Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLow vs. Normal TestosteroneSleep and Testosterone LevelsHow to Increase TestosteroneFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Low vs. Normal Testosterone
Sleep and Testosterone Levels
How to Increase Testosterone
Frequently Asked Questions
Testosteroneis an important hormone for men and women, but its effects aren’t limited to the reproductive system.
Low testosteronelevels are more common, and this article will explore the impact this can have on sleep in particular. Read on to learn more about normal testosterone ranges and what testosterone replacements are recommended.
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Normal testosterone levels are different for men and women and change throughout our lifetimes. For men, testosterone levels drop gradually with age at a rate of 1% to 2% each year.
Inwomen, testosteroneproduction peaks in a woman’s 20s and then declines gradually. However, unlike estrogen, testosterone is still produced in women after menopause.
Normal Testosterone RangesMen:300-1,000 ng/dLWomen:15-70 ng/dL
Normal Testosterone Ranges
Men:300-1,000 ng/dLWomen:15-70 ng/dL
Men:300-1,000 ng/dL
Women:15-70 ng/dL
Low testosterone levelsare anything below those normal ranges and can occur for a number of reasons. Some common reasons for testosterone levels to drop are:
How Does Testosterone Affect Women?Testosterone isn’t just a male hormone. It’s also an important part of women’s health and is made in the ovaries and adrenal glands. This chemical plays a role in many of the same systems as it does in men, including:ReproductionBone healthCognitionEnergy
How Does Testosterone Affect Women?
Testosterone isn’t just a male hormone. It’s also an important part of women’s health and is made in the ovaries and adrenal glands. This chemical plays a role in many of the same systems as it does in men, including:ReproductionBone healthCognitionEnergy
Testosterone isn’t just a male hormone. It’s also an important part of women’s health and is made in the ovaries and adrenal glands. This chemical plays a role in many of the same systems as it does in men, including:
Menopause and the Effects of Testosterone
Symptoms
Symptoms of low testosteronelevels are different for men and women.
In men, the most common symptoms of low testosterone include:
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In women, symptoms of low testosterone are often dismissed as psychological, but can include:
Why A Healthy Testosterone Level is ImportantTestosterone isn’t just a reproductive hormone. It plays a role in a number of other body systems, impacting muscle and bone development, hair growth, behavior, cognition, and more.There are several risk factors for a testosterone imbalance, including obesity, pituitary gland tumors, and congenital disorders likeKlinefelter syndrome. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are concerned about how your testosterone level may be impacting your health.
Why A Healthy Testosterone Level is Important
Testosterone isn’t just a reproductive hormone. It plays a role in a number of other body systems, impacting muscle and bone development, hair growth, behavior, cognition, and more.There are several risk factors for a testosterone imbalance, including obesity, pituitary gland tumors, and congenital disorders likeKlinefelter syndrome. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are concerned about how your testosterone level may be impacting your health.
Testosterone isn’t just a reproductive hormone. It plays a role in a number of other body systems, impacting muscle and bone development, hair growth, behavior, cognition, and more.
There are several risk factors for a testosterone imbalance, including obesity, pituitary gland tumors, and congenital disorders likeKlinefelter syndrome. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are concerned about how your testosterone level may be impacting your health.
There are many things that can impact our sleep quality, and testosterone is one of them.
Testosterone plays a role in the timing and organization ofcircadian rhythms, a type of internal clock. During puberty, testosterone levels increase and we start to stay awake later. Sleep deprivation or restriction, on the other hand, can cause testosterone levels to drop.
Testosterone levels and sleep typically work in harmony, with levels rising when we wake and dropping throughout the day. There are bursts of testosterone production throughout the day, too, usually about every hour-and-a-half.During sleep, testosterone levels are replenished, rising gradually and peaking for most men during the REM sleep cycle.
Sleep Disorders
Limiting things that can disturb sleep or addressing conditions that can lower testosterone levels may help, but there is some debate on when testosterone replacement works best. In one study, obstructive sleep apnea was linked not to testosterone levels, but to obesity. Weight loss helped improve the condition, while testosterone replacement didn’t help or worsen the severity ofsleep apnea.
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There are several ways to increase your testosterone level. Some of these deal with removing lifestyle factors or issues that can cause your testosterone level to drop, and others involve supplementing to make up for low testosterone.
Below are a number of options for addressing a low testosterone level. You should talk to a healthcare professional to find the best option for your specific situation.
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There are also some ways that could help you increase your testosterone levels naturally. These include:
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Testosterone Supplementation
If these methods don’t work for you, your healthcare provider may consider prescribing youtestosterone replacement therapy. These can be taken a variety of ways including:
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There are also a number of over-the-counter products that claim to boost testosterone production, but a recent study found little proof to back up these promises.
According to the study, while 90% of the 50 products tested claimed to increase testosterone, strength, and sex drive, just 24.8% were able to provide data to support their claims. The study also noted that 10% of the ingredients in the tested products are actually known to have a negative effect on testosterone levels.
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A Word From Verywell
Low testosterone levels can have a big impact on both men and women. Loss of muscle and sex drive are commonly associated with low testosterone, but it is linked to poor sleep as well.
If you have symptoms of low testosterone or a known condition or injury that may reduce your testosterone production, talk to your healthcare provider about safe ways to boost your testosterone with medications or natural methods. Living a healthy lifestyle, avoiding drugs and alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, and having a good sleep schedule may also help keep testosterone levels in balance.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYour doctor may suspect your testosterone levels are low based on your symptoms and a physical examination, but a blood test is a more accurate way to diagnose an abnormal testosterone level.Learn MoreBest At-Home Testosterone TestsFor men, under 300 ng/dL is considered low, and under 15 ng/dL is low for women.Learn MoreWhat Are Normal Testosterone Levels?Just like in men, testosterone in women decreases with age. Lifestyle choices like alcohol and drug use can also play a role.Learn MoreUnderstanding High and Low Testosterone Levels in Men and WomenTestosterone is produced mainly in the testicles for men, and in the ovaries for women. Both men and women also produce some testosterone in the adrenal glands.Learn MoreLiving Well with HypogonadismHigh testosterone is rare in men without the use of steroid replacements, but it can cause things like aggression, acne, and sleep problems. In women, high testosterone can develop with polycystic ovary syndrome.Learn More5 Foods to Lower TestosteroneFoods cannot increase testosterone levels, but too much of certain foods—like sugar—can cause increased obesity and other issues that can cause your testosterone levels to drop.Learn MoreVegetarian Diet Won’t Lower Testosterone, New Study Shows
Your doctor may suspect your testosterone levels are low based on your symptoms and a physical examination, but a blood test is a more accurate way to diagnose an abnormal testosterone level.Learn MoreBest At-Home Testosterone Tests
Your doctor may suspect your testosterone levels are low based on your symptoms and a physical examination, but a blood test is a more accurate way to diagnose an abnormal testosterone level.
Learn MoreBest At-Home Testosterone Tests
For men, under 300 ng/dL is considered low, and under 15 ng/dL is low for women.Learn MoreWhat Are Normal Testosterone Levels?
For men, under 300 ng/dL is considered low, and under 15 ng/dL is low for women.
Learn MoreWhat Are Normal Testosterone Levels?
Just like in men, testosterone in women decreases with age. Lifestyle choices like alcohol and drug use can also play a role.Learn MoreUnderstanding High and Low Testosterone Levels in Men and Women
Just like in men, testosterone in women decreases with age. Lifestyle choices like alcohol and drug use can also play a role.
Learn MoreUnderstanding High and Low Testosterone Levels in Men and Women
Testosterone is produced mainly in the testicles for men, and in the ovaries for women. Both men and women also produce some testosterone in the adrenal glands.Learn MoreLiving Well with Hypogonadism
Testosterone is produced mainly in the testicles for men, and in the ovaries for women. Both men and women also produce some testosterone in the adrenal glands.
Learn MoreLiving Well with Hypogonadism
High testosterone is rare in men without the use of steroid replacements, but it can cause things like aggression, acne, and sleep problems. In women, high testosterone can develop with polycystic ovary syndrome.Learn More5 Foods to Lower Testosterone
High testosterone is rare in men without the use of steroid replacements, but it can cause things like aggression, acne, and sleep problems. In women, high testosterone can develop with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Learn More5 Foods to Lower Testosterone
Foods cannot increase testosterone levels, but too much of certain foods—like sugar—can cause increased obesity and other issues that can cause your testosterone levels to drop.Learn MoreVegetarian Diet Won’t Lower Testosterone, New Study Shows
Foods cannot increase testosterone levels, but too much of certain foods—like sugar—can cause increased obesity and other issues that can cause your testosterone levels to drop.
Learn MoreVegetarian Diet Won’t Lower Testosterone, New Study Shows
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Wittert G.The relationship between sleep disorders and testosterone in men.Asian J Androl. May 2014;16(2):262-265. doi:10.4103/1008-682X.122586
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VA.gov.Improving low testosterone naturally.
NASM.org.Can foods boost testosterone for men and women?
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