He advises everyone to focus on healthy eating (meaning load up on greens, and limit or avoid added sugar, trans fat, and processed food), focus on managing stress, getting enough sleep, and exercise (including muscle-building activities). "An endocrinologist or urologist are the two most common specialties that treat testosterone deficiency — and they'll also be most likely to be aware of the potential complications of testosterone therapy and the need for monitoring," says Turchin. In fact, the FDA has not approved TRT for age-related low testosterone, and research on long-term safety remains mixed. Even though prescriptions for TRT have surged in recent years, it’s not something everyone in so-called "male menopause" needs — or should be on. The truth is, testosterone therapy can be genuinely helpful — but only for the right men. Google searches for "low testosterone" have nearly doubled over the past decade, hitting their highest levels on record in 2025. "A lot of guys become less active, start eating a less healthy diet. Be patient with mood changes and decreased libido, understanding these are symptoms, not character flaws. However, testosterone replacement is not right for everyone. Use them as one tool among many, not as a substitute for how you actually feel or for proper medical evaluation. The most common example is probably prostate cancer. There are times when low testosterone is not such a bad thing. For example, problem with function of pituitary gland or adrenal glands may lead to reduced testosterone production. The testes produces less testosterone, there are fewer signals from the pituitary telling the testes to make testosterone. In recent years, researchers (and pharmaceutical companies) have focused on the effects of testosterone deficiency, especially among men. If you're obese, you're four times more likely to benefit from testosterone replacement than non-obese men. By contrast, endurance exercises like cycling for hours or running marathons can actually reduce your testosterone level. Certain testosterone boosters have specific side effects. It's taken for many conditions, including anxiety and insomnia, and to improve male fertility. Levels naturally decline as you get older. Vitamin D. Your body naturally produces vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight. People who exercise had higher testosterone increases. A healthy diet rich in essential nutrients can help optimize hormone production and balance. These specialists can assess your hormone levels and recommend appropriate treatment. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be beneficial for some men with low testosterone, but it also carries potential risks. Yes, chronic stress can significantly lower testosterone levels. Testosterone levels generally begin to decline gradually around the age of 30, with an average decrease of about 1% per year. What age does testosterone typically start to decline in men? A guy in his 20s with healthy genes and no chronic ailments will have a higher testosterone level than a 55-year-old with ongoing medical issues. Your GP may also order a blood test to measure your testosterone levels. Several long-term health concerns have been links to untreated low testosterone levels. Dabaja estimates that about a quarter to a third of men over 60 will experience symptoms from low testosterone, and the percentage might increase with age. Severely low testosterone levels, whether age-related or not, can lead to many clinical morbidities, Ghayda says. Your body makes the hormone while you sleep, and your levels are usually highest first thing in the morning. Several studies showed that a high-protein diet actually decreased testosterone levels. So it makes sense that a testosterone-boosting diet should be full of lean protein, healthy fats, and foods high in antioxidants, like berries and leafy greens. Andropause refers to a gradual decline in hormones, especially testosterone, that typically starts around age 40. When patients have a proper diagnosis (based on lab tests and symptoms) of age-related low testosterone, the go-to treatment is usually testosterone replacement therapy. It’s worth noting that when evaluating men for age-related low testosterone or male hypogonadism, clinicians assess both total testosterone and free or bioavailable testosterone levels, Ghayda says. "People try to correlate it with female menopause where you have a sudden drop in female hormones and estrogen drops abruptly — but male menopause is not the same," says Ramy Abou Ghayda, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of urology at University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Most people with male reproductive organs will still have testosterone levels within a normal range, but somewhere between 10 and 25 percent of men will develop low testosterone. It’s important to remember that what’s often billed as "male menopause" is usually a mix of normal aging and other health issues, not a sudden hormone crash.
