The testosterone test measures the amount of the male hormone, testosterone, in the blood. Both men and women produce this hormone. This test may be done if you have symptoms of abnormal production of male hormones (androgens). If your testosterone levels are higher or lower than normal, you may have a condition that affects your testosterone production.
If your levels are higher than normal, you may have a tumor in your testicles or ovaries. Testosterone is a hormone that is primarily produced by the gonads (testicles or ovaries). Testosterone levels are naturally much higher in men. If testosterone levels are too high or too low, they can cause certain symptoms. Hypogonadism, a condition characterized by low testosterone levels, can lead to sexual dysfunction, decreased muscle and bone strength, less energy, and reduced fertility.
It has been suggested that a 1% decrease in testosterone level per year is not unusual in middle-aged (30 to 50) and older men. If your doctor thinks you have high or low testosterone levels, he or she will first test your total testosterone levels. It is possible to find the right balance of testosterone by consulting a doctor, and to do this you must be willing to test testosterone levels before starting treatment and, in the future, on a routine basis. If the testosterone level drops too low or if the person has the signs and symptoms of low testosterone described above, testosterone therapy may be considered. Anyone who suspects that their testosterone levels are high or low should talk to their doctor or undergo tests.
However, discovering that your testosterone levels are too low doesn't automatically mean that you need treatment. Testosterone levels may start to decline after age 30 in men and between the ages of 45 and 55 in women. These data also show that variations in the tests contribute significantly to the variation in testosterone levels in cohorts from different geographical regions. Examples of modest benefits of men having higher-than-average testosterone levels include the following. There's no need to panic if your testosterone levels gradually decline; this is a normal part of aging.
