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Total Testosterone

Testosterone levels show steady decrease among young US men

Research suggests that females produce three times more testosterone than estrogen before menopause. Some research also suggests that high levels of prenatal testosterone levels may be linked to autism in children. However, more research is needed to see whether prenatal testosterone affects autism later in life.

A 2018 study in 60 children found that testosterone levels in the womb may also affect how your right and left brain function. However, there’s no official consensus on healthy testosterone levels. Testosterone therapy is approved for the treatment of delayed male puberty and abnormally low production of testosterone secondary to malfunction of the testes, pituitary or hypothalamus. The proper balance between testosterone (along with other androgens) and estrogen is important for the ovaries to work normally. While the specifics are uncertain, it’s possible that androgens also play an important role in normal brain function (including mood, sex drive and cognitive function). Anyone who suspects their testosterone levels are high or low should speak to their doctor or undergo testing. In males, this testosterone excess can also decrease the amount of sperm the body makes, which may lead to infertility or loss of sex drive.

But overall, you should see a gradual increase in muscle mass and bone density, as well as higher libido. Your doctors will also look for a deeper voice and beard growth as signs of getting your testosterone back on track. Most doctors agree that a “normal” reading falls anywhere between 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). About 40% of men over age 45 will have levels that come in below that range.

Hyperandrogenism also has various clinical presentations, depending on puberty status and gender. Prepubertal boys with hyperandrogenism may present with virilization. Virilization includes penile enlargement, excess hair growth in androgen-dependent areas, and voice deepening.

Completion of a controlled substance contract should be considered before prescribing. The complications of untreated hypogonadism differ depending on when it develops — during fetal development, puberty or adulthood. The pituitary gland and the hypothalamus are located within the brain and control hormone production. Hypogonadism can begin during fetal development, before puberty or during adulthood. It is unclear whether it is also due to similar genetic factors, but testosterone can also be different depending on where you live and how wealthy you are. So a universal “normal range” may not apply to all groups of people. But it is difficult to know what decreases testosterone in males is the right level of testosterone, and these ranges are often not agreed on by experts from different societies, countries or laboratories.

Reference ranges will vary according to the laboratory and Tanner stage in children.

Finding a doctor who understands this is very important to optimizing your care. After you have been started on some form of treatment, you should have a follow-up visit to discuss how your symptoms are being controlled and to have follow up blood test to measure your testosterone levels, your blood count. This is important because a small percentage of patients may see a mild thickening of their blood or hematocrit. If you are over 50 or have a family history of prostate cancer, you should have a screening test for prostate cancer or PSA as well. If patients achieve target testosterone levels, but do not feel that they have sufficient improvement in their symptoms, clinicians should question whether testosterone deficiency is the etiology of their symptoms.

Reference ranges can vary from laboratory to laboratory, so it is important to speak with your doctor about your result and what it means for your health. It’s worth bearing in mind that many of the symptoms above can be the result of lifestyle issues such as poor diet, lack of exercise, or smoking. Your doctor might recommend making changes here, to see if that improves your symptoms, before suggesting treatment for low testosterone. Testosterone levels can also be affected by underlying health conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, or kidney disease.