When does male testosterone start to drop

Q: At what age testosterone is at peak?

Testosterone levels reach their peak around age 18 or 19 before declining throughout the remainder of adulthood.

Q: What causes a mans testosterone level to drop?

Low testosterone (male hypogonadism) is a condition in which your testicles dont produce enough testosterone. It has several possible causes, including conditions or injuries affecting your testicles, pituitary gland or hypothalamus. Its treatable with testosterone replacement therapy.

Q: What time is male testosterone highest at?

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.

Q: How do I know if my testosterone is decreasing?

Specific Signs/Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency (TD).

From 1999 to 2016, testosterone levels have declined in adolescent and young adult men (AYA), according to results presented at the 2020 American Urological Association Virtual Experience1.

Table of Contents Show

At what age testosterone is at peak?
What causes a man's testosterone level to drop?
What time is male testosterone highest at?
How do I know if my testosterone is decreasing?

“Overall male testosterone decline can be attributed to multiple etiologies. The United States has an aging population with older males exhibiting lower testosterone levels. Furthermore, overall population has an increase in comorbidities, including diabetes, which may have cause this testosterone decrease nationally,” Soum Lokeshwar, MD, MBA, incoming urology resident at Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, said during a press briefing.

“However, most of these explanations for testosterone deficiency may be attributed to age. This time-dependent decline in testosterone has not been investigated in adolescent and young adult males,” added Lokeshwar, who was at the University Of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, at the time of the study.

Testosterone deficiency has a prevalence of 10%-40% among adult males, and 20% among AYA men aged 15-39 years, he added. Therefore, Lokeshwar and colleagues hypothesized that serum total testosterone levels will decline in AYA men.

The investigators used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 1999 to 2016 to analyze serum testosterone level changes over time in 4045 AYA males. During the study periods, 3 different assays (Biotin-Streptavidin from 1999-2004, IS-Liquid Chromatography from 2011-2012, and High-Performance-Liquid-Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry from 2013 onwards) were used. However, of note, they demonstrate comparable testosterone values with only some additional accuracy in the latest modality, Lokeshwar said.

After controlling for confounders—including year of study, age, race, BMI, comorbidity status, alcohol and smoking use, and level of physical activity—total testosterone was lower among men in the later (2011-2016) versus earlier (1999-2000) cycles (P < 0.001). Mean total testosterone decreased from 1999-2000 (605.39 ng/dL), 2003-2004 (567.44 ng/dL), 2011-2012 (424.96 ng/dL), 2013-2014 (431.76 ng/dL), and 2015-2016 (451.22 ng/dL; all P < .0001).

Elevated BMI was associated with reduced total testosterone levels (P < .0001), with the mean BMI increasing from 25.83 in 1999-2000, to 27.96 in 2015-2016 (P = 0.0006). Lokeshwar noted that even men with a normal BMI (18.5-24.9) had declining total testosterone levels (P < .05) during the same time frames.

Potential causes include increased obesity/BMI, assay variations

According to Lokeshwar, potential causes for these declines could be increased obesity/BMI, assay variations, diet/phytoestrogens, declined exercise and physical activity, fat percentage, marijuana use, and environmental toxins.

“We’ve seen that lower values of testosterone have been associated with increased comorbidities and an increase risk for all-cause mortality. This decline specifically, in these young adult men, with increased obesity may lead to an increase in precocious cancer,” Lokeshwar said, adding such decreases can also result in a lower libido and an increased risk for erectile dysfunction.

“This is especially worrisome in this young adult age group, as many men feel stigma and are less likely to seek care for these low libido and erectile dysfunction.” Lokeshwar added. “Testosterone levels in AYA men are used as the benchmark normal levels for testosterone. This is very scary, because generally, when we think of normal values of testosterone, we treat based upon this age group. This may ultimately lead to the undertreatment of testosterone deficiency, which can have large ramifications and severe consequences.”

Reference

1. Patel P, Fantus R, Lokeshwar S, et al. Trends in Serum Testosteron Levels Among Adolescent and Young Adults Men in the United State. Presented at: 2020 AUA Virtual Experience; May 15, 2020. Abstract MP78-01.

A decrease in testosterone begins after age 25-30 where testosterone production decrease about 1% each year. There are several problems that are common to men who have a low testosterone level. This article will discuss some of those problems that can impact men with low levels of testosterone.

Infertility

A small percentage of infertility cases are caused by male menopause, but when it happens it can be hard to treat. Infertility can be further intensified by excessive exercise, alcohol, medications, stress, and poor diet. While healthy testosterone levels are vital in order to avoid infertility issues, so many other factors have to be considered. Approximately a third of infertility problems are due to male infertility and another third are due to female infertility. The other one-third of infertility cases are caused by both partners or the cause of the infertility is unclear.

Erectile dysfunction (Impotence)

It is estimated that about 30 million men around the world suffer from erectile dysfunction. Just how many of those erectile dysfunction cases are due to low testosterone use in unknown; however, we do know that only about 40% of those diagnosed with erectile dysfunction are over the age of 40. There has been growing research in recent years to suggest that low testosterone can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Many men are uncomfortable talking to their doctors about their sexual problems especially erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction could be a warning sign of diabetes, hypertension or heart disease.

Over 20 million men in North America between the ages of 35 and 55 have symptoms of low testosterone. Aside from infertility and erectile dysfunction concerns, low testosterone levels can have an impact on other aspects of a man’s health, including: bone density, fat distribution, muscle strength and mass, and red blood cell production.

There is treatment available for low testosterone. For example, hormone replacement therapy is available through absorbance pellet implants, injections, topical ointments or gels.

Weight training, eliminating fat from your diet, avoiding drugs that impair liver function, and managing stress are a few examples of things you can do to keep your testosterone levels high. Your family doctor, a certified nutritionist, or naturopath can provide you with anti-aging tips as well.

Signs of low testosterone levels in men

Testosterone is the hormone required for male development and sexual function. It also plays a role in the building of muscle and bone mass as well as in the production of sperm. A low level of testosterone in men is about 300 nanograms (ng) per deciliter (dL), and the upper limit is 1000–1200ng/dL. Men with low testosterone levels may present with the following signs:

 Changes in sleep pattern

 Reduced sex drive

 Sexual dysfunction

 Infertility

 Emotional changes

 Decreased strength

 Weight gain

Diagnosis and treatment of male menopause

Males usually find out they have low testosterone levels when they see a doctor for unexplained symptoms. Physicians will often obtain a blood test to make sure your testosterone levels are within range and provide treatment options if an abnormality is observed.

Treatment with testosterone replacement therapy is usually very effective and will reduce the symptoms of low testosterone. Men who receive testosterone replacement need a regular PSA test- to test blood count to be certain that the red blood cell count does not increase significantly. If it does, this easily treated by men donating a unit of blood to a blood bank on a regular basis.

At what age testosterone is at peak?

Testosterone levels reach their peak around age 18 or 19 before declining throughout the remainder of adulthood.

What causes a man's testosterone level to drop?

Low testosterone (male hypogonadism) is a condition in which your testicles don't produce enough testosterone. It has several possible causes, including conditions or injuries affecting your testicles, pituitary gland or hypothalamus. It's treatable with testosterone replacement therapy.

What time is male testosterone highest at?

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.