What Is a Normal Testosterone Level for Men?

What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

This can be done with your local doctor or from home with a home sample collection kit. Get a broad overview of your hormonal health with our range of male hormone testing options. Symptoms may also be caused by other conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. If any of these symptoms are bothering you, talk with your provider. All medicines or healthcare product sales are made under the supervision of a registered pharmacist who is licensed by the GPhC.

Your doctor can check your testosterone levels with a simple blood test. Testosterone therapy is available to treat men with low levels of testosterone. Some studies have found no greater risk of prostate cancer with testosterone replacement therapy, but it continues to be a topic of ongoing research. Moderately elevated testosterone levels in men may produce few noticeable symptoms. Boys with higher levels of testosterone may begin puberty earlier.

All the body’s attributes change with age, and mental function is no exception. With age, new learning is slower, new information is processed less carefully, and details often slip. Short-term memory typically weakens, but long-term memory is well preserved. These changes give rise to “the senior moment” in healthy elders and to cognitive impairment and dementia in those who are not so lucky. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Your test results may mean different things depending on which test was done, your age, your symptoms, the results of other tests, and other conditions you may have.

It also regulates your sex drive so your body can perform at its best when the time comes. When you have low testosterone, it’s harder to have healthy erections. Certain health conditions can cause hormonal imbalances and issues with your hypothalamus or pituitary gland, making it harder to regulate your hormones.

The American Urology Association considers levels of testosterone below 300 ng/dL in men to be low. With growing testosterone use this article will aim to provide understanding on the ins and outs of this therapy and its potential effects on overall health and well-being. Unlike many low-T clinics, we calculate bioavailable testosterone by measuring levels of two proteins, sex hormone binding globulin and albumin, foods that increase testosterone and lower estrogen typically bind to testosterone. It’s possible to have a normal total testosterone level and experience low-T symptoms if this balance is off. The more testosterone one has in their body, the more masculine their features will be.

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.

Neuroscientists are also beginning to assemble data pointing to structural and functional differences in the brains of men and women. For example, scientists in Germany reported that men and women use different parts of their brains to navigate their way out of a maze — and that men are about 28% faster at navigation. It’s an interesting observation, but the researchers didn’t offer any explanation for the legendary male reluctance to ask for directions when their navigational skills fail. Men tend to perform better on certain spatial tasks, but women excel at certain manual tasks requiring precision. Men outperform women on tests of mathematical reasoning, but women do better on arithmetical calculation tests. Males tend to have superior musical and mathematical skills; women, enhanced verbal abilities.

Total testosterone is the most commonly used test for diagnostic and monitoring purposes. Once the blood draw is complete, you may be asked to apply pressure around where the needle was inserted using gauze or cotton. You may also be given a cotton swab or bandage to cover the area. An elastic band, called a tourniquet, will be placed around your upper arm so more blood is in the vein. The inside of your elbow will be cleaned with an antiseptic wipe to prevent infection. A needle will be inserted into the vein to fill a small vial with blood.

It’s created in your testes, and it affects characteristics like sperm creation, sexual function, and other male traits. Although testosterone is one of the most essential hormones in the body for males, many of us aren’t aware of its vital role in developing and maintaining the male body. Testosterone can help regulate many things we take for granted, such as memory, concentration, sex drive, and hair growth. Total testosterone levels alone are not enough to diagnose any health condition. Test results are interpreted in the context of your specific health situation. Your doctor may recommend repeat testing or additional tests to learn more about what may be causing your symptoms and/or the change in your testosterone level.

The hormone then circulates through the bloodstream to the entire body. Testosterone is often thought of as only a male sex hormone, but females have (and need) testosterone too, just in much smaller amounts. Read our article to learn more about essential hormones and how they affect women’s menstrual cycles.