Conventional medicine only tests your testosterone if you’re experiencing symptoms of lower testosterone levels. When your testosterone levels are getting into the 1,000 up to the 1,500 ng/dL range—and staying up there—that’s too high, says McDevitt. "Many studies that look at testosterone levels take an amount of people across these ages and test them for their T levels," says McDevitt. The average male who reaches 70 years old will have testosterone production that’s 30 percent below his peak (5). A guy in his 20s with healthy genes and no chronic ailments will have a higher testosterone level than a 55-year-old with ongoing medical issues. Here are eight evidence-based ways to increase your testosterone levels naturally. Additionally, increasing your testosterone to optimal levels may increase muscle mass and strength. During puberty in people assigned male at birth, testosterone is one of the main drivers of physical changes like muscle development, voice changes, and hair growth. Testosterone affects many aspects of your health, from sexual function to disease risk. If you’re feeling your testosterone levels might be low, ask your doctor to get tested so you know your options. Research often highlights the dangers of long-term stress, which can elevate levels of the hormone cortisol. Testosterone is a steroid hormone that the body mainly produces in the testicles and ovaries. Your provider will monitor your testosterone and other health markers to guide you toward long-term well-being. To measure testosterone, we start with a blood test, which is not part of a standard blood panel. Although the effect may be modest, there are a few lifestyle changes that can increase testosterone production. Testosterone levels naturally decline starting around age 30. McDevitt says she sees older men who live a healthy lifestyle in their fifties who have the testosterone levels of a man in his thirties. A combination of age, genetics, and pre-existing medical conditions determines your testosterone levels. But determining normal testosterone levels by age? Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to get the micronutrients your body needs for hormones. Get a moderate amount of fat for hormone health. Vic’s specific point here is about sunshine and vitamin D, which is closely linked to testosterone production. Blood levels of testosterone vary dramatically over time and even during the course of a day. The proper balance between testosterone (along with other androgens) and estrogen is important for the ovaries to work normally. For example, the genitals may not enlarge, facial and body hair may be scant, and the voice may not deepen normally. Exercise helps to boost testosterone by increasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat. When researchers at the University of Chicago restricted young men to five hours of sleep a night for one week, their testosterone levels fell 10-15%. Vic uses an acronym he calls SEEDS to capture the basics of what you need to do to keep your T-levels healthy. This test will determine whether your total testosterone level is normal, high, or low. In women, testosterone is secreted in the ovaries and adrenal glands and helps create estrogen and may help regulate how eggs develop in the ovaries. Hormone imbalances can only be diagnosed by a healthcare professional based on your symptoms and history. Such content is not intended to replace an evaluation with a qualified healthcare professional of your choosing and is not intended as medical advice. All content, including text, blog posts, educational materials, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this website is for general information purposes only. Men and women have different physiologic ranges, different evidence bases for treatment, and different monitoring goals. Even when a testosterone value looks appealing on paper, treatment is not successful if symptoms have not improved, hematocrit has risen too far, fertility plans were ignored, or side effects are emerging.