Chronic illness, obesity, sleep problems, and certain medications can also lower levels. The goal is clear information to help decide whether to discuss supplements with a clinician. This typically occurs slowly over time and is considered a normal part of aging. Testosterone levels naturally decline as men get older. Assess thyroid function with a free T4 and TSH blood test. Assess thyroid, nutrition, and heart health for lifelong wellness. But you don’t have to experience the negative symptoms that come with hormone declines. At its peak, during your adolescent years, a normal range for your testosterone is anywhere between 300 and 1,200 ng/dL (4). You’d not be sleeping well, you’d have no sex drive, you’d be fatigued, you’d have no muscle mass, you’d have uncontrolled glucose levels and more." That’s when we start to check your hormone levels," McDevitt says. You may become pre-diabetic, or see your cholesterol levels rise, says Danielle McDevitt, M.D., a physician who specializes in hormones. Testosterone is a hormone that’s crucial for men’s health. It helps men develop during puberty, and as they age, it plays a critical role in helping control fat levels, cholesterol, and glucose levels (1). Aging 10 years increases your odds of having low testosterone by 36%, but a 4-inch increase in waist size may increase your chances by up to 75%. If you're obese, you're four times more likely to benefit from testosterone replacement than non-obese men. Building muscle mass triggers your body to produce testosterone. Your body makes dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in your adrenal glands and uses it to make both testosterone and estrogen. People who exercise had higher testosterone increases. Taking magnesium as a supplement has been shown to increase free and total testosterone values. Some men experience symptoms even when total testosterone is normal, which is why measuring both free and total testosterone levels offer deeper insights. Testosterone plays a vital role in male health, influencing energy levels, sex drive, and muscle mass. This comprehensive testosterone panel includes measurements of albumin, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and total and free testosterone. Even with an abnormally low level that is replicated on a repeat test, the decision to begin testosterone replacement therapy and the proper dose requires a careful conversation with your doctor. Checking testosterone levels is as easy as having a blood test. However, the wisdom and effectiveness of testosterone treatment to improve sexual function or cognitive function among postmenopausal women is unclear. That's why medications that lower testosterone levels (for example, leuprolide) are common treatments for men with prostate cancer. But if you’re 50 and doing triathlons, you’ll need higher levels." Younger patients who have a sedentary lifestyle, who aren’t athletic and out running marathons; they don’t need a high level of testosterone. You can optimize your hormones and feel good, McDevitt says. I gave you the hormones to become an adult and to reproduce’ and they start to slow down," says McDevitt. "Think about women going through menopause," says McDevitt. "After 35 years old, we see hormones start to drop," says McDevitt. She’s also the founder of Unalome House, a holistic medical spa in Severna Park, MD.