Testosterone is one of the most important hormones in males. But there are many things that males don’t know about this hormone which is essential for the male body. Learn 12 essential facts about testosterone (as a man) in this article. For professional advice on Men’s Health Use MaleFlows to take charge of your health.
12 Facts about Testosterone Every Man Should Know
You should know about these crucial facts about testosterone as a man.
- What is testosterone and how does it affect a man’s body?
Ans. Testosterone is a sex hormone produced by gonads (sex organs). In males, it is produced by testicles, and in females by the ovaries. In males, it is a major sex hormone that is essential for their growth and the development of masculine characteristics. A small amount of testosterone hormone is also produced by the adrenal gland as well. Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers that send messages from one organ to another place in the body through the bloodstream and affect many different bodily processes. This hormone is produced when your brain sends signals to the pituitary gland (from the base of the brain) to the testes in men. When the testosterone levels get too high, the brain sends signals to the pituitary to lower its production.
Testosterone performs many important functions in the male’s body, such as:
- Development of the penis and testes.
- Voice deepening during puberty.
- Changes in facial appearance and public hair during puberty and later in life. It may play a role in balding as well.
- Muscle size and strength.
- Bone growth and strength.
- Sex drive (libido).
- Sperm production.
Adolescent boys with little testosterone may not experience normal masculinization, their genitals may not enlarge, their facial and body may be weak, and their voice may not deepen. Testosterone may also help in maintaining mood. However, other essential functions of this hormone still need to be discovered.
- When does testosterone start to make changes in a male’s body?
Ans. During puberty, testosterone levels get high and start making changes in the male’s body like deepening of the voice, facial or pubic hair changes, muscle size, and strength, penis, and testes growth, etc.
- How are testosterone levels regulated in the male’s body?
Ans. Your body manages the testosterone levels in your blood. Its levels are highest in the morning and decline during the day. Your hypothalamus and pituitary gland control the amount of testosterone your testicles produce and release. Your hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which stimulates your pituitary gland to release luteinizing hormone (LH), which travels to your testicles and stimulates testosterone production. When the testosterone level in your blood increases, it suppresses the production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which helps maintain normal testosterone levels. If any of these organs, your hypothalamus, pituitary glands, or testicles are not working properly, it will cause abnormal testosterone levels.
- What happens when you have unusually elevated levels of testosterone?
Ans. While it is rare that men naturally get extremely high testosterone levels; if a man’s body produces extremely high levels of testosterone, then it’s a sign of adrenal gland disease or testicular cancer. Taking anabolic steroids, testosterone, or related hormones can be another reason that men have high testosterone levels due to increased muscle mass and athletic performance.
Problems linked with artificially high testosterone levels in men include:
- Low sperm counts, shrinking of the testicles, and impotence.
- Heart muscle damage and elevated risk of heart attack.
- Prostate enlargement that causes difficulty urinating.
- Liver disease.
- Fluid retention with swelling of the legs and feet.
- Weight gain, due to more craving to eat.
- High blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Increased muscle mass.
- Stunted growth in adolescents.
- Show aggressive behavior (while it has not been studied well).
- Mood swings, euphoria, irritability, impaired judgment, delusions.
- What diseases and conditions affect testosterone?
Ans. Several conditions can affect men’s testicles, pituitary gland, or hypothalamus that produce testosterone in the body:
- Testicles: direct injury, infection, castration, radiation treatment, chemotherapy, tumors.
- Pituitary gland or hypothalamus: tumors, medications (especially, anabolic steroids), certain infections, and autoimmune conditions
Genetic diseases like Klinefelter syndrome (where a person has an extra X chromosome) and hemochromatosis (a person born with an abnormal gene causes excessive iron accumulation throughout the body, including the pituitary gland) that affect testosterone.
- What causes low testosterone in men’s bodies?
Ans. Lower testosterone levels often occur in males due to several reasons, including:
- Age: Testosterone levels start to decline naturally around the age of 30 to 40, dropping by 1 to 2% each year.
- Injury or disease: Anything that can damage the testicles like injury, surgery, or infection can lower testosterone production. Chronic diseases like diabetes, kidney disease, and HIV/AIDS can affect hormone levels. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy can cause low testosterone.
- Medication side effects: Some medications can affect testosterone production, including opioids, steroids, and chemotherapy drugs.
- Other causes: Problems with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, low thyroid function, obesity, sleep apnea, and genetic disorders like Klinefelter syndrome are some of the problems that affect testosterone production.
Your doctor can help you know what causes low testosterone and how you improve your testosterone levels.
- What are the common symptoms of low testosterone in males?
Ans. Low testosterone symptoms can vary based on your age.
- In fetal development:
Testosterone deficiency during fetal development causes problems in developing male characteristics normally. It is called androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) and occurs when someone is genetically male but insensitive to androgens (male sex hormones). This condition causes sex differentiation. It affects male fetuses as they develop in the uterus, as well as teenage sexual development during puberty. It can prevent developing male genitals which can always result in infertility during adulthood.
- Low testosterone in puberty:
Testosterone deficiency during puberty can cause these common symptoms, including:
- Slow height growth, but their arms and legs may continue to grow out of proportion with the rest of their body.
- Lower development of pubic hair.
- Lower growth of their penis and testicles.
- Less voice deepening, leading to hoarseness of voice.
- Lower strength and endurance.
- Low testosterone in adults:
Low testosterone in adult males naturally declines as they age. However, adults can experience low testosterone levels due to other problems and experience these symptoms, including:
- Loss of muscle mass and increase in body fat.
- Loss of body hair.
- Depressed mood.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Low sex drive.
- Difficulty with concentration and memory.
- What tests are recommended to check testosterone levels?
Ans. If you experience abnormal testosterone levels, your doctor may recommend any of the following tests:
- Total testosterone blood test.
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) blood test.
- Luteinizing hormone (LH) blood test.
- What is the normal range of testosterone in males’ bodies, according to their age?
Ans. While normal ranges of testosterone levels can vary based on the type of blood test you take and from which laboratory, your provider can help to interpret your results and help you know the laboratory set normal ranges. If you have any questions, you should discuss them with them.
Here is the normal testosterone level range for males:
- Under 1 year old – less than 12 ng/dL.
- 1 to 5 years old – less than 12 ng/dL.
- 6 to 10 years old – less than 25 ng/dL.
- 11 to 15 years old – less than 830 ng/dL.
- 16 to 17 years old – 102 to 1010 ng/dL.
- 18 to 99 years old – 193 to 824 ng/dL.
- Do you need to prepare yourself before getting tested for testosterone levels?
Ans. Your healthcare provider may advise you to stop taking medicines or eating anything before the test that may affect your results.
- Is it possible to increase testosterone levels naturally?
Ans. Yes, you can naturally increase your testosterone levels by making certain changes in your lifestyle, including:
- Avoid foods that contain high-fat, high-calorie, and processed foods.
- Develop good sleeping habits.
- Consume lean protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, and fiber-rich whole grains.
- Stay physically active with at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 times each week.
- Limit your alcohol consumption.
- Quit smoking.
- What treatment is available for low testosterone levels?
Ans. To treat low testosterone levels, doctors may prescribe testosterone therapy. In this therapy, you are given artificial testosterone in the form of gels, creams, skin patches, pills, or injections to increase your testosterone levels. However, it may not always be recommended because it has side effects that outweigh the benefits.
Other than that, you may have surgery to remove testicles if you get injured or have a disease (like cancer).
Testosterone is a very essential hormone for males because it helps to achieve normal growth and helps in crucial functions in males. So, if you notice any signs of abnormal levels of testosterone, you should seek professional help to get it treated.
Want to get your testosterone levels checked, visit our Men’s health clinic in Brooklyn to get it tested and get professional advice and treatment according to your results. Call us to book your appointment now!!! Our team of medical experts at MaleFlows is committed to assisting you in reaching your wellbeing objectives. We are here to help you at any stage, whether it be with sexual health, mental clarity, or general well-being. We are available to answer your inquiries and give you the information you require. Please use the following methods to contact us:
Telephone: +1 855-635-6955
Address: 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.
