Hormones are chemical messengers—their job is to coordinate various activities throughout the body. Take growth hormone, for instance, it’s what stimulates growth in children and adolescents.
Other examples include estrogen and testosterone, the latter of which is more predominant in men. Certain things, however, can affect the levels of testosterone in the body.
If it becomes too high, it can cause various problems.
Wondering whether or not your hormone levels are “normal”? If so, you’re on the right page. We’ll be going over a few high testosterone signs below.
Keep reading to find out what they are!
What Is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a sex hormone that’s primarily produced in the testicles in men (small amounts are also produced by the adrenal glands). An androgen, it plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues (e.g. prostate, testes).
Not only that, but it helps to regulate sex drive, muscle mass, bone mass, and strength. In addition to that, it’s involved with the production of sperm and red blood cells.
Normal Testosterone Levels For Men
Normal testosterone levels depend on various factors. For one thing, testosterone production generally increases during puberty. From there, it gradually decreases with age.
In addition to that, an individual’s thyroid function can also affect their testosterone level. With that said, a testosterone level of at least 300ng/dL is typical for men, according to the AUA.
Determining Your Testosterone Levels
The easiest way to determine your T levels is to get a blood test. Generally speaking, they’re done in the morning as testosterone levels gradually decrease during the day.
The results will indicate how much free testosterone is circulating in your bloodstream. It will also tell your doctors the total amount of testosterone in your body.
7 High Testosterone Signs in Men
The pituitary gland and hypothalamus regulate testosterone production. Certain things, however, can affect its regulation.
When that happens, your testosterone levels may increase. Here are some symptoms of high testosterone in men:
1. Acne
Elevated testosterone levels can contribute to acne. Why? It increases your body’s production of sebum, which can lead to the development of pimples.
More specifically, the sebum will clog your hair follicles, along with dead skin cells, and other particles. From there, there’s a high chance that it’ll become inflamed and turn into acne.
This is one of the reasons why many teens experience acne breakouts during puberty—it’s due to an increase in testosterone levels.
2. Changes in Blood Pressure
High testosterone levels can cause changes in your blood pressure. For example, it can cause it to go down—this can lead to dizziness, headache, and fatigue.
The opposite is also true. That is, it can cause your blood pressure to go up. This would put you at a higher risk for heart problems such as heart attack and stroke.
3. Body Hair
Excessive hair growth is often caused by increased testosterone levels. For example, an individual may grow more hair in the face, chest, chin, or back areas. More often than not, the hair will also be darker and coarser.
For some people, however, it can lead to baldness. At the end of the day, it depends on other factors such as genetics.
4. Mood Swings
Testosterone plays a role in maintaining a normal mood. Given that, it’s not surprising to know that having too much can cause mood swings.
For instance, it can cause anxiety, depression, or irritability. What’s more, is that low testosterone levels can result in similar symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to maintain healthy T levels.
5. Decreased Sperm Count
High levels of testosterone can affect the size of your testicles. Given that that’s where sperm is produced, it can also cause a decrease in sperm count.
The more testosterone you have in your body, the less sperm will be produced. This is due to a decrease in the follicle-stimulating hormone, which is needed for the production of sperm.
In fact, the production of sperm may be halted altogether in some cases!
6. Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which an individual stops breathing repeatedly during sleep. Left untreated, it can potentially be fatal.
The higher your testosterone levels, the greater your chance of experiencing sleep apnea. Common signs include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, morning headache, irritability, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
7. Breast Enlargement
High testosterone levels can cause swelling of the breast tissue in men—aka gynecomastia.
It can affect anyone but it’s the most common in those between the ages of 50 and 69. Depending on the individual, it can affect one or both breasts.
It’s worth mentioning that low levels of testosterone can also cause gynecomastia. If that’s the case, testosterone replacement therapy can be used to treat the condition.
Treating High Testosterone Levels
There are various things that you can do to lower your testosterone levels. For example, it helps to exercise regularly. Eating a nutrient-rich diet also helps.
In addition to that, there are prescription medications that you can take that’ll lower T levels.
Understanding Testosterone
And there we have it—seven high testosterone signs! As you can see, it can cause a number of symptoms, some of which are more obvious than others. When in doubt, visit your doctor!
Curious to know what your testosterone levels are? We can help! Feel free to contact us for a consultation. From there, we can determine whether or not treatment will be necessary.
