Testosterone levels are 30% lower now than in 1980

You might wonder why you are seeing more ads these days for testosterone clinics or even mail order “testosterone optimization” services (don’t get me started on these expensive, harmful snake oil services!). The answer is straightforward and, thankfully, so is the cure. Our modern lifestyle is destroying male testosterone production. In fact, the average male’s testosterone level is 30% lower today than it was during his father’s generation.

We might just want to do something about that, because testosterone is a key component of male health and the major driver of bone density, muscle mass, energy level, endurance, libido, and red blood cell count (it increases red blood cell production and prevents anemia).

The US male population in 1980 had an average testosterone level of around 650 and the US male population in 2020 had an average testosterone level of around 420. The current average testosterone of 420 would have fallen below the normal range of most testing labs in 1980. In fact, labs have had to reset their bar for the low end of testosterone levels at 250-300. These “normal” values today would have been considered incredibly low just 40 years ago!

One way we absolutely know these “normal” values today are not normal is because men tell us! At levels of about 450 and below, they can have significant symptoms. They suffer from low energy, brain fog, weight gain, low libido, and difficulty getting stronger or putting on muscle.

Which brings us to the cause, or more accurately, the 7 leading causes of lower testosterone.

Physical inactivity. Inactivity is literally killing us, and our generation sits in a car or in a chair way, way too much. The average office worker sits for 15 hours per day! If you are active throughout the day or lift weights, you are lifting your testosterone levels. Constant movement and exercises such as strength training and high-intensity interval training have been shown to boost testosterone numbers significantly.

Weight. Excessive fat tissue is both a cause and a result of lower testosterone levels. As testosterone levels drop, we gain weight and we put on more and bigger fat cells. Within fat tissue, testosterone is converted to estrogen, which causes us to gain more weight. This is a testosterone doom loop. But it works the other way, too. Losing weight increases testosterone, which helps you lose weight.

Poor nutrition. Eating a nutrient dense, well-balanced diet of whole foods with plenty of healthy fats and proteins puts your body in a position to function at optimal levels — and that includes testosterone production. Increased empty calories, processed foods, and low fat diets all lower testosterone production.

Marijuana. THC use decreases testosterone production.

Too much alcohol. Alcohol impairs the function of Leydig cells, which are the cells that produce testosterone. Drinking more than 14 drinks per week lower’s a man’s testosterone.

Poor sleep. Testosterone is produced overnight. The levels rise during good, deep sleep and are highest in the morning. Insufficient sleep time or quality lowers testosterone.

Toxin exposure. Our bodies are inundated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs, every day. These are chemicals that poison testosterone production. There are more than 800 EDCs used in plastics and other products that are all around us. Exposure to EDCs has increased exponentially over time with the increasing use of plastics and other chemicals.

The cure to low testosterone is probably clear to you after looking at the causes. If you are having symptoms of lower testosterone, do not go to a men’s hormone clinic or sign up for an online “testosterone optimization service.” They will not look at your specific health history or lifestyle and make tailored recommendations to help you. They will charge you a lot of money and immediately start you on testosterone shots, which will suppress your own testosterone production. Once you start, you will be on testosterone shots for the rest of your life! No, no, no! Just get your levels tested. Then, change your lifestyle to optimize your testosterone production. We often see a rise of 15-20% when our patients implement our recommendations. If you are still having symptoms, even if you are in the newly defined - definitely not normal - “normal range,” you may need help. We have several other highly effective tools and medications in our toolbox to use to enable your own body to produce more testosterone. If those fail to achieve your desired results, then we can be certain that you do need to be on testosterone replacement for the long term and get you started at an effective dose.