A variety of factors impact men's sexual health and wellness. Mental factors, like stress or depression can lead to a loss of interest in sex or an inability to become aroused; physical factors like heart disease, high blood pressure, or obesity can lead to difficulties achieving or maintaining an erection.
One factor that influences both the mental and physical aspects of your sexual wellness is testosterone. This hormone is commonly associated with puberty and male development, but it plays a vital role in sexual function long after puberty has passed too. There's a delicate balance of testosterone required in the male body, and too much or not enough can lead to issues across facets of your health.
Since testosterone affects every guy differently, it can be difficult to determine if your levels are outside of optimal without the help of a clinician. But there are a few clear signs that your levels might be off. Here are some symptoms of high (and low) testosterone.
What Is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a steroid hormone that's naturally produced by the sex glands of both sexes. Yes, men and women have testosterone, though for women it's much less important and present at much lower levels.
The testicles are responsible for producing testosterone in men, while women rely on a combination of their ovaries and their adrenal glands for T production.
Testosterone plays a role in the reproduction, growth, and general health of both sexes; however, its largest impact occurs in men during the transformative period of puberty.
Testosterone is the primary sex hormone for men and helps guys to develop and mature during puberty. An increased amount of testosterone in the body leads to physical changes in boys, including building larger muscles, growing taller, developing a deeper voice, and hair starting to appear on their face and body. It's also key during fetal development in producing the sex organs.
In addition to these effects, testosterone leads to sperm being produced, sex drive developing, and the penis becoming fully matured.
After puberty has come and gone, testosterone still plays a significant role in several key bodily functions such as:
- Regulating your sex drive and mood
- Distributing fat throughout your body
- Maintaining muscle mass and strength
- Preserving the strength and density of your bones
- Creating red blood cells and sperm
- Growing facial, pubic, and body hair
What Are the Signs of High Testosterone?
The production of testosterone follows the same pattern in most guys through life.
Testosterone production and levels ramp up during the early stages of puberty, which is normally between the ages of nine and 14 for boys. From this point on, production will continue to increase steadily until guys eventually reach a peak sometime during the late 20s or early 30s.
After this pinnacle in most mens' thirties, production levels begin to slow down and then fall by an average of 1.6% each year.
Low levels of testosterone can lead to a reduced sex drive, loss of muscle mass, increase in weight, lost energy, and even erectile dysfunction.
Although that’s the common pattern for most men, some men actually experience higher levels of testosterone production instead. It’s somewhat rare for this to occur naturally (more on that later), but these are a few common symptoms of too much testosterone in your system:
- Acne
- Anxiety
- Breast enlargement
- Decreased testicle size
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Elevated red blood cell count
- Enlarged prostate
- Enhanced sex drive
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Irritability
- Increased body hair growth
- Insomnia
- Larger appetite
- Male pattern balding
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Oily skin
- Reduced sperm count
- Risky behavior
- Sleep apnea
- Swelling in feet and legs
- Unexpected weight gain
- Water retention
What Causes High Levels of Testosterone?
Elevated levels of testosterone are a fairly rare occurrence and generally don’t happen naturally.
The most common cause of elevated testosterone is due to the use of anabolic steroids. Since steroids mimic the effects of testosterone, they are commonly used to increase muscle mass, reduce body fat, and enhance the overall athletic performance of men. This type of "doping" is common in many sports, though most often in bodybuilding and body-sculpting.
Another possibility is testosterone replacement therapy. This medical intervention is sometimes prescribed for men dealing with lower-than-normal testosterone production. If the dose is too high, it could result in much more testosterone in your system than necessary simply to achieve normalcy.
It’s a little more difficult to determine the cause of elevated testosterone levels if you aren’t taking steroids or undergoing testosterone replacement therapy.
One possible reason for high testosterone is tumors growing near your adrenal glands or testicles. These tumors can cause an increase in testosterone levels even if the growths are benign and otherwise harmless. However, this condition is rare and these tumors are only found in about two out of every million people.
How Can You Determine If Your Testosterone Levels Are Too High?
If you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, the easiest thing to do is schedule an appointment with a doctor. They will most likely recommend a blood test that will help determine exactly how much testosterone is in your system and if it’s too much or not enough.
Testosterone can travel through your blood freely or it can bind with various proteins and globulins. A blood test will help measure both levels of testosterone in nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). The optimal range for testosterone in men is 350-750 ng/dL; anything higher or lower can lead to the symptoms listed above.
The tests are usually scheduled early in the morning as this is the time of day that your testosterone levels will be their highest. Blood is drawn from a vein, and the test is often repeated a few times to ensure an accurate screening.
The Takeaway
Having high testosterone can lead to a wide variety of symptoms, most of which are easy to notice, but the best way to check your levels is with a blood test. Most people with high testosterone that is negatively affecting their lifestyle will recognize steroid use or testosterone replacement therapy as the cause, but certain medical conditions can contribute.
It’s rare for elevated testosterone levels to occur naturally, and is often the result of steroids or testosterone supplements.
The easiest way to determine if your levels are too high or too low is to undergo a simple blood test. Restoring testosterone levels to an optimal range can help improve your overall sexual health and eliminate symptoms you might be experiencing.
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SOURCES
Testosterone — What It Does And Doesn't Do | Harvard Health
Understanding How Testosterone Affects Men | NIH.
Boys And Puberty | Nemours KidsHealth
Testosterone For The Aging Male | NCBI
Signs Of High Testosterone In Males And Females | Medical News Today
Testosterone Therapy | Mayo Clinic
