Why is Total Testosterone important for your Healthspan?
Total Testosterone levels are important for maintaining numerous aspects of physical and mental well-being throughout your life. This hormone plays a role in sustaining muscle strength and mass, preserving bone density, supporting energy levels, and influencing libido and mood in both men and women. Imbalances, whether too low or too high for one's age and sex, can contribute to symptoms such as fatigue, reduced physical capability, and changes in sexual function, which can impact overall vitality and long-term quality of life.
What is Total Testosterone?
Total Testosterone is a measurement that quantifies the entire amount of testosterone present in your bloodstream. Testosterone is a primary androgen (male sex hormone) produced mainly by the testes in men and by the ovaries and adrenal glands in women, albeit in much smaller quantities. In the blood, testosterone exists in two main forms: a small percentage is "free" (unbound), and the majority is bound to proteins, primarily Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and albumin. Total Testosterone accounts for both these bound and unbound forms. While it provides an overall picture of the body's testosterone production, the "free" portion is the one readily available to enter cells and exert its biological effects.
How do we take action?
If Total Testosterone levels are found to be outside the typical range, one should consult with a healthcare provider to investigate potential underlying causes and discuss appropriate strategies. Low levels might be influenced by factors such as aging, chronic stress, insufficient sleep, obesity, or certain medical conditions. Elevated levels in women could indicate conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Strategies often include lifestyle modifications such as regular resistance exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight, optimizing sleep, and managing stress. Depending on the diagnosis and individual needs, medical interventions, including hormone therapy, may be considered under careful professional guidance to help restore hormonal balance and support overall Healthspan.
Additional Sources
1. Bain J. (2007). The many faces of testosterone. Clinical interventions in aging, 2(4), 567–576. https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s1417
2. Tan, R. S., & Pu, S. J. (2003). A pilot study on the effects of testosterone in hypogonadal aging male patients with Alzheimer's disease. The aging male : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male, 6(1), 13–17.
3. Moffat, S. D., Zonderman, A. B., Metter, E. J., Blackman, M. R., Harman, S. M., & Resnick, S. M. (2002). Longitudinal assessment of serum free testosterone concentration predicts memory performance and cognitive status in elderly men. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 87(11), 5001–5007. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2002-020419
4. Ashok, S., & Sigman, M. (2007). Bioavailable testosterone should be used for the determination of androgen levels in infertile men. The Journal of urology, 177(4), 1443–1591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2006.11.088
5. Morgentaler, A., Zitzmann, M., Traish, A. M., Fox, A. W., Jones, T. H., Maggi, M., Arver, S., Aversa, A., Chan, J. C., Dobs, A. S., Hackett, G. I., Hellstrom, W. J., Lim, P., Lunenfeld, B., Mskhalaya, G., Schulman, C. C., & Torres, L. O. (2016). Fundamental Concepts Regarding Testosterone Deficiency and Treatment: International Expert Consensus Resolutions. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 91(7), 881–896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.04.007
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