Testosterone is one of the most important male hormones. It plays an important role in sperm production. It is also very important for the development of muscle and bone tissue, affects sexual activity. A drop in the level of this hormone can negatively affect men's health. How to know the level of testosterone in men? Analyzes are a standard way. How else can you determine if there are deviations in the level of this hormone in the blood? About this we presented the material in our article.
Deficiency symptoms
Determine testosterone in men at home (level and degree) will not work. This can only be done with laboratory tests. To find out the exact level of testosterone you need to take tests. But there are a number of symptoms that may be indirect signs of a lack of testosterone in the body.
Signs
You can suspect a deviation from the norm by the following symptoms:
- The appearance of gynecomastia.
- Excessive dryness of the skin.
- Loss of body weight and muscle mass.
- Loss of sex drive.
- Hair loss.
Causes of Testosterone Lack
Hormone deficiency can cause such conditions and behavior:
- Leading an unhealthy lifestyle.
- Alcohol abuse and smoking.
- Natural loss of testosterone with age.
- Leading an inactive lifestyle.
- Lack of physical activity.
- Rare sex life.
- Frequent stresses.
- Taking certain drugs, for example, having a diuretic effect or tranquilizers.
Effect on well-being
Inadequate testosterone levels affect both physical and psychological health. A low level of the hormone can lead to the development of a metabolic syndrome that negatively affects the level of cholesterol in the blood, causes obesity, and an increase in blood pressure. A drop in testosterone levels can lead to the development of such diseases:
- Erectile dysfunction (lack of normal erection).
- Depression.
- Hypertension.
How to know the level of testosterone in the blood
Now there are many tests to determine the lack of the hormone in question in the body. The most common is ADAM (Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males questionnaire). This is a fairly quick and easy test. A man is required to honestly answer ten simple questions.
Testing methodology
Using this simple study, you can determine that the hormone level is low, so you should consult your doctor. You need to read the questions and answer “yes” or “no” to each of them:
- Do you feel a lack of vitality?
- Have you lost in muscle mass or in weight lately?
- Do you feel a decrease in interest in sexual relations?
- Have you seen a worsening or lack of erection lately?
- Do you feel drowsy or tired in the middle of the day?
- Have you noticed a decline in performance recently?
- Have you noticed a deterioration in mood?
- Do you observe a lack of physical strength and endurance?
- Do you have frequent mood swings?
- Do you observe a loss of interest in sports and physical activity?
If the answer was positive for four or more questions, it is worth visiting a specialist for a more accurate diagnosis. Of course, the test in no case indicates one hundred percent of the presence of pathology. Detailed laboratory analysis will determine the level of testosterone accurately.
Laboratory types of diagnostics
Only tests will accurately determine the level of testosterone. There are several types of such studies. The result is received within 1-2 business days. Laboratory diagnostics will help to accurately determine the level of testosterone in women and men. Types of analyzes:
Free. It is prescribed when, using the first test, it was not possible to determine the level. For example, with a high rate of SHBG. This happens in patients with hyperthyroidism. In this case, the results of the analysis must wait 6-8 days.
Oral test. Nowadays, this method is not used very often. In this case, the level of testosterone is measured in the analysis of saliva.
To make the results of laboratory tests more accurate, you need to follow a few simple rules. Hormone medications can distort the results. Therefore, it is advisable to stop taking hormonal drugs two days before the delivery of the biomaterial, and it is advisable to refrain from smoking a day. It is recommended to take tests in the morning and on an empty stomach.
Normal testosterone levels
The generally accepted normal hormone level for men is 12-35 nmol / liter. In the period from 25 to 30 years, testosterone is produced most actively. After 30 years, its level gradually begins to decline (by about 1-2 percent annually). However, this indicator is individual and depends on many factors. These include genetic characteristics and lifestyle. It is proved that if in 25-26 years the level of testosterone was 33-35 nmol / liter, then this is enough for later life. Decreasing values with age will not affect health and male strength.
If the testosterone indicator at this age was 12 nmol / liter, then it is important to pay close attention to your lifestyle. If the hormone level in youth is less than 12 nmol / liter, then this is considered a deviation from the norm. There can be many reasons for this. It has already been said that this can be caused by health problems. A person’s habits and lifestyle also play a role.
In the female body, testosterone should also be present, but in much smaller quantities than in men. The standards are as follows:
- Up to 39 years - from 0.12 to 3.1 pg / ml.
- From 40 to 59 years, the level should be in the range from 0.12 to 2.6 pg / ml.
- Older than 60 years, the norm is from 0.12 to 1.7 pg / ml.
Why testosterone levels drop
The main reasons include the following:
- Diseases suffered during childhood, such as mumps. As a result of such ailments, disruptions in the production of testosterone can occur.
- Testicular dysfunction. This may result from illness or injury.
- Drug addiction, radiation exposure, poor ecology contribute to communication defects between the hypothalamus, pituitary and testicles. As a result, testosterone production in the body can be reduced.
Also, testosterone levels can be reduced as a result of certain diseases. These include:
- Kleifelter's syndrome.
- Heredity.
- Kallman's syndrome.
Exceeding the norm in men
It can be assumed that the higher the level of testosterone, the better for the body. This is actually not the case. Pathology is considered deviations in any direction. If the level of testosterone is excessively high, the man becomes hyperactive, sometimes aggressive. Body hair grows more intensively. Excess testosterone destroys nerve cells. It provokes insomnia, nervous breakdowns, contributes to a frequent change of mood, muffles the instinct of self-preservation. There is a tendency to unreasonable risks, for example, to speeding while driving a car. Men with high levels of testosterone tend to resolve conflicts through the use of physical force.
Excessive emotional and physical activity negatively affects the cardiovascular system, leads to jumps in blood pressure and an increase in cholesterol.
An extremely negative consequence of an excess of the hormone testosterone can be infertility. An excess of testosterone helps to increase the number of red blood cells, which leads to a decrease in the number of sperm.
Excess hormone increases the prostate, can lead to problems in sexual activity. Often the reason for the increase in testosterone levels is the use of anabolic steroids to gain muscle mass. If the cause is the above situation, then there is a chance of testicular atrophy. In addition, an increase in testosterone due to the use of anabolic steroids can lead to renal failure and stagnation of bile.
In women, exceeding the norm of the male hormone is manifested by the appearance in the character of cruelty, aggressiveness, enhanced hair growth in those parts of the body where they should not be (on the face, on the chest, on the stomach), obesity, insomnia, increased sweating, coarsening of the voice, infertility.
How to bring hormone levels back to normal
To determine the cause of excess testosterone, it is necessary to pass tests, undergo examination. If the increase in the level of the hormone is caused by the use of dietary supplements, then to normalize the situation, it is enough to refuse to use such drugs. If steroids were taken for a long time, then after abandoning them, the hormone level may drop below normal, since the body, used to getting testosterone from external sources, stops producing it itself. In this case, hormone therapy may be needed.
Often, a diet is used as an additional method of reducing the level of male hormone. Red grapes, flax oil, and soy are introduced into the diet. Very good remedies that lower testosterone levels are clover and hop infusions.
Treatment recommendations can only be given by a specialist. As a rule, the patient is selected medications that bring the hormone level back to normal. With signs of deficiency or excess testosterone, you should immediately consult a doctor. To increase the level of the hormone, testosterone capsules, patches (stick to the scrotum area), Nebido, Prostatinol, Tribulus, Erectogenon and others are prescribed. To lower the level, "Nafarelin", "Tsiproteron", "Finasteride" are prescribed.
We examined how to find out the level of testosterone in men at home, as well as other useful information about this hormone in the human body.