Should you get your testosterone levels checked?

Testosterone is a hormone often associated with masculinity. In males, the testicles make testosterone. In females, testosterone is produced in the adrenal glands, ovaries fat cells and skin cells. However, too little or too much of the hormone in both men or women can indicate severe health conditions.

What is testosterone?

In male bodies, T deepens the voice, puts hair on their chest and helps to produce sperm and maintain their sex drive.

Women also produce testosterone, but in smaller quantities. It maintains a hormone balance and helps to repair reproductive tissues, and bone mass.

T is also responsible for your mood.

What happens if testosterone levels are off?

High levels of testosterone can indicate a type of ovarian, or testicular cancer. On the opposite end, low T levels can indicate chronic illness.

It is important to note that some people have low levels of T, yet function at a “low normal” without any symptoms. This is according to Dr Rajiv Jayadevan, MD, assistant clinical professor of urology and male fertility expert at The Men’s Clinic at UCLA Health.

Low T in males often presents as one or more of the following symptoms:

Enlarged male breast tissue (gynecomastia)
Erectile dysfunction
Reduced sex drive
Overall tiredness, decrease in endurance
Increased body fat
Hair loss, including armpits and pubic hair
Low (or zero) sperm count, causing male infertility
Low muscle mass

Healthcare providers will often prescribe a testosterone tests for females with high levels of T. They often have symptoms including:

Excess body or facial hair
Deeper voice
Acne
Weight gain
Irregular periods
Decreased breast size

What is a Testosterone test?

A blood test is the most reliable way to test hormone level. Andrology expert, Charles Welliver, MD, advises people to skip the saliva tests: as this only measures free testosterone. Which makes up 2% of your total testosterone levels.

Even if your T levels are in range, yet you are experiencing symptoms, it is worth checking it out with your doctor. It might indicate an underlying issue.

People are required to prepare anything special ahead of a test. But your doctor will let you know if you need to follow specific instructions.

What can your test results say?

Normal T levels can look different depending on your age and gender. Researcher, Dr. John Neustadt writes that by age 80, over 50% of men will have low testosterone.

Normal total testosterone in adult men:

Ages 19 to 49: 249 – 836 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL)
Ages 50 and older: 193 – 740 ng/dL

Normal total testosterone in adult women:

Ages 19 to 49: 8 – 48 ng/dL
Ages 50 and older: 2 – 41 ng/dL

How often should you check your T levels?

The people over at Genesys Men’s Health Institute advises that you should trust your body. If you are free from any of the symptoms of low testosterone, there is no need to go through numerous tests. A once-off will do.

You may want to test your levels if and when you notice any unusual symptoms – especially if you are under 40.