Testosterone is the male sex hormone. As men get older, their bodies produce less of it. Starting in middle age, it often drops below levels that doctors consider normal. Below we explain the differences, side effects of Low T & how to test your levels then ultimately how to fix the problem.

Low testosterone — also known as hypogonadism or low T — can affect your overall health. But some doctors say it’s just a normal, harmless part of aging.

Here’s what you need to know to keep your concerns and your hormones in proper balance.

Testosterone levels are measured through blood tests. Most doctors agree that a “normal” reading falls anywhere between 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). About 40% of men over age 45 will have levels that come in below that range. But a low reading by itself isn’t enough to warrant alarm.

In fact, it’ll likely have a lot to do with the time of day doctors test your blood. The best time for testing is between 7 and 10 a.m. “Different hormones have different patterns of secretion,” says Ronald Swerdloff, MD, chief of endocrinology at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. “Normal testosterone ranges are based on morning samples, when the average person is at a higher level. Afternoon tests may give a false impression of low levels.”

Swerdloff says you should get multiple tests — at least two over the course of a couple of weeks or months. You’ll want to make sure you have low T before you take any action.

Doctors say that a reading between 200 and 300 ng/dL is getting into the Low T area.

Levels that are just slightly low aren’t a cause for concern by themselves. But if you have other symptoms, you’ll want to see your doctor. “Everyone agrees that if you have a phenomenally low level, you’d benefit from treatment. But if it’s just slightly low, as is more common, you’d definitely want to have symptoms,” says Bradley Anawalt, MD, chief of medicine at the University of Washington.

Those symptoms may include:

  • Lower sex drive or desire
  • Lower quality and frequency of erections
  • Lower bone density
  • Reduced muscle mass and strength
  • Low energy
  • Fatigue
  • Depressed feelings

A decrease in Testosterone is normal at some point in all males especially as we age.

It can also be linked to  other conditions, such as:

If you don’t have any of these conditions, your doctor may not be able to tell you why you have Low T other than many older men have it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do something about it.

Your first course of action should be to look at your lifestyle. If you’re overweight, shed some pounds. Studies say that most men who lose 7% to 10% of their bodyfat see their testosterone levels improve. “Anything that affects overall health affects testosterone,” he says. “That includes diet, exercise, drinking less booze, and not smoking. All of those things can help maintain healthy testosterone levels.”

 

Some doctors say that getting a good night’s sleep and reducing stress can also have a positive effect.

If those things don’t work, you might be a candidate for testosterone therapy. You can get extra doses of the hormone in several ways:

  • Injections in your muscles every 1 to 2 weeks or so. An extra-long-acting formulation is also available.
  • Patches applied to the skin daily
  • Gel rubbed into the skin daily
  • Tablets taken twice a day (but these are not usually recommended)
  • Pellets implanted under the skin once every 3 to 6 months 

Injections are the most effective & less harmful than pills. Injections go straight to your bloodstream only cycling thru the liver once. This way gets distributed intramuscularly into the glutes or deltoid preferably.

How long you’ll need therapy can vary, depending on the symptom(s) you’re trying to treat. For example, if you have pituitary disease, you may need therapy for the rest of your life. If you’re trying to increase your sex drive, 6 months may do the trick.

But overall, you should see a gradual increase in muscle mass and bone density, as well as higher libido. Your doctors will also look for a deeper voice and beard growth as signs of getting your testosterone back on track.