Testosterone Levels By Age in Men: Chart & How to Test

“What I’ve noticed in my patients,” says McDevitt, “is that anyone in the 400s will start to exhibit symptoms of low T.” People often ask whether 500 ng/dL is a good level of total testosterone. Testosterone levels peak in the earlier phases of life as a teen and young adult (6). Testosterone levels in men can vary widely, though they generally decline in men after the age of 35 says McDevitt. The average male who reaches 70 years old will have testosterone shop production that’s 30 percent below his peak (5).
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) can be life-changing for individuals dealing with low testosterone levels—whether due to aging, hormonal imbalance, or a medical condition. While a small, annual decline in testosterone levels is a normal part of the aging process, you can take action to optimize your levels and avoid symptoms of low testosterone. In addition to these, having too-high testosterone levels put you at risk for health conditions including cancer, cardiac complications, and irritability (9). While levels below 300 ng/dL are considered clinically low total buy testosterone supplements, McDevitt says that symptoms can appear even in a healthy range.
However, notes.bmcs.one these symptoms can also be caused by other health issues. Low testosterone symptoms can include tiredness, depression, reduced sex drive, low muscle mass, and weight gain. The doctor may check for signs of these problems to see if hormone therapy is safe. This includes past or current health conditions, family medical history, and current medications or supplements. The doctor needs to understand a man’s overall health and medical history.
Others view it as a way to avoid testicular suppression or as a tool to “control estrogen” during therapy. Small clinical studies in older men have shown modest increases in serum testosterone on anastrozole, which is why message boards tout it. It blocks the conversion of androgens to estrogens and is FDA-approved to treat hormone-receptor–positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Here’s why leaning on anastrozole as a substitute for testosterone is risky at best and dangerous at worst. But online forums and YouTube “health experts” are full of “workarounds” that promise similar benefits without using testosterone.
It’s designed for specific medical uses in women, not as a testosterone replacement therapy for men. Anastrozole is a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor that blocks the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. For men with bona fide hypogonadism, the evidence-based therapy is testosterone with appropriate evaluation and monitoring—not anastrozole as a stand-alone substitute. If a man on testosterone truly develops symptomatic high estradiol, that’s a specific complication to address with a clinician—not a reason to replace testosterone therapy with an AI. A study from The New England Journal of Medicine, which disentangles the effects of androgen versus estrogen in men, shows that estrogen deficiency primarily drives increases in body fat. On paper, suppressing aromatase can raise measured testosterone by slowing its conversion to estradiol. This can cause elevated estrogen levels in some men.
Long-term use of Anastrozole, especially at high doses, can reduce bone density and raise the risk of fractures. Adjusting the dose or taking breaks from the medication can reduce discomfort. Still, lowering estrogen too much can also lead to problems. Tracking mood and talking to a doctor about emotional changes is important during treatment. Thick blood flows more slowly and may raise the risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. While red blood cells help carry oxygen, too many can make the blood thicker. Good skincare and adjusting the TRT dose can help manage this side effect.