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Health

High Testosterone in Men: How Much is Too Much?

While not as common as low T, having too much testosterone can be just as problematic.

When it comes to testosterone, most men are worried about not having enough. Makes sense, given low T can deliver a host of symptoms that can wreck your physical, mental, and emotional health. But as any guy who has tried to get his money’s worth on an endless fries deal knows, there’s a fine line between the sweet spot and ‘Houston, we have a problem.’ And so it goes with testosterone. Because high testosterone in men can be as problematic as low T.

Some good news: While low testosterone is becoming increasingly common—research from the American Urological Association (1) suggests that up to 40 percent of adult men and 20 percent of men under the age of 40 are testosterone deficient—high testosterone is relatively rare.“It’s uncommon for men to naturally have too much testosterone,” says urologist Joshua Calvert, M.D.

However, genetics, steroid use, and some medical conditions can lead to high levels of testosterone. An overabundance of T can lead to behavior and mood changes, skin issues, sleep problems, lower sperm count, and more.

Worse, left untreated, high testosterone can raise your cholesterol, upping your risk for high blood pressure and cardiac events like a heart attack or stroke, says Calvert. Here’s what you need to know about high testosterone in men, the signs of high T, and how to treat it.

 

What Are Normal Testosterone Levels for Men?

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone. It regulates your sex drive, your ability to put on muscle, sperm production, and more. Testosterone is primarily produced in the testes, which ramp up production of the hormone as puberty approaches. They keep pumping it out at a decent clip until your mid-30s, when T levels naturally start to decline.

Testosterone is measured in nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) and levels fluctuate with age, says Calvert. T peaks in your late teens and early twenties, with healthy levels between 300 and 1,200 ng/dL.

Around the time you enter your mid-thirties, T levels start to decline at a rate of around one percent per year (2). But increasingly, more men are seeing sharper declines. “If your testosterone level drops to 200 ng/dL or below, and you have symptoms of low testosterone levels, that’s when you’ll be diagnosed with a testosterone deficiency,” says Calvert.

In one study (3) of healthy men between the ages of 40 and 70, researchers observed these testosterone levels.

Testosterone levels of men in their 40’s: 252–916

Testosterone levels of men in their 50’s: 215–878

Testosterone levels of men in their 60’s: 196–859

Testosterone levels of men in their 70’s: 156–819

While eating certain foods and adopting healthy behaviors can help nudge T levels up, most men need medical treatment. Testosterone replacement therapy—a form of hormone optimization where testosterone is supplemented via injections, topical treatments, under the tongue lozenges, or other delivery methods—can get your T levels back in the normal range, says Calvert.

“With TRT, most men start to feel better within a few months,” says Calvert. “Their sex drive is back, they lose weight, build muscle, and have more energy.”

 

Checking your T levels is so easy with Hone’s at-home assessment that you can knock it out before hitting the gym. 

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High Testosterone in Men

If you’ve seen guys at the gym who use anabolic steroids to build muscle mass and amp their performance, you probably have a visual of what high T levels can do. 

High testosterone in men can make it easier to build muscle, but men with high testosterone—which is anything over 1100 ng/DL (4)—can experience unpleasant and even dangerous side effects (5).

Signs of High Testosterone in a Man

  • Low sperm count
  • Heart muscle damage
  • Prostate enlargement
  • Acne
  • Insomnia
  • Liver damage
  • Weight gain / Increased appetite
  • High blood pressure
  • Headaches
  • Sleep problems, including sleep apnea
  • Increased muscle mass
  • Mood swings
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Excessive body hair or hair growth

What Causes High Testosterone in Men?

It’s rare for men to naturally have too much testosterone, says Calvert. When they do, these are the most likely causes:

Anabolic steroid use

Often, abnormally elevated T levels are a result of anabolic steroid use. “Androgenic/Anabolic steroids that guys take to boost their athletic performance and build muscle mass can have between 10 and 30 times the testosterone of a prescribed TRT dose,” says Calvert.

Genetics

Researchers have found that some men are genetically predisposed to high T.

Tumors in the adrenal glands or testes

Tumors in the adrenal glands or testicles can also cause T levels to spike. Adrenal gland tumors that produce sex hormones are rare; you’ve got about a 2 in a million chance of developing one (6), and they aren’t always cancerous. Tumors in the Leydig cells of the testes (where sperm is produced) are also rare, and are usually benign (7).

TRT

Another—albeit temporary—cause of high testosterone: TRT. “When you first start testosterone therapy your doctor will titrate the dose and monitor your T levels closely. In rare cases, T levels can get too high too fast and dose adjustments down are necessary. This is why it is critical to keep in contact with your provider’s office and have frequent lab checks,” says Calvert.

Another way that TRT can excessively elevate your testosterone levels is if you choose topical TRT. If you don’t wash all of the testosterone cream or gel off of your hands after application, you could accidentally transfer more of it onto your skin than prescribed. The simple fix: scrub up with soap and water after you use them.

Some men are genetically predisposed to high T.

Is it Bad to Have High Testosterone?

In addition to the symptoms listed above, the biggest dangers of excess testosterone include:

Infertility

You might assume that since testosterone is needed to make sperm, that move of it would equal more swimmers. But elevated T levels will decrease sperm count—even if they don’t surpass the normal range. “That’s why I don’t prescribe TRT for men who want to have children,” says Calvert. 

TRT raises testosterone levels but it also lowers sperm production by decreasing levels of another hormone, called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which is necessary to produce sperm. For men with low T who want to have children, treatments such as Clomid can reduce symptoms of low T while leaving fertility intact.

Heart disease

According to a 2019 study, men with a genetic predisposition to high testosterone levels have a nearly eightfold increased risk of heart disease and twice the risk of blood clots that can block arteries that lead to the brain and lungs (8).

Treating High Testosterone Levels in Men

If you’re experiencing symptoms of high testosterone in men and a blood test shows that your T levels are too high, dialing them back down depends on why they’re elevated in the first place.

Quit anabolic steroid use

If you’re taking anobolic steroids, stop. If you started to take them because you thought you had low T, talk to your doctor. He or she can monitor your testosterone and get you on the right dose of TRT if they determine that’s the best treatment.

Adjust TRT

If you’re already on TRT, your doctor can adjust your dose and monitor your T until it’s in the normal range.

Treat tumors

If a tumor is causing your T levels to spike, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the tumor. If the tumor is cancerous, your physician can help you determine the best treatment.

The Bottom Line

High testosterone in men isn’t common, but genetics, steroid use, and some medical conditions can elevate T outside the healthy range. High testosterone can lead to physical and mental symptoms, including an increased risk for cancer, heart problems, infertility. If you suspect you might have high testosterone, your doctor can test your T levels and suggest treatment options.

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