Written or medically reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Policy.
Updated September 22, 2015.
Testosterone level testing is a critical part of any fertility evaluation. While testosterone is often considered to be a “male” hormone, testosterone is vital to both male and female health.
But, as with every hormone, you don’t want too little or too much.
In men, low testosterone is a potential cause of infertility. However, you may be surprised to hear that abnormally high testosterone levels can be a problem as well.
In women, high testosterone levels can signal a potential fertility problem. Women can also have low testosterone levels, but this typically occurs after menopause and not as commonly during the childbearing years.
What causes high or low testosterone levels in men and women? Moreover, what can be done about it, especially if you are trying to conceive?
Keep reading. First up, let’s discuss low testosterone levels in men, also known as male hypogonadism.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone Levels in Men
Written or medically reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Policy.
Updated September 22, 2015.
Low testosterone is also known as male hypogonadism. Male hypogonadism can cause infertility.
Your doctor may consider your testosterone levels too low if...
- Your Free Testosterone levels are below 9 ng/dL
- Your Total Testosterone levels are below 240 ng/dL
Symptoms of low testosterone in men may include…
- Infertility
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Decreased muscle mass
- Decreased beard and body hair growth
- Low sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- Enlarged or sensitive breasts
- Reduced strength
- Hot flashes
- Difficulty with concentration
Primary male hypogonadism is when the trouble originates in the testes. This may also be referred to as primary testicular failure or male menopause. In fact, some of the symptoms are similar to female menopause.
Secondary male hypogonadism is when the trouble originates in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. These glands in the brain produce the hormones FSH and LH, which signal the testes to produce testosterone.
What may cause low testosterone levels?
Causes of Low Testosterone in Men
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Updated September 22, 2015.
Some causes of low testosterone levels in men include...
Age: Once men reach age 50, testosterone levels begin a natural decline. Male fertility does decline with age, though not as drastically as it does in women.
Obesity: Obesity may have an event bigger impact on testosterone levels than age. Research has found that increases in weight are directly related to lowering testosterone levels. Losing weight can bring your testosterone levels back up.
Smoking: Smoking also increases your risk of male infertility.
Being underweight: Abnormally low BMI levels, malnutrition, and excessive exercise can lead to low testosterone levels and decreased fertility.
Klinefelter syndrome (KS) (XXY): This is a genetic disorder where instead of having one X and one Y chromosome, the man has an additional X chromosome. It is a common cause of male infertility.
Kallmann syndrome: This is a genetic condition where puberty either fails to begin or doesn’t complete.
Pituitary disorders: this includes problems with how the pituitary functions. It may be the result of a pituitary tumor or brain tumor. Or, treatment of a brain tumor with radiation can cause long-term damage the pituitary.
Undescended testicles: this usually resolves during early childhood. If not, though, it must be corrected. Otherwise, it can cause hormonal problems later in life.
Abnormally high levels of iron: This is also known as hemochromatosis.
Testicular injury: If just one testicular is injured, testosterone production may be normal.
Cancer treatment: Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can temporarily cause low testosterone and impair sperm production. However, sometimes the damage is permanent. One study found that 30% of men experienced low testosterone levels after treatment.
HIV/AIDs: the virus can interfere with how the testes, pituitary, and hypothalamus function. This, in turn, can lead to low testosterone levels.
Major illness or surgery: This will usually reverse itself after recovery time. Some infections, like mumps, can cause long-term hormonal problems.
Medical or recreational drug use: For example, marijuana can cause lower testosterone levels.
Extremely high levels of stress: High levels of the stress hormone cortisol have been associated with lower levels of testosterone.
What treatment options are there for low testosterone levels?
Treating Low Testosterone Levels in Men
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Updated September 22, 2015.
If your low testosterone levels are the result of an underlying medical condition or lifestyle factor (like obesity), then at least part of your treatment plan will be treating the originating condition.
It may be possible in these cases to have testosterone levels return to normal levels after treatment or lifestyle change.
This is not always an option, unfortunately.
In these cases, your doctor may recommend one, some, or all of the following:
Testosterone supplementation: Your doctor may prescribe injectable testosterone. This in turn will hopefully boost sperm production.
Testosterone supplementation may also be prescribed to improve your well-being and general health, even if it won’t solve the fertility problem.
Clomid: While most frequently associated with female infertility, Clomid can also be used in men to boost testosterone levels.
IVF treatment: IVF may be used together with or instead of hormonal supplementation.
If there are female fertility factors involved, your doctor may also recommend trying IVF first.
IVF with ICSI: With IVF-ICSI, an individual sperm directly injected into an egg.
Testicular sperm extraction (TESE): If low sperm count or no sperm count is a problem, your doctor may suggest testicular sperm extraction (TESE). This involves retrieving sperm directly from the testes via a biopsy.
Sperm donor: In some cases, your doctor may recommend using a sperm donor.
What happens if your testosterone levels are too high?
Symptoms and Causes of High Testosterone Levels in Men
Written or medically reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Policy.
Updated September 22, 2015.
Abnormally high testosterone levels are also known as hypergonadism.
Your doctor may consider your testosterone levels too high if...
- Your total testosterone levels are above 950 ng/dL
- Your free testosterone levels are above 30 ng/dL
Possible signs and symptoms of high testosterone include...
- Early puberty, in young men
- Infertility and decreased sperm count
- Acne
- High libido
- Excessive “hairiness”
- High blood pressure
- High red blood cell count
- Increased risk-taking behaviors
- Aggression
Abnormally high testosterone levels can be caused by...
- Tumors: Adrenal and testicular tumors may cause abnormally high testosterone.
- Anabolic steroid abuse: Sometimes used by athletes and body builders to build more muscle mass or increase athletic performance. Some athletes take Clomid to boost performance, illegally.
- Testosterone supplementation: Sometimes prescribed by a physician, and sometimes purchased illegally without a prescription.
- Coming into contact with someone who is using testosterone gel. The gel can accidentally be rubbed off onto someone else, raising their testosterone levels unintentionally.
How will your doctor treat abnormally high testosterone levels?
Treating Abnormally High Testosterone Levels in Men
Written or medically reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Policy.
Updated September 22, 2015.
It is unusual for slightly elevated testosterone levels to cause infertility in men. However, if the levels are abnormally high, the question will be whether it is caused by a tumor (rare) or by drug use.
If it’s due to anabolic steroid use or testosterone supplementation, backing off the supplements or steroids should resolve the problem. This should be done under a doctor’s supervision.
It’s surprising to many men that high testosterone can cause infertility.
Some men take testosterone supplements thinking it will improve their fertility. Or, they take it hoping to improve their stamina, strength, and energy levels.
Unfortunately, testosterone supplementation in men who don’t medically need it can cause infertility.
One study found that of men who took testosterone supplements and did not need them, 88.4% were azoospermic. In other words, they didn’t produce any sperm.
However, six months after stopping the testosterone supplementation, 65% of the men were no longer azoospermic. They began to produce sperm again.
Men are not the only ones who need to worry about testosterone levels... what causes abnormally high or low testosterone in women?
Written or medically reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Policy.
Updated September 22, 2015.
When it comes to trying to get pregnant, for women, high testosterone is more commonly a problem than too low testosterone.
Testosterone is just one of several hormones known as androgens. High androgen levels in women are known as hyperandrogenism.
Symptoms of abnormally high androgen levels include...
- Irregular periods
- Anovulation
- Acne
- Abnormal hair growth
- Male pattern balding
- A deepening voice
- Increased muscle mass
- An enlarged clitoris
Possible causes of high testosterone levels in women include:
- PCOS: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common cause of infertility in women. PCOS is also associated with obesity and insulin resistance.
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH): This is a genetic condition that impairs your adrenal glands from producing essential hormones. It can cause infertility in both men and women. Some women will be diagnosed as children. Other times, it can occur later in life. This is known as late-onset or mild congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).
- Adrenal or ovarian cancers: extremely high testosterone levels greater than 200 ng/dL may be seen in cases of cancer.
- Anabolic Steroid Use: Male athletes aren’t the only ones to abuse steroids to improve performance. Women who abuse steroids may have abnormally high levels of testosterone.
What about low testosterone in women?
Women with low testosterone levels may experience...
- Low libido
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Cognitive difficulties
Low testosterone in women is usually seen during menopause though it can occur at any age.
Testosterone levels decrease along with estrogen and other reproductive hormones. Low testosterone is not usually a problem in women trying to conceive.
How are abnormal testosterone levels treated in women trying to conceive?
Written or medically reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Policy.
Updated September 22, 2015.
When treating high testosterone levels, your doctor will consider your goals and your symptoms. Treatment is different if you’re trying to conceive.
For example, one possible treatment is birth control pills, but that wouldn’t be appropriate for someone trying to get pregnant.
Another possibility is the anti-androgen drug spironolactone (brand name Aldactone.) Spironolactone is not safe to take when pregnant, so it isn’t appropriate for those trying to conceive.
Options for women hoping to have a baby include:
Weight loss and exercise: Losing excess weight and regular exercise, especially in women with PCOS, can help lower testosterone levels and may even restart ovulation.
Metformin: Treating insulin resistance with the diabetes drug metformin may help reduce PCOS symptoms and even restart ovulation.
Fertility drugs: You will likely need both lifestyle changes and fertility drugs to conceive. Clomid and letrozole are the first line fertility treatments for women with PCOS.
Cosmetic treatments: For women trying to conceive, cosmetic treatments like waxing or plucking are possible solutions for unwanted hair growth.
More on causes of infertility:
- 8 Embarrassing Symptoms You Must Tell Your OB/GYN
- Endometriosis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
- PID: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
- Male Infertility: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
- PCOS: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
- Anovulation: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
- What Is Unexplained or Idiopathic Infertility?
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