The effect of testosterone levels on the risk of heart problems has stoked controversy among experts, Dr. Anawalt says. When testosterone levels are low and estrogen levels increase, gynecomastia, or developing male breasts, is possible, Dr. Patel says. A 2019 study found that when men received testosterone therapy, 52.4 percent said their energy levels improved. Receptors for the hormone actually exist throughout your body, from your brain to your bones to your blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction medications may help if this is one of the effects of low testosterone in your body. On the other hand, changes in the body that occur as a result of sleep apnea can lead to low testosterone levels. A number of physical changes can happen to your body if you have low testosterone levels. Now, thanks to Hone’s at-home hormone test, testing your hormone levels has never been easier or more discreet. Too much testosterone can also cause hypertension, or high blood pressure (8). "Your body will start converting excess testosterone into estrogen to help compensate," says McDevitt. Accompanying the weight gain is muscle loss, and the inability to perform workouts to the same levels as before, but also seeing fewer results from the same workouts. On the other hand, free testosterone is floating around your body, ready to be recruited by your cells. As its name suggests, total testosterone is the total amount of testosterone in your bloodstream. "Low testosterone lowers your motivation to go out and do things, which might cause you to put on weight," Dr. Nall says. Visceral fat is the deep abdominal fat that forms around your organs and increases your risk for diabetes and heart disease. Without a steady flow of testosterone, the tissues in your penis, scrotum, and testicles can atrophy, or shrivel, says Dr. Ramin. And after a few weeks of low T, you can expect to lose muscle mass, Dr. Anawalt says. At first, you might notice that it’s tougher to push as much weight at the gym or build muscle, he notes. Erectile dysfunction can also be a sign of many chronic conditions, like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Additionally, it aims to clarify the effects of testosterone dysregulation on men's mental and physical wellness while advancing clinical procedures and treatment approaches. The development and maintenance of muscular mass, bone density, and general physical strength depend heavily on testosterone, a hormone that plays a complicated and significant role in men's physiology. Remember that aging doesn't mean declining; with the right approach, men can remain vital, engaged, and healthy throughout this transition and beyond. Regular monitoring of blood counts, prostate health, and cardiovascular risk factors is essential. In addition to aging, other factors can cause a drop in testosterone levels. The likelihood of sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) and diminished muscle strength rises as testosterone levels naturally fall with age; however, research indicates that testosterone therapy may mitigate these effects in older men, enhancing physical performance, sexual drive, and muscle mass . Keeping those caveats in mind, in one study (2) of healthy adult males between the ages of 40 and 70, researchers observed these normal total testosterone levels. The research paper provides a thorough summary of the selection criteria and covers testosterone's effects on depression, vascular endothelium, muscle strength, bone health, and sexual function (Figure 1). In addition to having significant effects on health and illness, these hormonal changes are necessary for preserving physiological balance; one particularly significant time of hormonal change is during puberty, when a rise in sex hormones, such as testosterone, promotes the growth of secondary sexual traits like increased muscle mass, body and facial hair, and a deeper voice . These advantages include better vascular function, mood, muscle strength, bone density, and sexual health in healthy men. You used to have to go to the doctor’s office, or to a clinic that specializes in hormone evaluation. You want smooth blood flow, so an increase in red blood cells could easily cause stagnation. It’ll cause the red blood cells to overproduce which can, in turn, create a clot in your blood vessels. "If you think about bodybuilders who are doping, they always have injuries and this is why," says McDevitt. However, when you’re undergoing TRT, some people test to determine the peak amount of testosterone, and some people try to grab the trough, says McDevitt. Your testosterone is higher in the morning, so that’s the best time to test. Clinically, if you’re doing well and your doctor agrees that your levels are within good ranges, then you’ll want to test every six months. During the ramp up, you should expect to test every 90 days until your levels get to a good therapeutic state, as determined by your doctor and how you feel. The frequency matters as there’s a time frame that your body needs to balance everything out. However, once you’re in your late 20s, you’ll want a baseline to compare against as you age, says McDevitt. "Estrogen is a proliferative hormone, meaning it likes to get cells to grow. Just like it can be too low, your testosterone can also be too high, and that’s equally problematic (8). "Honestly, a low libido is one of the least heard symptoms," McDevitt says. "What I’ve noticed in my patients," says McDevitt, "is that anyone in the 400s will start to exhibit symptoms of low T." "After 35 years old, we see hormones start to drop," says McDevitt. She’s also the founder of Unalome House, a holistic medical spa in Severna Park, MD. Recent clinical trials, which provide more accurate information compared to observational studies, have provided some comfort around both the heart and prostate cancer risks.
