Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone that is responsible for the growth and development of various physical features that are classified as typically male. It is produced in the testes, and it is also found in women, but in much smaller amounts.
The Importance of Testosterone in Men
For a boy to develop into a man, he has to have enough testosterone in the body. During puberty, which begins around 9 years old to 14 years old, testosterone facilitates several bodily changes that include:
- Increase in height
Boys usually go through a big increase in height during puberty.
- Growth of body hair
It is normal for boys to start growing facial hair, pubic hair, and other body hair once they reach puberty.
- Development of the penis and testicles
The penis and testicles start to develop physically and functionally during puberty.
- Voice change
Boys’ voices start to become deeper once they hit puberty.
- Muscle and bone development
Building muscle and bone strength and mass happens during puberty.
Once he is past the puberty stage, his testosterone takes on some more roles in the proper functioning of the body, such as:
- Red blood cell production
Testosterone helps in creating new red blood cells.
- Sexual desire
A man’s desire for sex, also called sex drive or libido, is high if his testosterone levels are high.
- Sperm production
To have high sperm count and good quality sperm, a man should have enough testosterone in his body.
Normal Testosterone Levels in Men
The normal testosterone levels in men are measured in nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) and vary according to age. They usually peak at 20 years old, and slowly decrease with age.
- Below 25 years old – from 376 ng/dL to 1,008 ng/dL, with an average of 692 ng/dL
- 25 years old to 29 years old – from 257 ng/dL to 1,081 ng/dL, with an average of 669 ng/dL
- 30 years old to 34 years old – from 233 ng/dL to 1,009 ng/dL, with an average of 521 ng/dL
- 35 years old to 39 years old – from 219 ng/dL to 975 ng/dL, with an average of 597 ng/dL
- 40 years old to 44 years old – from 201 ng/dL to 993 ng/dL, with an average of 597 ng/dL
- 45 years old to 49 years old – from 220 ng/dL to 872 ng/dL, with an average of 546 ng/dL
- 50 years old to 54 years old – from 170 ng/dL to 918 ng/dL, with an average of 544 ng/dL
- 55 years old to 59 years old – from 204 ng/dL to 900 ng/dL, with an average of 552 ng/dL
Testosterone Level Test
To know how much testosterone there is in your body, you should get a testosterone level test. Also called a serum testosterone test, it is a procedure that requires your blood sample to be examined and analyzed to determine your testosterone levels.
You should go to your doctor if you want to get a testosterone level test. They will advise you to take the test between 7 am to 10 am, as testosterone levels are the highest in the early hours of the day.
After the test, you may experience a bit of pain or throbbing around the spot where the needle was inserted to draw your blood sample, but you should be fine after a few hours.
Once your testosterone results are available, there are three outcomes possible — your testosterone levels are normal, your testosterone levels are low, or your testosterone levels are high.
Your doctor should discuss with you how to proceed if your testosterone levels are low or high.
Low Testosterone Symptoms
If there is a decline in your body’s testosterone levels, you may manifest the following common low testosterone warning signs:
- Difficulty getting and/or keeping an erection
To get an erection that is firm and long-lasting, your body needs enough testosterone. Thus, because your testosterone is low, your erectile function is negatively impacted.
- Reduced sex drive
Your testosterone facilitates your desire for sex, so if you have a shortage of this hormone in your body, you will experience a decline in sex drive or libido.
- Low sperm count
In order for your testes to produce healthy and good quality sperm, your testosterone levels have to be in the normal range. Otherwise, your sperm count will be low, and your sperm will have abnormal structure and motility.
High Testosterone Symptoms
Having too much testosterone in the body is also not good. It can bring about problems that can affect you physically and sexually.
- Early puberty
If a boy has high testosterone, there is a high risk of him entering the puberty stage earlier than the other boys.
- Low sperm count
Just like if you have low testosterone, having high testosterone can also cause low sperm count. To avoid this problem, you should do your best to keep your testosterone within the normal range.
- Shrunken testicles
Because you have low testosterone, your body experiences a hormonal imbalance that increases the amount of the female hormone estrogen in your body, causing your testicles to shrink.
Testosterone Treatment
Men with low testosterone levels are usually prescribed by their doctors with testosterone boosters, such as testosterone injections, patches, gels, and pellets, to increase their testosterone. They usually have to apply these on their arm or shoulder to get the full effects.
On the other hand, men with high testosterone are advised to stop their intake of any testosterone boosters. In a lot of cases, those that suffer from high testosterone are athletes or body builders that consume sort of testosterone supplements to aid in their athletic performance and muscle building. Once they quit, they should see their testosterone levels slowly go down to the normal range after a number of months.
Of course, they are also encouraged start living a healthy lifestyle by eating more healthily and exercising regularly so that they can lose weight and allow their bodies to carry out their testosterone production and other functions more efficiently.
