Higher levels of testosterone can have significant health benefits for some middle-aged men, according to a Penn State study. In addition, they are more likely to rate their health as excellent or good rather than fair or poor.
Studies show self ratings of health correlate highly with physicians' assessments.
Some, but not all, men with higher levels of testosterone are more likely to engage in behavior that cancels out the beneficial effects of testosterone. Those with higher levels of testosterone are more inclined to smoke, drink alcohol excessively and indulge in risky behavior that leads to injury. The biggest detriment to health by far is the tendency for high testosterone men to smoke. The researchers studied testosterone and health in a sample of 4,393 men between the ages of 32 and 44 who had served in the military between 1965 and 1971. The men were interviewed and medically examined.