What Age Can You Start Testosterone Therapy?
Men need to maintain an adequate supply of testosterone in their bodies throughout life, but, as with some other hormones, testosterone levels tend to decline with age. The time frame as to when this occurs tends to vary from one individual to the next. Genetics, lifestyle choices, and health can all influence when to start testosterone therapy.
Males experience the biggest jump in testosterone production during puberty, with a leveling off occurring around the age of twenty. For the next decade, a man will find that his libido, physical tone, mental prowess, and vitality are at an all-time high. Lack of exercise, existing on a diet of junk food, inadequate sleep, and lots of stress can alter this situation.
Around the time a man turns thirty, his body begins a slow drop in testosterone production of about 1 percent each year, although it can go as high as 2% in some men.
The answer to what age can you start testosterone therapy is more about symptoms and testosterone levels than it is about any one set number. A doctor specializing in hormone replacement therapy will look at blood test results and what a person is experiencing when making this determination for treatment.
How to Know if You Need Testosterone Therapy
It is often hard to know if you need testosterone treatment. Because the decline in men is so gradual, the symptoms are often overlooked for many years, or even decades. That makes knowing when to start testosterone therapy confusing for most men. Should you wait until you begin to experience erectile dysfunction or is a small drop in libido enough of a warning sign that something is wrong? There is no one set answer, and each person must make this decision along with his doctor.
Blood test results are only half of the picture when it comes to diagnosing Low T. One man can have very low levels of testosterone in his bloodstream, yet may still be full of energy, have a well-toned physique, a strong libido, and a sharp brain. Another man may have a total testosterone reading of 400 ng/dL – well within the “normal” range – but he may be experiencing a number of adverse symptoms associated with Low T that are affecting his life. Since his blood levels of testosterone are considered at the lower end of the normal range, he will probably be diagnosed with Low T and provided with treatment. The following information can serve as a guideline for blood test results.
Testosterone Levels by Age:
Although the average total testosterone range is extremely large, the following figures are what are considered to be “normal” for total testosterone in men:
| Age 30 to 39 | 600 to 675 ng/dL |
| Age 40 to 49 | 500 to 550 ng/dL |
| Age 50 to 59 | 400 to 450 ng/dL |
| Over 60 | 300 to 350 ng/dL |
Many doctors who specialize in HRT find that men whose levels fall below 550 begin to exhibit symptoms of Low T. For that reason, the aim of treatment with supplemental testosterone is the 550 ng/dL range.
Low Testosterone Symptoms:
- Low libido
- Weight gain
- Erectile dysfunction
- Muscle tone loss
- Decreased strength
- Reduced bone density, joint pains, stiffness
- Memory loss
- Impaired cognitive functions
- Poor sleep
- Mood swings, anxiety, depression
- Hair loss
- Trouble concentrating
- Decreased drive and motivation
If any of the symptoms listed above are present, it may be time to start testosterone therapy to reverse these issues and restore vitality and well-being. Men who have been diagnosed with heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, or high cholesterol may be at a greater risk of having Low T.
When Should You Start Testosterone Therapy
The decision of when to start testosterone replacement therapy is a very personal one. Some men do not want to admit to themselves, much less others, that they have a problem in this area. Testosterone is often equated with virility and masculinity, something that many men take a lot of pride in as part of their normal, everyday lives.
It can be tough to go to a doctor and have to admit there is a problem. The younger that a man is experiencing these changes, the harder it may be to come forward. This is a situation that will typically not correct itself without medical intervention. Contacting Kingsberg Medical can make it simpler as we conduct our consultations via phone.
You can start testosterone therapy at any age if the hormone replacement specialist has diagnosed you as having Low T. The sooner that treatment begins, the easier it is to correct the deficiency that is present.
Please contact Kingsberg Medical with any questions you might have about low testosterone, the symptoms you are experiencing, or to arrange for a blood test at a lab near you. Consultations are always complimentary and confidential, so please do not hesitate to call us.
Brian Leeber
