If you’re feeling the effects of low testosterone, you want to know why. Testosterone naturally declines with age, but sometimes an underlying condition causes levels to fall below a healthy range.
Knowing what produces testosterone in your body can help you understand how it works and pinpoint a possible problem. First, a little biology.
What Is Testosterone?
Many people wonder whether testosterone is a steroid. It’s an androgen, or sex hormone, that the body makes naturally. It’s widely regarded as a male hormone because it shapes many male characteristics, such as body hair, a pronounced Adam’s apple, muscle mass and broad shoulders, but women have testosterone too.
Testosterone is best known for its role in sex drive, but it also affects bone density, muscle development and red blood cell production.
What Produces Testosterone?
Testosterone is produced by the gonads (testicles or ovaries) and the adrenal glands. Men and women make it differently.
How Men Produce Testosterone
About 95% of a man’s testosterone is produced in the testicles [1]. The rest comes from the adrenal glands, which also make hormones that help regulate the immune system, metabolism and blood pressure.
How Women Produce Testosterone
Most of a woman’s testosterone is produced in her ovaries, and the rest in her adrenal glands. Women have much less testosterone than men, roughly one-tenth to one-twentieth as much.
How Is Testosterone Controlled?
The hypothalamus and pituitary gland control testosterone levels. The hypothalamus works to keep the body in a stable state [2]. Beyond hormones, it responds to your internal and external environment, including:
- Hunger
- Body temperature
- Fullness after eating
- Blood pressure
- Night-time melatonin release
- Changes in cortisol levels
The pituitary gland signals other glands and organs about which hormones to produce [3]. The hypothalamus tells the pituitary what’s needed, and the pituitary signals the testicles to make testosterone.
Puberty and Aging
Testosterone levels rise sharply at puberty and stay relatively high through a man’s twenties. After about age 30, they decline by roughly 1% to 2% a year [4]. In women, testosterone falls more noticeably around menopause, which usually begins between ages 45 and 55.
What Causes Testosterone Imbalances?
With aging, it’s normal to notice mild signs of lower testosterone, such as somewhat reduced sexual desire and less muscle bulk and strength. More severe imbalances can be caused by:
- Injury or trauma
- Infection of the testicles
- Chemotherapy
- Metabolic disorders
- Certain medications, including opioids and steroids
- Alcohol abuse (see Can Happy Hour Impact Your T Levels?)
- HIV/AIDS
- Congenital conditions
- Adrenal insufficiency
Low Testosterone Symptoms
Early signs of low testosterone in men can include reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, low sperm count and swollen breast tissue. Over time, other symptoms may develop:
- Loss of body hair
- Loss of muscle bulk and strength
- Increased body fat
- Osteoporosis
- Mood swings
- Testicular shrinkage
- Reduced energy
If you notice these symptoms, talk with your doctor. A morning blood test can show where your levels stand. See How to Tell If You Have Low Testosterone.
Supporting Healthy Testosterone
If your levels are low because of a medical condition, that needs a doctor’s care. For age-related changes, Andro400 offers natural support built around a 100:1 Tongkat Ali root extract. Learn more about Tongkat Ali and what research shows.
About the ANDRO400 Editorial Team
The ANDRO400 Editorial Team develops educational content focused on men’s health, healthy aging, natural testosterone support, energy, strength, and body composition. Our content draws on published research and established health information to provide clear, practical resources that help men better understand the changes that can occur with age and make more informed decisions about their health.
References
- Harvard Health Publishing. Testosterone, aging, and the mind. health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/testosterone_aging_and_the_mind
- Society for Endocrinology. Hypothalamus. You and Your Hormones. yourhormones.info/glands/hypothalamus/
- Society for Endocrinology. Pituitary gland. You and Your Hormones. yourhormones.info/glands/pituitary-gland/
- Harvard Health Publishing. What men should know about proposed changes for testosterone therapy. health.harvard.edu/mens-health/what-men-should-know-about-proposed-changes-for-testosterone-therapy