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a printed research journal of urologyAn official journal of the American Urological Affiliation (AUA) means that the standard threshold for low testosterone for males of their forties and youthful might not be correct.

“Younger males have completely different testosterone reference ranges than older males,” commented Alex Zhu, lead creator of the research. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. “Our findings recommend that we should always use age-specific thresholds when assessing testosterone ranges in younger males.”

Totally different Thresholds for Low Testosterone in Younger Males

Sufferers affected by testosterone deficiency have low ranges of the male intercourse hormone testosterone, which causes signs akin to decreased libido and erectile dysfunction. Testosterone deficiency is usually regarded as a illness that impacts older males. Nevertheless, youthful males who’re involved about low testosterone have gotten extra widespread and infrequently current with much less particular signs akin to fatigue and low power.

Screening for low testosterone in younger males additionally presents further challenges. 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) is the accepted threshold for low testosterone ranges. Nevertheless, this criterion ignores the traditional age-related decline in testosterone ranges and is predicated on testosterone research in older males.

From the Division of Urology on the College of Michigan, Dr. Zhu and colleagues analyzed information from almost 1,500 males ages 20 to 44 from a nationwide well being research (the Nationwide Well being and Diet Examination Survey, or NHANES for its English acronym). particular set of indicators for age. breakpoints Males on hormone remedy or with a historical past of testicular most cancers or testicular removing (orchiectomy) have been excluded from the research. Attributable to regular each day fluctuations in testosterone ranges, the analysis solely used morning testosterone measurements.


The vary of testosterone ranges was evaluated in five-year age teams. The mid-reverse (one-third) of the testosterone stage distribution in every of the 5 age teams was outlined as the traditional vary. Values ​​under this vary have been used to calculate age-specific thresholds for low testosterone ranges.

Not surprisingly, testosterone ranges dropped later in life. Age-specific thresholds for low testosterone ranged from 409 ng/dL at ages 20-24 to 350 ng/dL at ages 40-44, which was considerably larger than the usual threshold. Every one-year improve in age was related to a lower in testosterone stage of 4.3 ng/dL.

Based on the authors, the research supplies “the primary population-based evaluation of normative testosterone ranges for younger males in america.” They observe that their research displays the racial/ethnic variety of the U.S. inhabitants and doesn’t exclude males with well being issues aside from testicular most cancers or prior orchiectomy.

Dr. They emphasize that extra research are wanted, together with the way to interpret age-specific interruptions within the context of low testosterone signs. The researchers additionally observe that age-specific limits can generally have an effect on insurance coverage insurance policies that don’t cowl testosterone therapies except the testosterone stage is under the usual restrict of 300 ng/dL.


Reference: “What’s the regular testosterone stage for younger males? Alex Zhu, Juan Andino, Stephanie Daignault-Newton, Zoey Chopra, Aruna Sarma, and James M. Dupree, Rethinking the 300 ng/dL Reduce for Low Testosterone in Males 20-44 Years Previous, December 1, 2022, journal of urology.
DOI: 10.1097/JU.0000000000002928