There are a number of reasons why a man’s testosterone levels may be too low or too high.
Testosterone production increases significantly during puberty, but will begin to drop later in life.
Men at mid-life are just as susceptible to an age-related drop in hormone production as their female counterparts. Andropause, the so-called “male menopause,” signifies the retreat of the key male hormone testosterone. As a man ages, his body naturally makes less testosterone. In fact, by the time a man is in his mid-forties, testosterone levels can be down by 40%.
Lifestyle factors such as excessive stress, weight gain and lack of exercise can lower levels even further – impacting stamina, drive and virility. Men tend to notice a subtle downward shift in strength and energy first, followed by lack of enthusiasm for life’s challenges like work and competition. A man may also lose interest in sexual activity altogether.