Testosterone Therapy: What Men Need to Know About Low T and TRT Treatment Los Angeles Times

Testosterone Test: Free & SHBG, High vs Low vs. Normal Levels

In women, though present in smaller quantities, it is essential for bone strength, ovarian function, and libido. However, testosterone’s influence transcends physical attributes; it also impacts mood, energy levels, and cognitive function. As men age, testosterone levels start to decline at a rate of about 1% per year after the age of 30. This decline can result in various symptoms, including decreased muscle mass and strength, increased body fat, reduced libido, mood changes, and decreased bone density. However, it’s important to note that not all men will experience these symptoms, and some may have testosterone levels within the normal range despite their age. On the other hand, high testosterone levels can also present with noticeable symptoms.

Therefore, it is important to have your free testosterone levels checked too. We’ve uncovered the critical distinctions between free and total testosterone, emphasizing their individual and collective importance in diagnosing and managing hormonal health. Understanding these forms of testosterone is essential for accurate assessment and effective treatment of testosterone imbalances. Exposure to certain environmental toxins and endocrine disruptors, like bisphenol A (BPA), pesticides, and phthalates, can impact hormone levels, including testosterone. These substances can interfere with the body’s endocrine system and alter hormonal balance, leading to potential health issues. Testosterone’s role in cardiovascular health is complex and the subject of ongoing research. It helps in the dilation of coronary arteries, thus ensuring an adequate supply of blood to the heart.

Consider supplementation if you’re not getting enough in your regular diet. Where testosterone replacement is being considered, a total testosterone level and FAI measurement are useful to make sure testosterone levels are not already at the upper normal limit. Free testosterone levels are dependent on both total testosterone levels and your levels of SHBG (the protein that binds to it). As we enter older adulthood, understanding testosterone levels becomes increasingly important for overall health and well-being.

Genetics, your activity level, and your overall health also play a role in testosterone levels. The prevalence of nephrolithiasis is increasing worldwide [1, 2], and the recurrence rate is close to 50% [3]. Additionally, urinary stones have a negative impact on quality of life and impose a significant economic burden on patients and health care systems. Lastly, it’s important to recognize that % Free Testosterone typically decreases with age in men, a factor that contributes to various age-related health issues. This decline underscores the importance of monitoring this biomarker throughout an individual’s lifespan to maintain optimal hormonal health.

Research-backed tools, tactics, and techniques to maximize your health, delivered to your inbox every Monday. Dr. James R. Staheli is the Medical Director for Broad Health, Hone Health’s affiliated medical practice and a family medicine doctor in Atlanta, Georgia.

This age-related variation underscores the importance of using age-appropriate reference ranges when evaluating results. When investigating causes of hyperandrogenism in women, such as PCOS, total testosterone, SHBG, and free androgen index are most useful. Other hormones like luteinising hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin are sometimes also measured to rule out other causes of irregular periods. SHBG naturally increases with age, but you may be able to reduce this effect somewhat by making sure your diet contains plenty of protein [9]. If your levels are abnormally high, it’s worth exploring whether medications or an underlying health condition may be playing a part in this.

As it turns out, the symptoms of Low-T aren’t only caused by the total amount of testosterone in your blood. When it comes to low testosterone, the level of your free testosterone may be just as important as your total bio-available testosterone. This is because it is the free testosterone that is readily available in the bloodstream. Imbalanced blood testosterone concentration can lead to various uncomfortable symptoms in both men and women. Your doctor uses it to diagnose conditions caused by too much or too little testosterone.

While sedentary behavior, poor diet, and exposure to environmental toxins all decrease T levels over time, prevention is possible. The widespread decline in T levels also has implications for society as a whole, says Houman. Bioavailable testosterone reflects testosterone that is readily available and able to act to tissues. It makes sense that free testosterone falls into this category, since it can bind to cell receptors as it pleases. Free testosterone is the concentration of testosterone in the blood that is not attached to proteins. As we’ve seen, carrier proteins bind to and release testosterone within the bloodstream. Therefore, talk to your doctor about the good and bad effects of this treatment before having it.

Meanwhile, some studies have found associations between low testosterone levels and symptoms like reduced cognitive function, brain fog, decreased motivation, and mood changes, according to Bailey. “A decline in testosterone can impact libido and sexual performance, which may strain intimate relationships and reduce quality of life,” he says. Research suggests that low testosterone levels may be more common among young men today compared to previous decades. Multiple large-scale studies have shown that average testosterone levels in men, including adolescents and young adults, have been on the decline over the past few decades, according to Houman.

Additionally, it’s important to consider the individual’s age and reproductive status when interpreting free testosterone levels. Testosterone levels naturally decline with age, and this decline may vary between women. Women going through perimenopause or menopause may experience fluctuations in their hormone levels, including testosterone. Therefore, what may be considered a normal range for a premenopausal woman may be different for a woman in her 50s or beyond. The discussion on testing methods for testosterone levels underlined the importance of accuracy and precision in diagnosing hormonal imbalances. We emphasized that while blood tests are the gold standard for measuring testosterone levels, interpreting these results requires a comprehensive approach that considers individual symptoms and overall health. The distinction between free and total testosterone is 200 mg testosterone too much particularly important in specific clinical situations.