How to determine your testosterone level and adjust it
Health / / December 19, 2019
Why to know your testosterone level
Testosterone is involved in a variety of the body's processes, controls sexual behavior in both floors, stimulates the growth of muscles, maintains bone density, effect on metabolism fats.
Hormonal imbalances can cause many problems, including excess weight, reduction of libido and even memory impairment. Recognizing at the signs of low testosterone, you can take steps to normalize it and to solve their health problems.
How to determine the level of testosterone by circumstantial evidence
There are some indirect signs by which one can determine your testosterone levels fell, or, conversely, too rose.
Signs of decreased testosterone
Decreased libido
Low testosterone is often the causeThe Relationship between Libido and Testosterone Levels in Aging Men.decreased libido in men.
Men with low testosterone less willing to stand, because of what may be experiencing problems with erection, less masturbate and do not survive the erotic fantasies.
As for women, decreased sexual desire, along with a decrease in testosterone levels is particularly noticeable after menopause
Testosterone therapy for reduced libido in women.But testosterone therapy rarely yields positive results. The best results were obtainedIncreasing women's sexual desire: The comparative effectiveness of estrogens and androgens. when combined testosterone and estrogen.Excess weight
testosterone is associatedTestosterone concentrations in diabetic and nondiabetic obese men. with an increased amount of fat in the male body.
Reduced testosterone increases the activityEffect of testosterone on abdominal adipose tissue in men. enzyme lipoprotein lipase, which determines the concentration of lipids in the blood and their transport to the visceral fat - reserves around internal organs.
In women, and increased and decreased levels of testosterone under reduced estradiol (female hormone) mayThe impact of testosterone imbalance on depression and women's health. cause of obesity.
Depression
If you have all the time in a bad mood, there is no strength and energy, maybe it's in the low level of testosterone.
scientists have found outLow Free Testosterone Concentration as a Potentially Treatable Cause of Depressive Symptoms in Older Men.That male depression testosterone level is reduced. And although it is still unknown what is the origin, hormone therapy is quite effectiveTestosterone and depression: systematic review and meta-analysis. for the treatment of depression, especially in elderly people.
In women, testosterone is also reducing the number of leadsTestosterone therapy in women: a review. to a lack of energy, depressionThe impact of testosterone imbalance on depression and women's health., Constant fatigue and bad moods.
Loss of muscle mass
If the gym you can not lift weights that are easy to work some time ago, and you did not stop exercise and eat well, maybe it's in the amount of testosterone.
Loss of muscle mass is directly relatedRelationship between low free testosterone levels and loss of muscle mass. with reduced testosterone levels.
Increased testosterone number leading to increased synthesis of muscle cells. For example, the additional administration of 3 mg of testosterone per 1 kg of weight once a week for 12 weeks, increasesEffect of testosterone on muscle mass and muscle protein synthesis. synthesis of muscle by 27%.
Unwillingness to pursue his goal after failure
If, after the failure of your hands fall, perhaps it is not in the nature.
The level of testosterone dependsTestosterone change after losing predicts the decision to compete again. men desire to compete after the loss and achieve their goals after a failure. Because it is very important for success in any business, the level of testosterone can be a decisive factor in succeed.
memory impairment
Testosterone deficiency can negatively affect memory in both men and women.
In a large scientific reviewOn the effects of testosterone on brain behavioral functions. In 2015, scientists have concluded that testosterone definitely affects memory, but the actual effect depends on the sex, age, presence of diseases and hormonal levels.
For example, testosterone injections helpEffects of testosterone administration on selective aspects of object-location memory in healthy young women. improve spatial memory in healthy young women, but in combination with estrogen worsenEffects of testosterone and estrogen replacement on memory function. verbal memory in women with menopause.
At the same time, testosterone improvesTestosterone improves spatial memory in men with Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment. spatial and verbal memory in Alzheimer's patients.
If you memorize words bad or just can not find a place, although several times been there, perhaps about hormones.
Signs of increased testosterone
Though all and strive to increase the testosterone level, too high levels of this hormone also has a negative impact on the body. Especially strongly increased production of testosterone beats on women's health.
Skin Problems
Elevated levels of male sex hormones in women increasesProfiling and Hormonal Therapy for Acne in Women. sebum production and stimulates acne.
In addition, increased testosterone can cause follicular hyperkeratosis, or "goose bumps." This disease, which interferes with exfoliation, its upper layer coarsens and blushes.
Thus acne is associated with high levels of androgens, not only in women but also in menRaised serum androgens and increased responsiveness to luteinizing hormone in men with acne vulgaris..
Aggressiveness and recklessness
Testosterone provides the confidence and motivation, but when too much, the positive qualities of alternate negative.
testosterone activatesTestosterone and Aggressive Behavior in Man. subcortical region of the brain responsible for aggressive behavior, while cortisol and serotonin act as antagonists and reduce the effect of testosterone. Do prisoners and perpetrators of violence, testosterone levels tend to be higher, so they are prone to aggression.
But even if it comes quite civilized and adequate human, increased testosterone causes the riskTestosterone makes men less likely to question their impulses. and make decisions lightly, relying on the first thing that comes to mind.
Disruptions in the menstrual cycle
In women, high testosterone levels often manifestsMenstrual cycle irregularities are associated with testosterone levels in healthy premenopausal women. as failures the menstrual cycle. This dependence is observed regardless of the presence or absence of disease.
Thus, indirect signs may indicate a high or low levels of testosterone, but you can see exactly this, making analysis.
What a test for testosterone held
There are two types of analysis on the level of testosterone. This is due to the fact that the testosterone in the body can be in a free or bound state. Free testosterone is bioavailable and acts on receptors and associated proteins with specific binding globulin, or albumin remains in reserve.
Communication with testosterone binding globulin very strong. Globulin produced in the liver and binds most of the testosterone in the body. But albumin keeps testosterone is not so tight, this relationship is also called conditionally-free.
When conduct laboratory tests determine the total amount of testosterone in the body (free and bound).
Also there are tests on the levels of free testosterone, but because it is very small (about 1-2%), to accurately calculate the amount of it is difficult. So first go to the general level of testosterone analysis. If he really is lowered or raised, the doctor may prescribe a test for the free level.
How to get tested for testosterone levels
You can go to a public or private hospital and donate blood from a vein to determine testosterone levels. To ensure your results are accurate, follow a few rules:
- If you are taking hormone drugs, consult your doctor about the possibility of a temporary cancellation of 48 hours for delivery of the analysis.
- For 12 hours prior to analysis recommended to refrain from smoking, alcohol and fatty foods and physical inactivity.
- If you can not stop smoking for 12 hours, do not smoke for at least 30 minutes prior to blood donation.
- Women donating blood testosterone for 2-5 day periods.
- To be tested in the morning on an empty stomach, up to 11 hours.
What is the level considered normal
For the interpretation of the results indicators compared with the standard. We will bring standardsTest ID: TTFB Testosterone, Total, Bioavailable, and Free, Serum. for all ages from the Mayo Clinic. The norms are listed in nanograms per deciliter. If your form analysis of these other value, such as milligrams per deciliter, you can convert values here.
The total testosterone in men
Age, years | Testosterone level, ng / dL |
10–11 | 7–130 |
12–13 | 7–800 |
14 | 7–1 200 |
15–16 | 100–1 200 |
17–18 | 300–1 200 |
From 19 years | 240–950 |
According to a studyTestosterone and when should low levels be treated in older men.Have more than 3000 men aged 40 to 79 years, changes in the level of testosterone become noticeable when the hormone level falls below 320 ng / dL.
Total testosterone in women
Age, years | Testosterone, ng / dL |
10–11 | 7–44 |
12–16 | 7–75 |
17–18 | 20–75 |
more than 19 | 8–60 |
Free testosterone in men
Age, years | Testosterone, ng / dL |
10–15 | 0,04–17,7 |
15–20 | 1,62–21,2 |
20–25 | 5,25–20,7 |
25–30 | 5,05–19,8 |
30–35 | 4,85–19,0 |
35–40 | 4,65–18,1 |
40–45 | 4,46–17,1 |
45–50 | 4,26–16,4 |
50–55 | 4,06–15,6 |
55–60 | 3,87–14,7 |
60–65 | 3,67–13,9 |
65–70 | 3,47–13,0 |
70–75 | 3,28–12,2 |
Free testosterone in women
Age, years | Number Testosterone ng / dl |
10–15 | 0,04–1,09 |
15–20 (19) | 0,04–1,09 (0,04–1,08) |
20–25 | 0,06–1,08 |
25–30 | 0,06–1,06 |
30–35 | 0,06–1,03 |
35–40 | 0,06–1,00 |
40–45 | 0,06–0,98 |
45–50 | 0,06–0,95 |
50–55 | 0,06–0,92 |
55–60 | 0,06–0,90 |
60–65 | 0,06–0,87 |
65–70 | 0,06–0,84 |
70–75 | 0,06–0,82 |
What to do with the results of analyzes
If your testosterone is below normal for your age group, is to go to the doctor. He may prescribe hormone therapy. If testosterone levels fit into the norm, but the libido and the figure is poor, you can manually increase the testosterone level by following simple rules.
see also
- Whether male! 9 Simple Ways to increase testosterone →
- How to increase testosterone →
- 3 meals that will boost testosterone →