The Truth About Testosterone

When we think of testosterone, you may think of men and body building being macho and aggressive. But testosterone’s role in macho, bad behavior is largely a myth. Testosterone plays important roles in health and disease in ways that may just surprise you. For example, did you know that it declines 1-2% every year with just age? Low levels can lead to cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, bone loss, depression, infertility, sleep disturbances and increased body fat.

What is testosterone?

Testosterone is a hormone found in the body synthesized from cholesterol. A side note: having high cholesterol, unfortunately, does not mean your testosterone levels will be high. In men, the testicles primarily make testosterone. Women’s ovaries also make testosterone, though much smaller amounts. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on men’s testosterone. Testosterone is most often associated with sex drive, sperm production, bone and muscle mass, fat storage and even red blood cell production.

Low levels can produce a wide array of symptoms including low libido, fatigue, depression, weight gain, moodiness, low self-esteem, bone loss, inability to gain muscle and sleep disturbances. Other factors that can cause levels to be low are increasing age, injury to testicles, cancer treatments, stress, sedentary lifestyle, and chronic health conditions such as kidney disease, alcoholism, liver cirrhosis, diabetes, sleep apnea and pituitary gland problems.

Abnormally high levels could be the result of an adrenal gland disorder, or even cancer of the testes. High testosterone levels are associated with early onset puberty, low sperm counts, heart muscle damage (increased risk of heart attack), liver disease, acne, elevated blood pressure, weight gain, headaches, and more. 

How do we test?

Testing testosterone can be done by a lab test, although there is a wide range of normal and healthy levels of testosterone circulating in the blood stream that varies throughout the day. A single low level may be meaningless in the absence of symptoms.

How do we treat?

Reduced testosterone production, also known as hypogonadism, doesn’t always require treatment. Exercise is a great way to increase testosterone levels naturally, along with stress reduction, and optimal management of underlying health problems. If the symptoms of low testosterone are interfering with your life, you may be a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy. Unfortunately, there can be increased adverse side effects. Long term studies are needed for continued research. It is important to discuss these options with your medical provider.