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testosterone productionTestosterone is important as it maintains our physical strength, our focus, and our mood, but do you an idea about testosterone production? How is it made?

It’s not just an academic question. An understanding of how our bodies produce testosterone leads to an understanding of what might cause our bodies to stop producing enough of the stuff­, and understanding a problem is the first step to solving it.

 

Testosterone Production 101 – The Three Types of Testosterone

In essence, testosterone is a steroid hormone. The changes and benefits it triggers in the body are detailed right over here. The average male human creates 7mg of testosterone per day, but there are actually three di­fferent types. Not all of it is usable by the body, or at least not to produce the eff­ects you’re probably looking for.

testosterone productionFree Testosterone

Free testosterone is so named because it has no attached proteins. It’s free to float through the bloodstream, and isn’t bonded to any other molecules. Free testosterone is the type of testosterone that has all those great physical and mental benefits, because it’s able to roam our bodies and activate receptors in various cells. Even though this is the kind of testosterone we think of as the most beneficial, it has the smallest concentration of the three. It only comprises about 2%-3% of our total testosterone levels. Everything we do for testosterone production is really meant to increase free testosterone, but the best way to do that is to raise our overall levels.

testosterone-production-3SHBG-Bound Testosterone

This type of the male hormone makes up about 40%-50% of our total testosterone levels. It’s bound to SHBG (sex hormone-binding-globulin), which is a protein produced in the liver. It regulates the amount of free testosterone in the body. SHBG-Bound Testosterone is what’s known as “biologically inactive”, meaning it doesn’t actually have any other e­ffect in our bodies beyond helping regulate our total levels. This type of T doesn’t have harmful eff­ects either, but it is why a man might test with adequately high testosterone levels but still experience the symptoms of testosterone deficiency.

testosterone-production-4Albumin-Bound Testosterone

This makes up the remainder of our total testosterone. It’s bound to the protein albumin, which is also produced in the liver. Its function is to stabilize fluid volumes between our cells. Albumin-Bound Testosterone is also biologically inactive, but unlike the SHBG-Bound variety, its bond can be broken. That converts it back into free testosterone, making the stuff­ sort of testosterone reserve supply.

About 95% of our testosterone is produced in the testicles. The rest is made in our adrenal glands, which is why the hormone is present in women as well. For men, though, it’s almost entirely the testicles.

It’s a pretty complex process that results in the male hormone. Learn about testosterone production in this basic rundown:

testosterone-production-5The hypothalamus (part of the brain) secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone. This stuff­ loops around to the back of the brain and hits the pituitary gland.

 

 

 

 

testosterone-production-6The pituitary gland receives the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and responds by producing two more hormones. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Both of these natural chemicals enter the bloodstream and make their way to the testicles.

 

 

 

testosterone-production-7Once they’ve arrived down there, the FSH and LH do two di­fferent things. FSH initiates sperm production (important!), while LH kicks off­ testosterone production (just as important!)

 

 

 

 

testosterone productionThe actual cells that create the testosterone are called Leydig cells. They work by converting cholesterol into testosterone. That cholesterol literally comes from the bloodstream, which is why a healthy level of T can actually improve your heart health. It’s also the reason eating eggs is so beneficial to testosterone levels!

 

 

 

testosterone productionDuring testosterone production, it’s released by the testicles into the bloodstream. Most of the stuff­ attaches to SHBG and albumin, nullifying its e­ffects. It’s the small amount that remains free that aids our strength, focus, sexual drive, and all the other great benefits of testosterone.

 

 

Here’s a handy chart of the HPA-axis:

testosterone production

Image source: Wikipedia

In essence, testosterone is a steroid hormone. The changes and benefits it triggers in the body are detailed right over here. The average male human creates 7mg of testosterone per day, but there are actually three different types. Not all of it is usable by the body, or at least not to produce the effects you’re probably looking for.

Hormone Therapeutics aims to help people looking to improve and optimize their health through natural means or through the guidance of our physicians.

Don’t miss out our free weekly tips and news on Low T, hormone balancing, healthy living, nutrition and a lot more.

 Want more? 

naturally-increase-your-testosterone-levels-ebook

Sign up today and Get our ebook, ‘Naturally Increase Your Testosterone Levels’ absolutely FREE.

 

Here’s What You Should Know about Testosterone Production

Saleamp Design November 4th, 2016

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testosterone levelsHow Do I know my Testosterone levels?

With all this information on testosterone and the benefits of maintaining proper testosterone levels, you might be wondering about the specific testosterone levels you have seen. What is a normal testosterone levels? How much testosterone are you supposed to have, and how do you find out your current level? Well, it’s a tricky question. Part of the problem is that despite years of eff­orts and calls for action, hormone testing is still not universally standardized.

There has been positive movement towards a standard set of testing, but we’re not there yet. The other issue is that many doctors don’t agree on just how much testosterone a person, male or female, should have in their bodies. There is a rough “normal range”, but some doctors seem to play a little fast and loose with the low and high ends of the range.

Many doctors and labs don’t take into account factors like age and physical condition, and it means that you might have to do some research on your own or see a specialist to really understand your testosterone situation.

testosterone levelsFlaws in the Accepted Blood Testing System

LabCorp uses a Total Testosterone range of 348 – 1197 ng/dl (nanograms per deciliter). According to this reference range, one man with a 355 ng/dl would be considered normal while his neighbor at 345 ng/dl would be considered to have low testosterone and if they were lucky their health insurance would cover Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Also, a neighbour across the street might have a Total Testosterone level of 1150 ng/dl and he would also be considered normal like the man with a 355 ng/dl. Only a few years ago LabCorp and the insurance companies considered 249 the lower end of normal rather than 348.

The biggest problem comes when age is not factored into the analysis and 355 ng/dl is considered normal whether the patient was 20, 40, 60 or 80?! It also does not matter if the patient was obese, super fit, thin, had a pituitary gland issue or exhibited any of the symptoms of low testosterone?!?!

testosterone levelsThis is why having an excellent medical team to assess your blood tests, physical and medical history is critical. We rarely know what our baseline was from age 19 and everyone has their own sweet spot across Testosterone and all of the other hormones.

The fact that reference ranges don’t break patients down by age or health status explains why a 30-year-old man can go to his doctor with all of the symptoms of low T, only to be told that his T levels are fine because they’re within the “normal” range. If you’re 30 (or even 50), but have the same testosterone level as an 80-year-old, diabetic man, your doc may say you’re okay, but you’re still not going to feel good. Plain and simple.

Contact Hormone Therapeutics to get blood tested and a Physician evaluation of your results and treatment options!

Reference Ranges for Testosterone Levels in Men

So, in the interests helping you with of self-directed research, here are average testosterone levels for men up to age 54. The figure to pay attention to here is “Mean Total Test”, which is the average level for men of that age. This data is taken from a 1996 study involving hundreds of participants.

If you have your testosterone levels tested and your levels are approximately at the mean level for your age, then you probably don’t su­ffer from low testosterone.

testosterone levels

Optimal Testosterone Levels

testosterone levelsOf course, just because you’re not suffering from medically low testosterone doesn’t mean you wouldn’t benefit from more. Those numbers are the average levels only, not the best levels. Research hasn’t determined a hard and fast rule for the optimal levels of testosterone. Some men are fine at the low end of the normal range, while others need to be at the very top to feel their best. What’s normal and what’s optimal?

Anecdotal evidence shows that many men start to feel the effects of low testosterone at the 500 ng/dl mark. Although this shouldn’t be taken as gospel, it does seem that staying above 500 ng/dl is a good idea for most men.

Overly high levels of testosterone typically aren’t something people need to worry about. Although there are detrimental effects to having too much testosterone, such as thick blood and sleep apnea, excess testosterone isn’t a common condition. To be sure, it’s highly unlikely that anyone would reach those levels by following the natural and food-based advice listed here.

How to Test Your Testosterone Levels

Contact Hormone Therapeutics for a Free Low T evaluation and if you exhibits symptoms we will set up your comprehensive blood tests. Contact us right now!

Hormone Therapeutics aims to help people looking to improve and optimize their health through natural means or through the guidance of our physicians.

Don’t miss out our free weekly tips and news on Low T, hormone balancing, healthy living, nutrition and a lot more.

 Want more? 

naturally-increase-your-testosterone-levels-ebook

Sign up today and Get our ebook, ‘Naturally Increase Your Testosterone Levels’ absolutely FREE.

Here’s What You Should Know More about Testosterone Levels

Saleamp Design November 1st, 2016

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testosterone replacement therapyIf you’ve been reading Hormone Therapeutics blogs and testosterone replacement therapy eBooks, you’re probably already completely aware of just how important testosterone is to male health. It boosts mental energy, physical energy, alertness, strength, sexual vitality, and just generally helps us live our lives better.

You might be wondering just how exactly it provides all these benefits, though. What’s the actual mechanism? What, precisely, does testosterone do?

The fact is, testosterone does all sorts of beneficial things in just about every part of the body. It’s a key hormone to maintaining our body systems, especially in men. Women actually also have small amounts of testosterone, but their bodies rely more on estrogen.

The importance of living with a fully functioning endocrine system has only really mattered this much in the past century as people are living longer due to improved medicine, sanitation and many other factors. 100 years ago the average life span was 48 and today it is 78 years. Many areas of the body do not hold up over time as well as others and require assistance like eye glasses, hearing aids or Lipitor. The same is true with balancing and optimizing the endocrine system through testosterone replacement therapy.

We now understand that a properly balanced endocrine system leads not just to the vanity aspects of it’s benefits but a healthier, happier, more eff­ective and longer life.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy – How It Works

So to satisfy your scientific curiosity, here’s a high-level rundown of what testosterone does in men, across each main part of the body.

testosterone-replacement-therapy-2The Endocrine System

The endocrine system is where our bodies produce hormones. It’s a series of glands distributed around various parts of the body that, as a whole, keep our hormone levels at their proper levels.

Testosterone is a hormone, so it’s also produced by the endocrine system. The process starts in the brain at the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus tells the pituitary gland what the body’s overall level of testosterone should be. The pituitary gland then directs the testicles and, to a lesser extent, the adrenal glands to actually produce the stuff­. This is called the HPA axis.

This is where Testosterone levels can be thrown off­. Typically, hypogonadism is to blame for low testosterone levels, and can cause a multitude of health problems. Although it’s normal for testosterone production to peak at 19 and drop gradually over time, about 1% per year after age 30, for some people it can fall too fast. In those cases, testosterone replacement therapy is indicated.

testosterone-replacement-therapy-3The Reproductive System

Testosterone production starts in male children surprisingly soon after conception. A seven-week old fetus has already developed enough to begin producing the hormone, as well as sperm.

If testosterone levels are too low later in life, a man can suff­er from erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, and even prostate problems. Its bad news, and it’s why testosterone replacement therapy is so important under the right circumstances for men in need of hormone balancing and testosterone supplementation.

testosterone replacement therapyPuberty

Testosterone is responsible for male puberty, as well. It’s the reason we start growing hair in new places, our voice (and other things) drop, and our muscles start to develop.

When boys start to notice girls, that’s the work of testosterone, and it carries through later in life. Low testosterone levels can impact our libido, and it’s actually a two-way street. Periods of minimal sexual activity can actually cause testosterone levels to drop in response, which can cause erectile dysfunction and lowered libido. It’s a snake that eats itself, and it’s best avoided.

testosterone replacement therapyThe Central Nervous System

The central nervous system is how our body communicates with itself. It’s a network that lets glands and organs communicate to trigger production of hormones, among other things. Hormones, including testosterone, have all kinds of e­ffects on the body and mind. Testosterone drives our competitiveness and self-esteem.

That means lowered testosterone levels can make us lose our motivation and spark. It can literally make us sad. Like sexual desire, it’s a two-way street. Engaging in competitive activities like sports can spike our testosterone, which in turn makes us more motivated to strive for success. Lowered testosterone can make us lose our motivation, and sitting around can further lower the testosterone levels.

testosterone replacement therapySkin and Hair

It starts at puberty. Hair starts growing in new and disturbing places. Pretty soon, we’ve got manly, hairy chests and armpits, as well as hair on points further south.

Testosterone is responsible for that, and lowered testosterone levels can have the opposite e­ffect. Our body hair might actually start to fall out if testosterone gets too low!

The other thing about puberty, acne, is also an eff­ect of testosterone. For that reason, you might need to stock up on some acne cream or gel when you’re undergoing testosterone replacement therapy. It’s a small price to pay for the benefits you’ll receive.

testosterone replacement therapyMuscles, Fat, and the Skeleton

Testosterone is a major factor in the development of our muscles, both size and strength. Testosterone levels work to improve our muscles in a few di­fferent ways.

  • It stimulates neurotransmitter production, which in turn tell our muscles to grow.
  • It tells the nuclear receptors in our DNA to synthesize protection.
  • It increases growth hormone levels

What that means overall is that testosterone makes strength training more e­ffective. If you’re been hitting the weights and not seeing much gain, low testosterone levels might be to blame. The male hormone is also important to our skeleton. It increases bone density, and it’s what makes our bone marrow manufacture red blood cells. If you have low testosterone production, you might actually become more brittle and prone to fractures.

Finally, testosterone is important to burning fat, and low levels can be responsible for a higher body fat percentage.

Overall, testosterone levels are vital to your physical health.

testosterone replacement therapyThe Circulatory System

Finally, testosterone is crucial to the health of our blood. As mentioned, it improves our red blood cell count, which is a positive because it carries more oxygen throughout our body. However, a physician needs to monitor and manage red blood cell and hematocrit levels to ensure blood does not get too viscous.

Some studies have shown that testosterone replacement therapy can also make our hearts healthier. These studies suggest that the hormone is eff­ective in reducing cholesterol and blood pressure. It can even help destroy harmful clots.

Although testosterone replacement therapy shouldn’t be undergone lightly and without the advice of a medical professional, its benefits are becoming more and more apparent. If any of the symptoms and problems mentioned in this article ring a bell for you, get in touch with a doctor today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hormone Therapeutics aims to help people looking to improve and optimize their health through natural means or through the guidance of our physicians.

Don’t miss out our free weekly tips and news on Low T, hormone balancing, healthy living, nutrition and a lot more.

 Want more? 

naturally-increase-your-testosterone-levels-ebook

Sign up today and Get our ebook, ‘Naturally Increase Your Testosterone Levels’ absolutely FREE.

Here’s What You Should Know on How Testosterone Replacement Therapy Works

Saleamp Design October 18th, 2016

Posted In: Testosterone Therapy

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