It's important for your sex drive, bone and muscle health, energy, and mood. Women and people assigned female at birth also produce testosterone. Increased cortisol levels can also cause you to overeat, which can contribute to weight gain and lowered testosterone. On treatment, the body stops making testosterone. If a man's testosterone is below the normal range, it's best to repeat it once more to be sure before starting testosterone therapy - often staying on it indefinitely. Hone is an online clinic that helps men and women manage their health. Changes in mood, energy levels, or cognition might signal low testosterone levels. A healthcare provider can develop a treatment plan that aims to lower ovarian or adrenal androgen production. If a woman is experiencing symptoms of too much testosterone, it’s best to seek treatment to find the underlying cause. Both males and females produce testosterone in their bodies, but males typically have much higher levels of it. Testosterone is a hormone responsible for male sex characteristics, sperm creation, and fertility. For men who clearly have testosterone deficiency, there is no apparent increased risk of heart attack or stroke or greater chance of developing a new prostate cancer from testosterone replacement therapy. A relatively small number of men experience immediate side effects of testosterone supplementation, such as acne, disturbed breathing while sleeping (worsening sleep apnea), breast swelling or tenderness, or swelling in the ankles. Testosterone may also help maintain normal mood. The pituitary gland then relays signals to the testes to produce testosterone. It is essential to the development of male growth and masculine characteristics. There's more to testosterone than guys behaving badly. For example, did you know that testosterone is a key player in prostate cancer? The more body fat you carry, the more testosterone you convert to estrogen, reducing your effective testosterone level. Going from six hours of fragmented sleep to eight hours of quality sleep can increase testosterone by 200 to 300 ng/dL without any other intervention. While it’s primarily targeted at men over 30, younger men can use it if they experience symptoms of low testosterone, but medical advice is recommended. However, combining it with a healthy lifestyle—including proper diet, exercise, and sleep—is crucial for optimal results. For those seeking a natural alternative to synthetic hormone therapy, Tstrive is worth considering. While it may not produce dramatic overnight results, it offers a steady and sustainable approach to improving testosterone levels. One of the primary reasons men turn to testosterone boosters is to improve sexual health, and Tstrive appears to address this effectively. This decline is concerning because strong research shows a link between low testosterone and obesity, increased disease risk, and premature death. Getting good sleep is as important for your health as diet and exercise. Research often highlights the dangers of long-term stress, which can elevate levels of the hormone cortisol. 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 is a steroid hormone that the body mainly produces in the testicles and ovaries. Testosterone affects many aspects of your health, from sexual function to disease risk. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911. Mike McAvennie is an editorial director and writer with extensive experience driving original content production on a global scale. Contact us at if you see an error. Every article is rigorously reviewed by medical experts to ensure accuracy. The Edge upholds the highest standards of health journalism. At its peak, during your adolescent years, a normal range for your testosterone is anywhere between 300 and 1,200 ng/dL (4). That’s when we start to check your hormone levels," McDevitt says. You may become pre-diabetic, or see your cholesterol levels rise, says Danielle McDevitt, M.D., a physician who specializes in hormones. Testosterone is a hormone that’s crucial for men’s health. Even moderate drinking of two to three drinks per day measurably reduces testosterone and increases estrogen through enhanced aromatase activity and impaired liver clearance of estrogen metabolites.