We recommend older men with symptoms of hypogonadism and a total level of testosterone. Serum levels of total and free testosterone in men, after peaking in the second and third decades of life, gradually decline with age. This age-related decline in testosterone levels is both central (pituitary) and peripheral (testicles) in origin. It is also discussed what is the normal limit level of testosterone from which treatment should be initiated and whether it should be measured.
free or total testosterone. For young men with low testosterone levels, testosterone therapy can improve sexual function, muscle mass and strength, bone mineral density, feelings of well-being, and anemia. As you age, your testosterone level gradually decreases, usually about 1% a year after age 30 or 40.
Testosterone replacement
therapy, in the form of injections, pills, patches, or gels, can improve the signs and symptoms of low testosterone levels in these men.Testosterone treatment in older men with low testosterone levels improves general sexual activity, sexual desire, and erectile function; improves areal and volumetric bone density, as well as estimated bone strength in the spine and hips; corrects unexplained anemia caused by aging; increases skeletal muscle mass, strength, and power, self-reported mobility, and some measures of physical function; and modestly improves depressive symptoms. If you have additional questions or concerns about testosterone, you can book a telehealth appointment with a healthcare provider through Everlywell. Your doctor will likely measure your testosterone levels at least twice before recommending testosterone therapy. The Mayo Clinic states that “testosterone therapy can help reverse the effects of hypogonadism, but it's not clear if testosterone therapy would benefit older men who are otherwise healthy. If you don't have any medical conditions that contribute to a decrease in testosterone levels, your doctor may recommend natural ways to increase testosterone, such as losing weight and increasing muscle mass by resistance exercises.
The Endocrine Society recommends not giving testosterone therapy to all older men with low testosterone levels, but suggests considering treatment on an individual basis in men who have consistently low testosterone levels and symptoms or conditions that suggest testosterone deficiency. The male hormone testosterone plays an important role in the development and maintenance of typical male physical characteristics, such as muscle mass and strength and the growth of facial and body hair. While some men believe they feel younger and more vigorous if they take testosterone medications, there is little evidence to support the use of testosterone in otherwise healthy men. Therefore, the changes that are often attributed to testosterone deficiency may be wholly or partially due to the consequent decrease in estradiol.
Testosterone trials in older men reported that “as men age, they experience many conditions, often together, that eventually result in an inability to perform many activities of daily living, a greater propensity to fall, and a decline in independence.
