Testosterone : What Is It, Its Deficiencies, Tests & Therapy

by Alisha Matthew, Nutritionist
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Testosterone could be defined as a male sex hormone that could controls fertility, fat distribution, the formation of red blood cells, and muscle mass.

Infertility and hypogonadism may occur when testosterone level falls below healthy levels.

However, if you are a person that has sign and symptoms of low testosterone, then also you should not worry. This is because, there are a number of ways for person having low t-levels to increase their levels.

Contents

What Is Testosterone?

In male vertebrates, testosterone could be defined as a primary sex hormone responsible for the development of a reproductive function. Testosterone falls under one of the androgen hormones, which are referred to as anabolic steroids. 

Testosterone is considered a steroid hormone that is generated from cholesterol. It has a structure that is the same in mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles.

Testosterone is necessary for the development of male sex organs, such as the testes and penis in males. During puberty, the testosterone hormone encourages the development of sexual masculine features. 

At the same time, it could also help in improving the sexual desire and libido levels in a male. Also, a number of health specialists claim that if someone wants to know how to produce more sperms, then he should definitely get himself checked for testosterone levels.

According to them, proper testosterone levels in the body could enable a male body to produce more sperms as well.

Some of them are pubic, armpit, chest hair growth, and voice deepening. Testosterone is essential for maintaining bone mass,  and muscle strength. A healthy testosterone level might protect you from bone diseases.

Testosterone is required for so many biological activities. Therefore, it is seen as a broad promoter of your overall well-being. Testosterone has been dubbed “the most important hormone in males” by the National Institutes of Health.

In women, testosterone is vital for contributing to energy levels, general happiness, bone strength, and lean muscle mass. 

Testosterone hormone is crucial for boosting sexual pleasure during intercourse. It has an important part in a woman’s sex drive. Females produce 10 to 100 times less testosterone than men.

More basic info here.

Testosterone

How To Increase Testosterone Naturally?

The following are some of the natural ways to increase your testosterone:

  • Make Your Food More Zingy

    Garlic and onions are people’s best friends. They could aid in the production of better and more sperm. They increase the amount of a certain hormone which causes your body to produce testosterone.

    They include a lot of flavonoids, which is a natural plant component that might protect your little swimmers from harm.

  • Lift Weight and Exercise

    One of the most effective strategies to avoid numerous lifestyle-related diseases is to exercise. Exercise can increase testosterone levels.

    Regular exercisers had higher testosterone levels, according to a comprehensive review of research. Exercise boosts fitness in the elderly, reaction time, and testosterone levels.

  • Reduce Cortisol and Stress Levels

    The longer-term stress is often linked to quite increased levels of the hormone cortisol. Abnormally high cortisol levels might quickly lower your body’s testosterone levels.

    Cortisol works much like a seesaw, as one level rises, another level falls. Certain studies have shown that decreased level of testosterone could give rise to stress, depression, and anxiety in men.

  • Reduce Your Weight

    A Mediterranean diet might help you maintain a healthy weight. It also protects you from insulin resistance, which is linked to reduced testosterone levels.

    When your testosterone is low, your fat levels rise, which might cause your body to have trouble using insulin. This cycle could be broken, suggests the studies.

    Saturated fats should be replaced with healthy fats, such as almonds, olive oil, and avocado. You might also have whole grains and lean meat.

  • Take a VitaminD Supplement or Get Some Sun

    Vitamin D is gradually becoming one of the most widely used vitamins on the planet. It has been demonstrated to provide a variety of health advantages and might act as a natural testosterone booster.

    You should also know what helps vitamin d absorption so that you may be help your body by doing more of it.

Testosterone Tests

A testosterone test refers to the diagnosis of the hormone testosterone level in your blood. The level of testosterone hormone is essential for both men’s and women’s bodies because it is responsible for the many-body development function in men and other reproductive functions in women.

Production of this hormone differs in both men and women. For example, women have smaller production as compared to men. But the testosterone test is similar for both.

A testosterone test is usually a kind of screening test in which blood tests are performed to measure the different forms of testosterone that are

  • Total testosterone test
    In this testosterone test, the testosterone is measured, which is attached to the proteins, and the free testosterone, which is not attached to proteins. Generally, this type of test is a standard test to check the testosterone level in the blood.

  • Free testosterone test
    This type of testosterone test is done specifically for a specific condition. Only active testosterone is tested, and no other in this test.

  • Bioavailable testosterone test
    This type of test is not such a standard testosterone test and is only preferred for specific conditions. In this Bioavailable testosterone test, testosterones are measured, which are attached loosely to the protein and free testosterone. It is similar to a free testosterone test.


Low testosterone and high testosterone could affect your health, so the proper diagnosis of testosterone is crucial. You may consider having a testosterone test if you have the following symptoms.

  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Low sex drive
  • Loss of muscle mass
  • Lack of body and facial hair

There are many other symptoms also apart from the mentioned above, which could be specific to females and teens, and children whose puberty is delayed or early because of low testosterone or high testosterone level.

Low Testosterone Symptoms

Male hypogonadism is a result of low testosterone levels. It is a condition in which the testes, which are the reproductive glands, do not produce adequate testosterone.

Nearly 45% of males who are 40 and up often suffer from lower testosterone levels. A normal testosterone level is difficult to define as it will fluctuate throughout the day. 

They are also influenced by a lot of factors like sickness, alcohol intake, certain medications, BMI, nutrition, and age. Low testosterone symptoms vary depending on the person’s age. It includes the following:

  • Memory and concentration difficulties.
  • Low sex drive.
  • Feeling down.
  • Muscle strength declines.
  • Erectile dysfunction.
  • Reduced feelings of happiness.
  • Fatigue.
  • Moodiness and irritability.

Low testosterone also causes the following changes:

  • Body fat accumulation.
  • Moderate anemia and hemoglobin deficiency.
  • Thinning of bones.
  • A reduction in body hair.
  • Infertility.
  • Breast maturation.

What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

Testosterone replacement therapy could help reverse the consequences of hypogonadism. However, it is uncertain if testosterone therapy would assist healthy older men.

Although some men believe that taking testosterone medicines makes them feel more vigorous and younger, there is little evidence to support testosterone use in healthy men. 

According to the American College of Physicians, testosterone therapy might help some men enhance their sexual performance, though there is little evidence that it helps different functions like energy and vitality.

Testosterone therapy causes several side effects, including:

  • Progression of prostate cancer and stimulating benign prostatic hyperplasia.
  • Sleep apnea gets worse. It is a potentially dangerous sleep illness in which breathing begins and stops repeatedly.
  • Skin reactions, such as acne are the result.
  • Testicles shrink, therefore, sperm production is reduced.
  • Overstimulating red blood cell synthesis, which contributes to an increased risk of blood clot formation.
  • Breast Enlargement 
 

A clot could form, travel through your bloodstream, and lodge in your lungs, obstructing blood flow. It is also known as pulmonary embolism.

Furthermore, some researchers suggest that testosterone therapy could increase your risk of heart disease. However, more investigation is required. 

If you are unsure whether testosterone therapy is right for you, discuss the benefits and risks with your doctor.

Before considering testosterone therapy, your doctor will most likely measure your testosterone levels at least thrice. Normal aging should not be treated with testosterone therapy. 

If you do not have a medical disease-causing your testosterone levels to drop, your doctor might recommend natural testosterone boosters, such as boosting muscle mass and decreasing weight through resistance training.

Conclusion

Testosterone is a lot more than its bad image suggests. To function and develop normally, both women and men require the right quantity of testosterone. The ideal testosterone dosage however remains unknown.

It is as simple as taking a blood test to determine testosterone levels. The difficult part is deciphering the outcome. 

The testosterone levels fluctuate during the day. In the absence of symptoms, a single low level could be meaningless, especially if it was normal at another time. 

More research is needed to determine when testosterone should be measured, how to effectively respond to the results, and whether it is reasonable to accept the dangers of treatment.