can vary among men and may be more severe if your testosterone levels are very low. Some men with low levels of serum testosterone (meaning testosterone circulating through the blood) may experience:
Low sex drive
Difficulty sleeping
Reduced strength and muscle mass
Low bone density
Increased body fat or obesity
Depression and mood swings
Difficulty concentrating
Low sperm count or infertility
Low levels of testosterone can also lead to sexual problems like erectile dysfunction (ED). But the connection between testosterone and ED is a little complicated.
High testosterone is medically known as male hypergonadism. It can cause symptoms like:
Increased libido
Excessive body hair growth
Acne
Aggressive behavior
Infertility
Reduced sperm production
Abnormally high testosterone levels are pretty rare and most often caused by anabolic steroid use or tumors in the testes or adrenal glands.
Many factors can lead to levels falling below or rising above normal testosterone levels. Some might be within your control (like nutrition and exercise) or the use of anabolic steroids, while others are out of your control (like aging).
Low testosterone might happen due to:
Undescended testicles
Orchitis (testicle inflammation often caused by mumps)
Cancer treatment
Aging
Pituitary gland disorders
HIV
Surgery
Stress or trauma
Klinefelter syndrome
Kallman syndrome
Potential causes of high testosterone include:
Tumors in your testicles, adrenal glands, or pituitary gland
Anabolic steroid use
Other sources of testosterone supplements
Testosterone levels naturally decrease as you age. You’re at higher risk of Low T starting around 35 years old. Some evidence shows that free testosterone (the form that’s readily available for your body to use) drops more rapidly than total testosterone levels.
While normal testosterone levels vary, levels in older men tend to be lower than those in younger men.
Age | Total testosterone (ng/dL) |
|---|---|
Infancy and childhood | <7-20 ng/dL |
10-14 years old | <7-1,200 ng/dL |
15-18 years old | 100-1,200 ng/dL |
19-39 years old | 264-916 ng/dL |
40–79 years old | 264-916 ng/dL |
Reference ranges for total testosterone levels can vary widely between age groups and even between laboratories, as most of these “normal” ranges are based on large population studies rather than strict clinical thresholds. That said, here are the typical ranges that are considered normal when you’re taking a testosterone test:
A 2022 study published in the Journal of Urology analyzed testosterone levels in 1,486 men aged 20 to 44. It suggested that age-specific cutoffs should be used when assessing younger men, since they naturally have higher testosterone levels. The authors recommended reference cut-off thresholds for low-T ranging from 409 ng/dL for men aged 20–24 to 350 ng/dL for those aged 40–44, arguing that a one-size-fits-all standard may overlook testosterone deficiency in younger individuals.
Potential risk factors for low testosterone include:
Being older
Lifestyle habits that promote obesity, like eating a diet high in processed foods or not exercising regularly
Misuse of street drugs and alcohol
Having a family history of genetic conditions linked to low testosterone
Taking certain medications
Injury to the testicles or having a disease such as testicular cancer
Potential risk factors for high testosterone include:
Taking performance-enhancing drugs, like anabolic steroids
Taking other forms of testosterone, especially above the dose prescribed by your doctor
Having a family history of certain tumors
The good news is that you and your healthcare provider can figure out the cause of your low or high testosterone. Even better news? Testosterone levels outside the normal range are usually treatable.
A doctor can order a blood test known as a testosterone test to check your total testosterone levels. Hims offers access to at-home testosterone testing to save you the drive to the clinic.
They might also examine other markers, such as free testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), to determine the amount of testosterone available in the body.
The American Urological Association recommends that testosterone levels be taken on two separate occasions, sometime in the morning while fasting. Testosterone levels are the highest in the morning.
You can arrange for a testosterone level test with your healthcare provider or contact a testing center in your area. Some companies now offer at-home testosterone test kits.
If your testosterone levels are outside the normal range, your provider may order additional tests like:
LH and FSH tests to see if the problem is caused by your testicles or other parts of your body
Other blood tests to measure other types of hormones, like thyroid or prolactin levels
Once you have the cause of your low testosterone figured out, you can discuss testosterone treatment options with your healthcare provider. We’ll outline a few potential treatment plans below.
One common option for Low T is testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). This treatment comes in several forms:
Patch
Gel
Injection
Under medical supervision, TRT provides relief from many symptoms of low testosterone. It can be a safe and effective option for some men.
As with most medical treatments, there are significant pros and cons associated with TRT. Alternatively, medications like enclomiphene and anastrozole can increase your body’s production of testosterone when used off-label. We recommend talking to your healthcare provider and doing thorough research to learn about your treatment options.
Suppose your high testosterone levels are due to an underlying medical problem. In that case, your doctor may recommend medications called anti-androgens to reduce your body’s natural testosterone production and improve your symptoms, especially in cases involving androgen-secreting tumors, which can cause abnormally high testosterone levels due to excess hormone production. These drugs include flutamide or spironolactone.
If a tumor is causing your high testosterone levels, you may need surgery to remove it.
If you’re interested in increasing testosterone naturally, a few healthy lifestyle habits may help.
Moderate or intense physical activity has been linked to increased levels of testosterone, at least temporarily.
Exercise offers many other benefits, from assisting with weight loss (a crucial factor for your hormonal health if you’re living with overweight or obesity) to strengthening bones and muscles, and improving mood.
Getting more sleep could also boost your T levels. That’s because testosterone production happens at night and decreases throughout the day.
A small study from 2011 found that young men who only got five hours of sleep a night had daytime testosterone levels 10 to 15 percent below their normal levels. That’s a potential 15 percent reduction just from sleep deprivation!
There’s no specific research on the optimal amount of shut-eye for testosterone. But you can use the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommendation of seven or more hours each night as a baseline for healthy sleep in adults.
No particular foods have consistently been shown to improve testosterone levels, but eating an overall healthy diet may help you maintain a healthy body weight. Obesity is a risk factor for low testosterone, so improving body composition may improve testosterone levels.
Additionally, one small 2023 study found that following the Mediterranean diet improved testosterone levels in 50 men with low fertility.
If your testosterone levels are too high and you’re taking anabolic steroids, it’s best to talk to your doctor about how to stop safely. Stopping abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms and hormonal imbalances, so a medically supervised tapering plan may be necessary to support your recovery and hormonal health.
You may not always be able to control your testosterone levels, but here are some tips for supporting healthy T:
Maintain a healthy weight by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly
Seek treatment for underlying medical conditions
Get plenty of rest
See your doctor if you think you have symptoms of a hormonal imbalance
Take steps to lower your stress levels, like adding relaxing activities to your daily routine
Don’t take anabolic steroids recreationally
Take prescription testosterone medications as prescribed and don’t exceed your prescribed dose
Avoid excessive alcohol or recreational drug use
Hims offers access to several different treatment options for low testosterone, including enclomiphene and a 2-in-1 combination treatment with enclomiphene and tadalafil (Cialis®) for men dealing with low T and ED. Find out if you qualify by scheduling a telehealth consultation with a healthcare provider today.
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