Worn out? Irritable? Gaining weight? Low libido? Memory problems? You and your doctor might not think about low testosterone when you think about your symptoms, but you might after reading this.

Many symptoms of low testosterone are similar to those of other conditions. Before you self-diagnose with Dr. Google or get a prescription based only on how you feel, see if low testosterone might be the issue.

Article ShortcutsHow Common is Low Testosterone?Why Are So Few Aware of the Low Testosterone Problem?Signs and Symptoms of Low TestosteroneWhat Does Testosterone Do?What Lowers Testosterone?How Can You Increase Testosterone?Supplements, HCG, and Hormone TherapyManaging EstrogenIs testosterone therapy bad?Should teens or young adults use testosterone-boosting supplements?Wrapping it Up

How Common is Low Testosterone?

Some experts believe a quarter of 30-year-old men have low testosterone.

A 2006 study found 39 percent of U.S. men, age 45 and older, were testosterone-deficient. With about 40 percent deficient, most men are below optimal levels.

The situation is slightly better for women. In his book, Unleash the Power of the Female Brain, Daniel Amen, MD, points out that 20 percent of women have low testosterone. He also suggests another 20 percent of women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is caused by testosterone levels that are too high.

Unfortunately, these numbers are based on people who have gone to the doctor and are experiencing symptoms. Chances are, many more men and women have testosterone levels out of balance. If you haven't had your testosterone levels checked, you could be among them.

Why Are So Few Aware of the Low Testosterone Problem?

Most people don’t know how important testosterone is. They see it as a hormone for making muscles and boosting libido.

They don't relate testosterone to heart disease, insulin resistance, degenerative brain disease, or depression. As you'll see, low testosterone plays a role in these conditions and many more.

It's for this reason I recommend adults, beginning at age 30, get a complete lab panel each year. If everyone did this, they'd likely identify trends leading to health problems, long before they became actual “health problems.”

These trends include changes in hormones like testosterone. Fortunately, you don't have to wait for your doctor to order such a lab panel (most doctors won't). You can order your own, like the Hormone Health panel from Life Time.

Signs and Symptoms of Low Testosterone

Healthcare practitioners diagnose men as “low” in testosterone when their levels fall below 300ng/dL. However, signs and symptoms of low testosterone often occur at levels much higher.

The “normal” range for men is 300ng/dL to 1,100ng/dL. That’s an enormous range! It's like saying someone from Dallas lives near the Mexican border: They might live in the state next to Mexico, but it's still 878 miles to the border. It's not close at all.

A testosterone level of 400 ng/dL is far from optimal, even though it's in the “state” of normal.

As far back as the 1970s, some endocrinologist actually knew the proper optimized range of total testosterone (800 to 1200ng/dL). Dr. Dan Purser, Improving Male Sexuality, Fertility and Testosterone

Here we are, decades later, and the optimal range is rarely discussed. Many doctors don't know of this “optimal” range. As a result, a doctor tells a guy he's normal as long as his levels are above 300 ng/dl.