Do you suffer from fatigue, frequent mood swings, or an unending lack of motivation, and wonder if these symptoms could be linked to low testosterone? If this sounds like something you’ve considered before, use this blog as a guide to understand your body’s signals and what “normal” testosterone levels mean for you and your unique metabolism. At Titan T-Center, we believe that normal looks a little different for everyone, so our primary goal is always finding a solution based on you, your lifestyle, and your goals.
To determine your optimal testosterone range, you must consider many factors. Because of this, working with a team of certified, reliable professionals like Titan T-Center in League City is essential for not only achieving your desired results but maintaining them for years to come.
A Clinical Perspective: Understanding Your Low Testosterone Lab Report
Often, when you review your lab work results, it can be disheartening and confusing. But the reality is that our bodies are far too complicated to be assigned a single number dictating our health. You might be wondering, “What do these numbers actually mean?” By demystifying what a “normal” T-range looks like, you can feel more confident and empowered in all aspects of your health and wellness.
As a baseline, “normal” testosterone ranges are typically 300-1000 ng/dL for men and 15-70 ng/dL for women. These numbers are considered an average amount of testosterone that anyone over the age of 18 should have. The figure is determined by two key metrics:
- Total testosterone: This is the total amount of testosterone present in an individual’s blood, regardless of whether it is bound or unbound. Bound testosterone makes up the majority of your body’s supply and means that it is attached to proteins within your system, like Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG). This means that regardless of how high the measurement is, your body is not able to freely use this testosterone supply.
- Free testosterone: Also called unbound testosterone, this supply of testosterone isn’t attached to any specific cells within your body. Although it normally makes up a much smaller percentage of your total supply, your body’s various tissues can freely use it.
When you receive labwork, your overall testosterone count includes both of these types of the hormone. However, when you are looking at understanding your body’s unique makeup, the metric of free testosterone is what can indicate a low T-range. This means that regardless of the numbers reflected in that singular column, achieving your goals is usually closer than you think.
Your Unique Blueprint: How Lifestyle Affects Your T-Range
While your bloodwork might give you a solid figure, the real decoding happens by looking at your lifestyle and how that might be impacting your version of a “normal” range. Our personal lifestyle decisions can affect nearly all aspects of our health, and low testosterone is no exception. Here are the key factors that dictate what your “normal” T-range is and if you need to start thinking about low testosterone solutions.
Understanding How Age and Natural Decline May Impact Your Testosterone Count
This is one of the most important factors that your bloodwork may not account for. Your age is the most significant variable when it comes to demystifying your low testosterone. Testosterone levels naturally change throughout your life, most often peaking between your late teens and early 20s. As you reach middle age, your testosterone supply will gradually decrease. Andropause, or age-related testosterone decline, is the natural, gradual decrease in testosterone you’ll experience as you reach middle age. However, everyone has a different genetic makeup and different baseline testosterone levels, making this just one important piece of the puzzle that is your overall T-range.
How Your Daily Habits Dictate Your Hormonal Health
While your genes and your age certainly play a large role in what a “normal” T-range looks like for you, another key factor is your daily habits and lifestyle. Luckily, while this might seem intimidating, it is the one aspect of low testosterone treatment that you have complete control over.
Sleep is one of the important aspects of overall health, including your testosterone count. Some of the positive impacts that good, deep sleep every night can have on your health include:
- Improving your immune system
- Supporting testosterone production
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Enhancing brain function
Along with sleep, other aspects of your lifestyle that can impact your T-range are your physical activity. Dedication to strength training can have a significant, positive effect on your testosterone. However, on the other end of the exercise spectrum, spending too much time doing cardio-based workouts can actually increase your body’s cortisol, contributing to low testosterone over time.
Body Composition: The Hidden Influence on Your Hormones
Your weight and body fat percentage can also impact your low testosterone and what you should be aiming for in terms of a “normal” T-range. The link between body fat percentage and testosterone levels is based on a unique enzyme called aromatase. Adipose (fat) tissue contains an enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen, creating a loop where increasing body fat leads to decreased testosterone. Because of this, weight loss and testosterone therapy go hand-in-hand.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone Beyond the Numbers: Finding The Right T-Range For You
Lab reports are an excellent place to start your low testosterone journey; however, they are just one aspect of finding your correct T-range. The most important part of working with a team like Titan T-Center is learning about your specific symptoms and how that can impact your unique T-range goals. While many people might appear to be in the “normal” range, they still experience significant low testosterone symptoms. Even if your lab work looks normal, these symptoms can indicate that you need a higher supply:
- Decreased muscle mass
- Increased body fat
- Low energy
- Mood swings
- Brain fog
- Decreased libido
- Lack of motivation
Regardless of what your lab results indicate, being aware of your body and how you feel can help us find your perfect T-range and get you back on track.
Less Common, But Still Important: The Symptoms of High Testosterone
Even if your lab work shows that your testosterone levels are in the target range for your age range, sometimes, this can be too high for some individuals. An oversupply of testosterone is much less common than a low supply, but it can still cause symptoms such as:
- Symptoms in men: Acne, hair loss, aggressive behavior
- Symptoms in women: Acne, significant body hair growth, menstrual irregularities
Instead of writing these symptoms off, you should work with medical professionals at Titan T-Center in League City. They can help determine the root cause of your issues. We can help you easily identify your concerns and craft a tailored plan for your unique T-range goals – based on how you feel, not just a number.
Creating Your Path to Action: Facing Your Low-T Head On
Feeling less like yourself lately? If you’re wondering about your bloodwork numbers, a team like Titan T-Center can further investigate them for you. We believe in creating customized, tailored solutions for your T-range based on your body, your lifestyle, and the things that make you unique. Look at our Google reviews to see how our results have impacted hundreds of men and women in League City:
“Great place. Never spent more than 15 minutes to be seen, get my shots, and get out. Very flexible, which is especially helpful with my schedule. Initial checks were reasonably priced, and results came back quickly. If you’re feeling run-down, definitely come get checked. It can’t hurt.” – Anthony Scheffelman
Contact Titan T-Center today to schedule a low testosterone consultation!