Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHormonal SupplementationTestingTestosterone FunctionDisease and Disorders
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Hormonal Supplementation
Testing
Testosterone Function
Disease and Disorders
In those assigned female at birth, among other things, testosterone helps keep bones and the reproductive system healthy and contributes to the sex drive.
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Healthy assigned males who have gone through puberty have 15 times the levels of testosterone compared to a healthy person assigned female at birth.
Testosterone imbalances can cause infertility in people of any sex. Low levels of testosteronein cisgender men can cause infertility. High testosterone levels are associated with infertility in those who can get pregnant.
Testosterone levelscan be evaluated with blood work. This is usually part of an infertility workup in all genders.
Testosterone is a potent steroid hormone whose chemical formulation is C19-H28-O2. Testosterone is also known as 17-beta-hydroxy-4-androstene-3-one.
Prescription testosterone is used totreat hypogonadism-related conditionsin cisgender men and delayed puberty in cis boys.
While off-label it might be used to treat perimenopause symptoms or a low sex drive, there are no Food and Drug Administration-approved (FDA) indications for testosterone prescription use in those assigned female at birth.
Another area of medicine where testosterone is prescribed is for transmasculine people (those assigned as female at birth but who exist as men).
It is available as a gel, topical solution, patch, or pellet (to be implanted), or as an injection or oral capsule.
Brand names include Androderm, AndroGel, AndroGel Pump, Aveed, Axiron, Depo-Testosterone, First-Testosterone, First-Testosterone MC, Fortesta, Natesto, Striant, Testim, Testopel, Vogelxo, and Vogelxo Pump.
Do Women Have Testosterone?
Risks of Supplementation
Too much testosterone can cause infertility in any gender. Testosterone supplementation can also increase the risk of stroke, hypertension, accumulation of red blood cells, heart attack, leg clots, pulmonary embolus, and cancer. The FDA only approves its use for hypogonadism and does not recommend its use for low testosterone use due to aging.
The Endocrine Society, on the other hand, supports its possible use in older men with confirmed testosterone deficiency aiming to achieve a low-normal level of the hormone, but only after carefully reviewing the risks and benefits.
Warning:Do not attempt to supplement testosterone on your own. There are a number of websites selling “testosterone supplements,” and many are fake and even dangerous. Even if the testosterone supplement is real, it is not harmless and can worsen or cause infertility in any gender.
If you are having your testosterone levels checked, ortesting your levels at home, it’s best to schedule the test for the morning.
There are two kinds of testosterone found in your blood:
When you have your testosterone levels tested, a doctor will look at both your free testosterone levels and your total testosterone levels.
Your total testosterone levels include both free and bound testosterone.
Total testosterone levels vary throughout the day. In cis men younger than 45, levels are highest in the morning and lower toward evening. Once over the age of 45, it doesn’t matter what time of day levels are checked.
Normal ranges for testosterone partially depend on the lab and a doctor’s interpretation. With that said, here are some general values.
For an assigned male age 19 or older:
For an assigned female age 19 or older:
Taking a Testosterone Test to Know Your Levels
Development of sperm:Testosterone is essential to the production of sperm in the testes. It is a delicate balance, however. Both too little and too much testosterone can lead to low sperm counts.
Associated with what are known as secondary male characteristics:This includes facial and body hair growth, deepening of the voice, the building of muscle mass, increased size of bones, and distribution of fat in the body.
Infants have similar levels of testosterone. It is only during puberty that cisgender boys begin to produce significantly higher levels of testosterone, leading to the development of the secondary sex characteristics associated with males.
Those assigned female at birth withabnormally high levels of testosteronemay have problems with facial hair, male pattern balding, and infertility. High testosterone levels are also associated with acne in any gender.
Essential to the development of eggs in the ovaries:Androgens play an important role in ovarian follicle development and estrogen production.
Sex drive (libido):The connection between testosterone and sex drive is well known. Higher levels of testosterone cause higher levels of sexual appetite.
Building muscle mass: Cisgender men are more likely to develop muscle mass than cis women because of their higher testosterone levels.
Pain tolerance:Testosterone may help people regulate pain levels.
Learning and memory, especially spatial intelligence:Testosterone aids in learning and memory. It is especially associated with spatial intelligence.
Cis men with abnormally low testosterone levels are at risk for learning disabilities.
Cognitive Empathy:Cognitive empathy involves being able to read another person’s emotions via their body language and facial expressions.
Higher testosterone levels are associated with a lessened ability to read people.
However, a new study out of the University of Toronto published in September 2019 found that giving men testosterone did not reduce their empathy.
Does Masturbation Decrease Testosterone?
Disease and Disorders That Affect Testosterone Levels
Whentestosterone levels are abnormally lowor high, it affects the overall health and well-being of an individual. This is true for all genders. What can cause abnormal testosterone levels?
In cis men, possiblecauses of low testosteroneinclude:
In cis men, possible causes of abnormally high testosterone levels include:
In cis women, possiblecauses of high testosteroneinclude:
In cis women, the most common cause of low testosterone ismenopause.
Summary
Testosterone is an essential hormone for everyone. If your levels are abnormal, a doctor will likely order more testing to investigate the cause. For those whose levels are low due to the normal effects of aging, testosterone supplementation may be an option to consider.
5 Science-Backed Ways to Increase Testosterone Naturally
9 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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Spritzer MD, Daviau ED, Coneeny MK, et al.Effects of testosterone on spatial learning and memory in adult male rats.Horm Behav. 59(4):484-96. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.01.009
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