Testosterone Blood Test

Testosterone is an essential hormone for men because it maintains male sex drive (libido), sperm production, fertility, and mood. Testosterone levels sometimes fall gradually in men from around the age of 30 years. For many men, this gradual fall in testosterone causes no symptoms. For others, it can negatively affect mood, motivation, and sex drive. Low testosterone can even cause a decrease in muscle mass in the body alongside increased fat mass and gynecomastia (breast tissue development). This age-related decline in testosterone is sometimes called the 'male menopause', 'manopause', or andropause. Some younger man can also experience low testosterone levels, this is called hypogonadism.

If you are a man who is experiencing symptoms of low testosterone, your doctor may prescribe testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

Testosterone can be an advantage in sport and exercise. Firstly, testosterone helps your body build muscle and increase strength. Testosterone is also essential for energy and motivation, so it could affect the amount of exercise you can do. Testosterone could even help your body to use fat as fuel for your exercise.

Intense training without enough time for recovery can put you at risk of overtraining syndrome associated with a long-term decrease in your testosterone levels. Symptoms of overtraining include chronic fatigue, weakness, and low mood. Overtraining syndrome can be damaging to your performance and could even lead to injuries, such as fractures.

Long-term use of anabolic steroids can cause shrinkage to your testes (that produce testosterone) and lead to low testosterone levels in the body.

There are some simple lifestyle changes that can naturally support the production of testosterone in the body:

Get good sleep quality. Getting a full, undisturbed night of sleep is essential to support your body to regulate hormone levels. Experts recommend that adults get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. You should wake from a night of sleep feeling refreshed. If you don't wake refreshed, you may not be getting enough.

Optimise your exercise. Any exercise can boost testosterone levels in the short-term. But building your muscle mass through strength and resistance training is most effective at permanently increasing testosterone levels. But make sure you do not overdo it; excessive exercise without time to rest and recover can decrease your testosterone levels.

Limit your alcohol intake and smoking. Alcohol can lead to disruptions in your body's ability to produce testosterone. Try to limit the amount of alcohol you drink, or better still, cut it out completely.

Ensure good nutrition. A healthy, well-balanced diet rich in protein, carbohydrate and healthy fats is essential for supporting healthy testosterone production. Also, ensure you get enough vitamins and minerals through eating plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Get some sunlight. Vitamin D is essential for testosterone levels. You can produce vitamin D in your skin under exposure to sunlight. In winter, the sunlight in the UK is poor, so you should consider taking a supplement.

Manage your body fat levels. Excessive body fat is associated with decreased testosterone levels in men. You can manage your body fat levels by eating healthily and exercising regularly.

Minimise stress. High levels of the stress hormone cortisol work against testosterone, and it can even limit testosterone's positive muscle-building (anabolic) effects. Avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as drinking alcohol, which can decrease testosterone levels and heighten stress. Instead, take control of your stress by improving time-management skills or by enjoying a hobby with a friend, such as sports.