Certain health conditions, medications and lifestyle factors can also influence testosterone levels. Low testosterone levels can lead to a decreased sex drive and sexual dysfunction. Normal levels of testosterone may be achievable with hormone therapy and lifestyle adjustments. While there’s a clinical reference on "healthy" levels of testosterone, there’s no established information on the optimal range to diagnose abnormal levels in women. Skimping on rest—even for a few nights—can lead to a significant drop in levels, impacting mood, motivation, and recovery. Testosterone is more than just a hormone for muscle and libido—it’s essential for mood, energy, mental clarity, and overall vitality. The two enzymes, aromatase and 5-alpha reductase, affect the conversion of testosterone to estrogen and the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, respectively. In addition to exercise, nutritional interventions that focus on natural aromatase inhibitors and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors may be appropriate in personalized treatment interventions. Dr. Holthouse has over 30 years of clinical experience and is a pioneer in the field of functional and integrative medicine. Our content does not constitute a medical or psychological consultation. James Davis is the author of The Midlife Male Handbook and is a hormone specialist and Level 1 certified by the International Menopause Society. Shiv Sudhakar, M.D., is an infectious disease specialist and health contributor to NBC News Health. In those cases, testosterone testing can help diagnose conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, adrenal disorders or rare tumors. "However, treating low normal testosterone without a known cause is controversial and has increased in the past decade likely due to direct-to-consumer marketing," Spratt said. Popular weight loss medications like Ozempic can help reverse low testosterone levels in men with obesity or Type 2 diabetes, according to new research. A poor diet can disrupt hormone levels and increase body fat, which further suppresses testosterone. From a functional medicine perspective, low testosterone levels or a testosterone deficiency diagnosis may be markers for the presence of an underlying physiological imbalance. The pituitary gland, which is found at the base of the brain, sends messages to the testes to produce testosterone. Signals from the brain to the pituitary gland regulate testosterone production in men. It’s an invitation to engage more deliberately with the systems that determine how sharply and energetically you inhabit your mind across the decades ahead. The hormonal changes of aging are real, and their cognitive effects deserve to be taken seriously rather than dismissed as inevitable background noise. The evidence on its cognitive effects has become considerably more sophisticated since the early studies that generated alarm, and the current picture suggests that timing, formulation, and individual health profile all matter significantly. Menopause, which occurs as a woman ages, can lead to a lower amount of testosterone produced by the ovaries. Aging plays a crucial role in the development of low testosterone or testosterone deficiency in women. "Lab reference ranges are most often used when treating older menopausal women—so these ranges skew toward lower levels," Dr. Dorr explains. Like high testosterone, there’s no definitive range as to what is considered low testosterone, or hypogonadism, in women.
