Testosterone production peaks in your teen years and remains high until your mid-thirties, when your testosterone levels start to decline, at the rate of one to two percent per year.
Testosterone levels reach their peak around age 18 or 19 before declining throughout the remainder of adulthood.
Complicating matters, testosterone levels fluctuate, peaking around 8 a.m. and diminishing throughout the day. Levels tend to be lowest around 8 in the evening, then climb during the night. The peaks and valleys are larger for men 40 and younger compared to men in their 70s.
A man's ability to produce testosterone starts to decline at about 40 years of age, and levels continue to drop 1 – 3% a year thereafter. It is important to note that just because the levels are dropping after 40 doesn't necessarily mean that all men are candidates for therapy. There must be certain symptoms present.
Age-specific middle tertile levels were 409-558 ng/dL (20-24 years old), 413-575 ng/dL (25-29 years old), 359-498 ng/dL (30-34 years old), 352-478 ng/dL (35-39 years old), and 350-473 ng/dL (40-44 years old). Age-specific cutoffs for low testosterone levels were 409, 413, 359, 352, and 350 ng/dL, respectively.
“Exercise will boost testosterone, though certain types of exercise increase testosterone more than others,” says Richard Jadick, D.O., a Piedmont urologist. Exercise can raise testosterone because it promotes: Muscle building. The more muscle you have, the higher your testosterone levels.
Studies found that heavy alcohol consumption results in reduced testosterone levels in the blood. Alcohol also impairs the function of the testicular Sertoli cells that play an important role in sperm maturation.
Men have higher levels of androgens than women, so their body hair tends to be more prolific. While it's hormones that stimulate facial hair growth, genetics determine how thick and dark a man's facial hair will be, so a fine goatee may be seen as something of an ancestral asset.
Problems associated with abnormally high testosterone levels in men include: Low sperm counts, shrinking of the testicles and impotence (seems odd, doesn't it?) Heart muscle damage and increased risk of heart attack. Prostate enlargement with difficulty urinating.
Testosterone home testing kits are widely available from several companies, including LetsGetChecked, Everlywell, and Progene. They use your blood or saliva to test your hormone levels. After taking the test, you'll send your sample to a laboratory for testing.
Most doctors agree that a “normal” reading falls anywhere between 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). About 40% of men over age 45 will have levels that come in below that range.
Among men, consumption of caffeinated coffee increased total testosterone and decreased total and free estradiol. Among women, decaffeinated coffee decreased total and free testosterone and caffeinated coffee decreased total testosterone.
Both total and free testosterone levels increased significantly with increasing number of cigarettes smoked daily (p < 0.001). Smoking men had 15% higher total and 13% higher free testosterone levels compared with men who never smoked.
Causes of low testosterone levels
Conditions that may cause hypogonadism include: testicular injury or infection. chemotherapy or radiation cancer treatments. pituitary gland disease or other hormone disorders.
Low testosterone can cause you to lose some facial hair, pubic hair, and hair on your arms and lower legs. But one thing you should know. There's a link between testosterone therapy and male-pattern balding. Your doctor can talk to you about any side effects of testosterone treatment.
Eggs are a fantastic source of protein, cholesterol, vitamin D and omega-3s, all of which aid in the production of testosterone. Eggs are a very versatile ingredients and not only do they help increase testosterone levels, the protein in them helps with muscle building too!
The Vitamin B6, Magnesium, and bromelain enzymes in bananas make them excellent testosterone boosters. All you have to do is include this convenient and delicious fruit in your daily diet if you want to maintain and/or increase your testosterone levels.
Brazil nuts are said to boost testosterone levels due to their high selenium content. A 1-ounce (28-gram) serving provides a whopping 988% of the Daily Value (DV) ( 4 ).
Stimulates hormones
Leg workouts can stimulate the release of large amounts of hormones. Working your legs helps to produce hormones such as cortisol, testosterone, and human growth hormone (HGH). Cortisol helps your body to respond to stress and increase fat metabolism.