Testosterone is a primary male sex hormone that has a role in various body functions, including sperm production, sex drive, fat distribution, bone density, red blood cell production and maintenance of muscle mass. As men age, their testosterone levels naturally decrease. In some, this decrease can trigger a wide range of physical and emotional effects.
Testosterone and Aging
Men reach their peak testosterone levels in their teens or 20s, according to the Mayo Clinic. By the time you reach 30, the amount of testosterone in your body will begin to decline, with a roughly 1 percent drop each year. After age 50, your rate of testosterone loss increases, HealthCommunities.com reports, and by the time you reach 80, your testosterone levels might be only 20 percent to 50 percent of those you experienced at your peak.
Potential Problems
Decreased testosterone levels might have no effect on your general health, the Mayo Clinic notes, but some men with low testosterone experience one or more of an array of symptoms, including sleep disturbances, loss of motivation or self-confidence, depression, decreased sexual desire, infertility, decreases in memory or concentration, decreased bone density, increased fat levels and loss of muscle tissue and strength. Some of these changes can occur naturally as part of the aging process, without any link to lowered testosterone. Additional factors that might account for some of these symptoms include excessive use of alcohol, thyroid gland dysfunction and medication side effects.
Diagnosing Low Testosterone
Your doctor can typically identify low testosterone with a blood test, the Mayo Clinic reports. The National Institutes of Health's Medline Plus lists normal values for testosterone in men that range from 300 to 1,200 nanograms per deciliter of blood. If your levels fall below this range, your doctor will try to discover the precise cause of the imbalance. If disease and other factors do not play a role, aging is likely a strong factor in your condition. In some cases, doctors have difficulty in accurately diagnosing low testosterone, and to help in a diagnosis, your doctor might use additional methods that include physical examination, taking of a medical history, brain imaging, genetic testing and bone density testing.
Testosterone Replacement
If you have significant symptoms related to low testosterone, your doctor might prescribe replacement testosterone as part of a treatment called hormone replacement therapy, Medline Plus notes. Potential results of increasing your testosterone levels include reduction of emotional distress, increases in sexual interest and erection frequency and returning of bone density and muscle mass and strength. Depending on your circumstances, you might receive testosterone replacement in forms that include gels, injections and gum tablets.
Considerations
While use of testosterone therapy provides potential benefits for men with clinical low testosterone, it might not provide any real benefits if you are a generally healthy older male, the Mayo Clinic explains. Potential risks of treatment include breast enlargement, skin problems such as acne, increases in sleep apnea, excessive production of red blood cells and limited sperm production. Ask your doctor if testosterone replacement is right for you.
