Testosterone Level

It is a natural occurrence for testosterone levels to decrease with age. Although it is a normal cycle, a decrease in testosterone may be cause for alarm, and should be taken seriously. It may be a sign of hypothalamus or pituitary disease, or other genetic diseases such as Klinefeller's, Kallman's, or Prader-Willi syndrome. It could also be an indicator that some damage to the testes or testicular failure has occurred.

An increase in testosterone levels should not be ignored. This may be a sign of a testicular or adrenal tumor. A testicular tumor is an abnormality that produces an ungoverned growth of cells that form a tumor on one or both testes.

It is vital to have an understanding of how testosterone levels can affect the overall health of the male body. Testing provides the necessary information to keep these levels normal and is commonly done only after abnormal levels are perceived. During the test, blood is drawn from a vein, normally from inside the elbow or at the back of the hand.

Although testosterone is primarily recognized as a male hormone, this hormone is also produced through the female ovaries. Acknowledging the importance of testosterone levels in the male body is crucial to the health of that body, and it is equally important to recognize this in relation to the female body. Both high and low levels of testosterone in the female body can point to a number of health risks. In addition, it is often important to regulate testosterone levels in women who are undergoing hormone therapy for menopause.