Have you been experiencing any of the common symptoms of Low T levels in your everyday life? Feeling sluggish, unexplained weight gain, a dip in libido? All of these signs can add up to more than just “getting older.” Although testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, it is responsible for so much more than sex drive. You may be asking yourself, “What is a normal testosterone level?” Although the answer seems straightforward, there are a few things you should understand about your hormone health first. Understanding the importance of your testosterone health can benefit multiple aspects of your health and improve your overall daily life. That’s why Titan T Center & Weight Loss is committed to providing up-to-date information and treatment to improve testosterone health. Our low T clinic offers professional guidance and will work to optimize your male hormone health.
Testosterone and Its Importance to Men?
You may know testosterone as the sex hormone, but there’s a lot you don’t know. Testosterone helps with building muscle mass and strength, along with bone density, body fat distribution, mood, brain health, and hair growth. This is why you commonly hear questions about energy loss and weight gain when looking into testosterone health. With the right form of testosterone replacement therapy, you can expect most, if not all, of these areas of health to improve. As you may know, the main source of testosterone is the testes. Production is maintained and regulated by the brain, the pituitary gland, and the hypothalamus to be exact. When it comes to counting testosterone levels, there are two names to remember: Total and Free Testosterone numbers. Each of these can tell a complete story of your whole testosterone health.
An experienced and trusted low T clinic like Titan T Center can help you measure and understand these numbers while creating a plan to return you to normal.
Defining “Normal”: The Numbers and the Nuance
By most standards, the generally accepted number for total testosterone in a man’s body is 300 ng/dL to 1,000 ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter) as per the American Urological Association (AUA). However, it should be stated that these ranges are a reference, rather than a standard for all. Next, you’ll need to consider Free Testosterone levels. These readings are crucial for diagnosis, and they range from 50-200 pg/mL (picograms per milliliter), though these ranges may vary. Over time, men’s bodies naturally slow testosterone production, which is sometimes referred to as Andropause. These effects usually begin in your 30s. It should also be noted that exterior factors and lifestyle choices can also have a negative effect.
What would you expect the difference between a 20-year-old male’s and a 60-year-old male’s testosterone production to be? Normal testosterone ranges for men in their 20s are roughly 409 to 1000 ng/dL, while 60-year-old men can vary between 196 ng/dL to 859 ng/dL. It is important to note that just because your levels might be “normal for your age” does not mean it’s best for your well-being. As a professional testosterone replacement clinic, Titan T Center also understands that “normal” is highly individual. What’s normal for one man might be too low for another to feel their best, even if it falls within the reference range.
When it comes to symptoms versus numbers, we like to weigh each the same. A man with “normal” numbers but debilitating symptoms might still benefit from treatment. The professional team at Titan T Center Low T Clinic will help decide the right testosterone treatment for your needs based on both.
Factors That Influence Testosterone Levels
Diet
You may have heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” When it comes to your testosterone health, the same still applies. What you put into your body can have differing effects on your testosterone health. Processed foods and poor nutrition can be a testosterone production killer.
Exercise
A poor diet coupled with a sedentary lifestyle could be a recipe for disaster. This is why establishing a continuous exercise plan is always a good way a naturally improve testosterone health. Without the proper amount of physical activity in your life, your testosterone levels don’t have a chance.
Sleep
Sleep plays a crucial role in the production of testosterone levels. Low testosterone levels can affect your ability to fall and stay asleep. This creates a viscous cycle of poor sleep and dwindling testosterone levels. One study found that healthy young males limited to less than 5 hours of sleep over a week experienced a 10-15% drop in testosterone levels. This also can include conditions like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Stress
It should come as no surprise that stress can have a negative effect on your testosterone health. Stress produces a hormone known as cortisol, which affects not only the production of testosterone but also your body’s responsiveness to it.
Alcohol/Substance Use
Alcohol and substance use can diminish your body’s ability to produce the testosterone hormone needed to live a healthy life.
Medical Conditions
Obesity is a large contributor to both low T levels and the symptoms that follow. There has been a strong correlation between excess weight and low testosterone levels. Diabetes and insulin-resistant conditions also have negative effects on healthy testosterone production. A thyroid condition can additionally mimic or worsen low T symptoms. More chronic diseases, such as kidney disease and liver disease, may also be responsible for lowered testosterone levels.
Why Having Your Testosterone Levels Tested is Essential
Knowing where your testosterone levels stand is essential to promoting a healthy life. Noticing symptoms isn’t the same as a medical diagnosis. A professional testosterone test will take into account more than just a single testosterone level. Comprehensive Bloodwork often requires total testosterone levels, free testosterone levels, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG), and sometimes Albumin. A more in-depth test may include looking at Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Prolactin, Estradiol (E2), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), and PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen). Your testosterone test should be administered in the morning when your testosterone levels are at their highest.
Trusted low T clinic teams like the one at Titan T Center will use your bloodwork as a piece in a bigger picture. By looking beyond the numbers, our medical team can use your symptoms, lifestyle, medical history, and testosterone levels to create a treatment plan that is right for you. With Titan T Center on your side you can rest easy knowing that the answers and remedies you receive are tailor-made for your hormone needs.
Taking Control of Your Testosterone and Your Health
Don’t wait around while low testosterone levels drag you down. Get the answers and treatment your body needs to be at its best. You shouldn’t have to live with low testosterone levels when treatment from Titan T Center is so easy. With personalized low T clinic care, our team offer a new alternative to low testosterone treatment.
The Final Word in Testosterone Level Testing
Nothing is better for your health than accurate information and personalized treatments. Knowing that you’re an individual and that your symptoms and levels are specific to you is key. With optimized testosterone health, you can be at your best. Get a head start on low T levels when you schedule an appointment with the certified professionals at Titan T Center. Get to know more about where your T levels stand with help from our experienced low T clinic.