When your energy fades, your drive drops, or your body feels different than it used to, it\u2019s a sign that it\u2019s time to pause and dig into what may be causing the concern. For an increasing number of men, the source of these kinds of changes is often a result of hormonal issues.<\/p>\n
Part of the issue is lifestyle factors, according to Rahul Iyengar, MD, medical director for MIORA at Life Time<\/a> in Franklin, Tenn. \u201cWe\u2019re more sedentary than ever, not following healthy eating habits, more chronically stressed, and sleeping less, and all of these things directly affect hormonal health,\u201d he says. \u201cBut there\u2019s also a growing cultural awareness: Men are talking about these issues more openly now, which is a good thing. The downside is that \u201clow T\u201d [low testosterone] has become almost a catchphrase, and it\u2019s leading a lot of men to jump to conclusions before they\u2019ve looked at the basics.\u201d<\/p>\n The conversation around testosterone and male hormone health<\/a> is growing louder every day. Men in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond are noticing shifts in their well-being. They might feel fatigued. They may experience low libido. They could be seeing decreased muscle mass. Naturally, they look for answers, and although it\u2019s tempting to search for a quick fix, if you\u2019re experiencing these issues, there\u2019s likely a deeper reason behind it that needs to be addressed more comprehensively.<\/p>\n \u201cI see a lot of men who think they\u2019re simply experiencing issues with their testosterone or sex hormones<\/a>, which they might be, but there\u2019s usually more behind it,\u201d Iyengar explains. \u201cFor example, let\u2019s say we see that you have low levels of testosterone. If you have other things going on, like stress or overtraining, your cortisol levels may be high. When that happens, your body can deprioritize reproduction, which can lead to lower testosterone because your body is just trying to survive rather than reproduce. But the solve for this isn\u2019t as simple as only addressing your testosterone levels.\u201d<\/p>\n We asked Iyengar to further explain testosterone and the other key sex hormones involved in men\u2019s health, as well as the issues men may experience if they are unbalanced. He also provides some solutions.<\/p>\n Testosterone<\/a> is the primary androgen, meaning it\u2019s responsible for what we typically associate with male development and function.<\/p>\n \u201cTestosterone plays a role in everything from muscle growth and bone density to red blood cell production, fat distribution, mood, and sex drive,\u201d says Iyengar. \u201cIt\u2019s also deeply tied to energy and cognitive function in ways that often get overlooked.\u201d<\/p>\n Testosterone is a primary focus in men\u2019s hormone health as it\u2019s the hormone that tends to decline most noticeably with age and lifestyle stress. \u201cMen typically peak in testosterone production in their late teens and early 20s, and levels gradually decline from there, about 1 to 2 percent per year after age 30,\u201d Iyengar says. \u201cMore recently, we\u2019re seeing that decline accelerate in a lot of men \u2014 and it\u2019s happening earlier. When you layer in poor sleep, chronic stress, excess body fat<\/a>, and sedentary behavior, you get a compounding effect that can push someone into a symptomatic range well before they expected to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n Although testosterone is often the focus, there are three other important hormones to consider when addressing men\u2019s health: estrogen, DHT, and DHEA.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t look at testosterone in isolation,\u201d says Iyengar. \u201cMost people think of estrogen as a female hormone, but men produce it too, and the right amount matters. Testosterone actually converts to estrogen through a process called aromatization. Small amounts of estrogen are important for men for bone health, libido, and cognitive function. Higher estrogen levels \u2014 in relation to testosterone \u2014 can lead to weight gain around the midsection, mood changes, and reduced libido.\u201d<\/p>\n DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a more potent derivative of testosterone, converted by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. \u201cDHT is important for sex drive<\/a>, prostate function, and hair follicle activity, which is why it comes up a lot in hair loss conversations,\u201d Iyengar explains. \u201cElevated DHT can contribute to prostate issues and accelerated hair loss<\/a>, but it\u2019s also essential to normal male function. It\u2019s not something we want to blindly suppress without understanding the bigger picture.\u201d<\/p>\n DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is produced by the adrenal glands and acts as a precursor hormone, meaning the body uses it to manufacture both testosterone and estrogen. \u201cDHEA levels peak in your mid-20s and steadily decline with age. When DHEA is low, it\u2019s often a signal that the adrenals are under stress,\u201d says Iyengar. \u201cIt\u2019s one of the markers we look at to understand the full hormonal picture rather than just chasing a single number.\u201d<\/p>\n While many issues can be related to hormones for men, Iyengar most often sees patients who are seeking solutions for low energy, low libido, and decreased muscle mass. \u201cThese are the three biggest signs where I see men in their 20s or 30s asking about hormones and testosterone,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Low energy:<\/strong> \u201cTestosterone has a direct relationship with mitochondrial function and red blood cell production,\u201d says Iyengar. \u201cBoth of these are central to how energized you feel day to day. When testosterone drops, you may notice that your energy doesn\u2019t come back even after a full night of sleep. Cortisol, your primary stress hormone, can interfere with this too. When cortisol is chronically elevated<\/a>, it blunts testosterone production and keeps your body in a survival state. So low energy tied to hormones is often not a single-variable problem, which is why we look at the full picture before drawing conclusions.\u201d<\/p>\n Low libido:<\/strong> \u201cTestosterone is one of the primary drivers of sex drive in men, so it makes intuitive sense that lower levels can reduce libido<\/a>,\u201d Iyengar says. \u201cBut estrogen balance plays a role, too. If testosterone is converted to estrogen at a higher rate, that can further dampen sex drive. Low thyroid function, elevated prolactin, and chronic psychological stress can all suppress libido independently of testosterone. This is why we look at the full hormonal panel rather than just total testosterone before making any recommendations.\u201d<\/p>\n Decreased muscle mass:<\/strong> \u201cTestosterone is anabolic, meaning it promotes protein synthesis and muscle growth,\u201d says Iyengar. \u201cWhen levels are suboptimal, building and maintaining muscle becomes significantly harder, even with the right training and nutrition in place. This is one of the more objective signs we track because it\u2019s measurable. If someone is training consistently, eating enough protein, and still losing muscle or can\u2019t seem to build any, hormones are absolutely on the differential list.\u201d<\/p>\n Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) involves supplementing the body with exogenous, or externally produced, testosterone to replace what the body is no longer producing at adequate levels.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most common delivery method of TRT is injection,\u201d says Iyengar. \u201cInjections are usually given weekly or twice weekly, with doses commonly ranging from 100 to 200 mg per week, though this varies depending on the individual\u2019s labs and symptom profile.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are also topical options, like gels and creams applied daily, though absorption can be inconsistent and there\u2019s a risk of transferring the hormone to others through skin contact.\u201d<\/p>\n Another option is pellets, which are implanted under the skin every three to six months. Iyengar notes that each delivery method has tradeoffs, and the right one depends on an individual\u2019s lifestyle, preferences, and how their body responds.<\/p>\n When men get their testosterone levels checked, there\u2019s often a sense that they need to be a certain number \u2014 and if they\u2019re not, to jump right to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for solutions.<\/p>\n \u201cThe standard lab reference range for total testosterone is roughly 300 to 1,000 ng\/dL, and a lot of men come in fixated on hitting 1,000, or whatever number they read about online,\u201d says Iyengar. \u201cThere\u2019s a misconception about chasing the right level of testosterone versus monitoring your symptoms. You might have a test say a certain number, but if you\u2019re not experiencing symptoms, there\u2019s no need to make the leap into TRT. There are factors like cortisol, inflammation, and lifestyle habits that we can look at and address first.\u201d<\/p>\n Iyengar stresses that the number matters less than how you feel and function. \u201cSomeone at 450 ng\/dL who\u2019s sleeping well, training hard, and feeling sharp doesn\u2019t need an intervention. Someone at 600 ng\/dL who\u2019s exhausted, losing muscle, and has no sex drive might. Context is everything.\u201d<\/p>\n A distinction Iyengar likes to make is the difference between \u201cboosting\u201d testosterone<\/a> and replacing it. You\u2019re not increasing your testosterone levels; you\u2019re completely replacing your body\u2019s natural production of it.<\/p>\n \u201cAs soon as you start doing any kind of testosterone replacement therapies like TRT, you\u2019re not \u2018boosting\u2019 testosterone: You\u2019re fully replacing your body\u2019s natural production of testosterone with an injection,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ve talked with many people who have no idea or understanding that once you start to inject your body with testosterone, it stops making it on its own. So, you\u2019re not boosting anything, you\u2019re shutting it down naturally so that you are dependent on this injection.\u201d<\/p>\n And if you stop making testosterone altogether, you may experience fertility issues. \u201cBecause of this, I don\u2019t generally recommend TRT for men in their 20s and 30s,\u201d Iyengar says. \u201cInstead, let\u2019s take a look at lifestyle factors or other avenues for solutions to the symptoms you may be experiencing.\u201d<\/p>\n Men in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who experience symptoms like low energy and low sex drive tend to be better candidates for TRT. \u201cThey may benefit from completely replacing natural testosterone and instead keeping it at the right levels through TRT. But even then, it\u2019s worth understanding what you\u2019re committing to. Even if fertility isn\u2019t a concern, shutting down your natural production isn\u2019t without consequence. Bone density, cardiovascular health, and metabolic function all benefit from some degree of your body\u2019s own hormonal signaling.\u201d<\/p>\n Stopping TRT also comes with some potential challenges. \u201cIt can take months for natural production to resume, and many cases it may never recover,\u201d says Iyengar. \u201cThis doesn\u2019t mean TRT isn\u2019t appropriate. But it does mean you\u2019re making a long-term commitment, and that needs to be part of the conversation before you start.\u201d<\/p>\n For men who want to address low testosterone without shutting down their natural production, there are alternatives to consider before jumping to TRT.<\/p>\n \u201cClomiphene citrate, commonly known as Clomid, is a medication that works by stimulating the brain to signal the testes to produce more testosterone on their own,\u201d Iyengar adds. \u201cHCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, works similarly by mimicking the hormone that tells the testes to produce testosterone, which means you get the benefit of increased levels without the shutdown effect.\u201d<\/p>\n While these won\u2019t be right for everyone, Iyengar stresses the importance of talking about them before committing to TRT, especially if you\u2019re younger or have concerns about fertility or being on them long-term.<\/p>\n There are certain dependency risks once you\u2019re on TRT, which is why Iyengar stresses education with his patients: They need to know what they\u2019re getting into.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really forward around this topic to make sure men fully understand what they\u2019re signing up for,\u201d he says. \u201cOnce you start taking the shot, you\u2019re completely dependent on it as it\u2019s replacing your body\u2019s ability to naturally produce testosterone. A lot of guys are OK with this, but some might not be, and I strongly encourage being aware of exactly what you\u2019re committing to.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the more common side effects of TRT is testicular atrophy, because the body stops producing testosterone naturally, the testes can shrink over time.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is why TRT use can lead to infertility,\u201d says Iyengar. \u201cElevated red blood cell count is another important side effect, which increases blood viscosity and can raise cardiovascular risk if not monitored closely. Acne, fluid retention, and worsening of sleep apnea can also occur. Mood changes like irritability or mood swings can happen, particularly if estrogen levels rise alongside testosterone. This is why regular bloodwork isn\u2019t optional when you\u2019re on TRT to monitor how it is working within the many systems of your body.\u201d<\/p>\n For those considering TRT, Iyengar encourages first starting with comprehensive bloodwork and an audit of their healthy-living habits.<\/p>\n \u201cI have men coming in with lower energy or complaints around muscle mass, but it\u2019s often just lifestyle habits catching up to them versus a need for an intervention like TRT,\u201d he explains. \u201cI highly encourage first taking a look at your overall health. We can evaluate your bloodwork and factors like your exercise routine, your nutrition, and your stress levels, and then, if an increase in testosterone could be beneficial, we can then see how we can boost it naturally<\/a> and safely through lifestyle choices.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have a solid foundation of lifestyle habits in place, and you\u2019re still struggling with testosterone-related concerns, that\u2019s when we could then consider TRT,\u201d says Iyengar. \u201cBut know there\u2019s no magical solution. Even if you opt for TRT, you don\u2019t just automatically feel better. You still need to put in the work of taking care of your body.\u201d<\/p>\n The post Understanding the Role of Testosterone in Men\u2019s Health<\/a> appeared first on Experience Life<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When your energy fades, your drive drops, or your body feels different than it used to, it\u2019s a sign that it\u2019s time to pause and dig into what may be causing the concern. For an increasing number of men, the source of these kinds of changes is often a result of hormonal issues. Part of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46403,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-life"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-10-25 13:08:05","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46402"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46402\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}A Closer Look at Testosterone<\/h2>\n
A Closer Look at Estrogen, DHT, and DHEA<\/h2>\n
Common Symptoms of Male Hormone Issues<\/h2>\n
What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy?<\/h2>\n
Misconceptions Around Testosterone<\/h2>\n
Misconception No. 1: There\u2019s One \u201cRight\u201d Testosterone Number<\/h3>\n
Misconception No. 2: \u201cBoosting\u201d and Replacing Testosterone Are the Same Thing<\/h3>\n
Misconception No. 3: TRT Has No Dependency Risks or Side Effects<\/h3>\n
Lifestyle as the Foundation for Male Hormonal Health<\/h2>\n