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Among men, testosterone levels can vary greatly throughout life. Generally, most men reach peak levels of testosterone during puberty and then experience yearly declines with aging. Over the course of a 24-hour period, men can experience substantial rises and falls in their testosterone levels, affected by activity level, food, and sexual activity, among other things. These factors make pinpointing normal testosterone levels a complex matter—meaning testosterone level testing should be completed, assessed, and monitored by a trained and experienced physician.

How is testosterone level testing performed?

Testosterone levels can be tested with a simple blood draw and are measured using the unit, nanogram per deciliter (ng/dl). There are three types of testosterone that most physicians will observe on a blood test: free testosterone, SHBG-bound testosterone, and albumin-bound testosterone. Using these numbers, your physician will also calculate your total testosterone. In general, each of these numbers will be compared to a standard range of “normal” for your age; however, your doctor should take other factors into consideration before making any recommendations. Remember, testosterone is affected by a number of lifestyle factors, and there is a distinct difference between “normal” and “functional.”

What is a normal, healthy testosterone range for men?

Generally speaking, normal testosterone levels fall between 360 ng/dl to slightly above 1000 ng/dl. However, many observational studies have suggested that levels below 650 ng/dl should alert doctors to further assess a patient’s needs. Men with a testosterone level below 650 ng/dl may be experiencing symptoms that typify low testosterone, such as depression, fatigue, increased weight gain, and reduction in muscle mass and bone density. In these cases, testosterone level testing may need to be assessed again because, as previously mentioned, testosterone levels can rise and fall throughout the day and be influenced by a variety of daily activities.

For most men, testosterone levels are highest in the morning and fall slightly as the day goes on. Younger men aged 18 to 25 will have much higher testosterone levels than men in their 40s or 50s. Most studies have found that men experience steady declines of one to two percent per year, beginning in their late 20s to early 30s.

How do I know if I need testosterone therapy?

The standard range is just that—a “standard” range. Those numbers do not take into account the factors that your physician should carefully discuss with you and consider when reviewing your case. Falling into the range of “normal,” but experiencing symptoms of low testosterone is an indicator that something is off for you, as an individual person. Symptoms can be as mild as moodiness or low energy or as obvious as hypogonadism, weight gain, and muscle loss. Your physician should take all these factors into account to determine if testosterone therapy is right for you.

Low T: The Signs to Watch Out For

If a man’s "T" levels decline too much or too quickly, he risks becoming unhealthy and facing frustrating symptoms of Low T.

Some common symptoms of low testosterone levels include:

  • Weight gain
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Irritability
  • Problems concentrating
  • Weakness or fatigue

One symptom that worries many men is erectile dysfunction (ED). Erectile dysfunction can be caused by many conditions, but hormonal imbalance is often the culprit. When low testosterone is to blame for ED, a man might feel a reduced desire for sex and get less enjoyment while doing it – wanting to “get it over with” when he probably really enjoyed it before.

Fast, Effective Treatment of Low T is Possible

Testosterone levels naturally decline with age, but they can also be affected by lifestyle and medical treatments. A healthier diet and regular exercise can improve levels in many cases. Sometimes the best thing to do is to give the body a healthy boost.
At the biostation, men seeking optimal hormonal health can meet with one of our expert doctors and take the first step to feeling better. Everything starts with our custom blood testing to determine your existing levels – and there are several treatments that can help boost testosterone naturally and safely, if needed.

Some of these treatment options include:

  • Nutritional counseling
  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Fitness regimens
  • Human Growth Hormone (HGH) therapy
  • Targeted nutritional supplementation

In almost all cases, it is possible for a man of any age to improve his testosterone results and feel better. The most important thing is to get help from experts who really understand hormones and Functional Medicine. Contact the biostation today at 561-462-4894 or fill out the form above to learn more about your treatment options and get on the road to total wellness!

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