Introduction
When it comes to defining optimal testosterone levels, there is no one-size-fits-all number. There is also a distinction between what is considered “normal” and what is considered “optimal” and this number can vary drastically from one person to the next, especially if you take age and body type into consideration.
The aim of testosterone optimization is not the same as simply moving low testosterone levels to within a normal range; it’s finding the testosterone range that suits your individual needs in order for you to feel your best both physically and mentally and maximize your performance.
Read on to find out how testosterone optimization works, how to test for optimal testosterone levels, and which therapies can help.
Key takeaways:
- Testosterone optimization aims to identify the right hormonal balance for each person to feel their best physically and mentally.
- Optimal testosterone levels are not a one-size-fits-all concept. The definition of "normal" varies greatly between individuals, considering factors like age, body type, and health goals.
- Optimal testosterone levels can be achieved with medication like enclomiphene citrate, which stimulates the body's own testosterone production without fertility risks. Lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise, healthy weight management, and balanced nutrition also contribute to optimization.
What is testosterone optimization?
Male hormone optimization aims to identify whether hormone levels in the body are below their optimal threshold and improve hormone function if they are deemed sub-optimal. This is more complex than merely increasing your testosterone levels on a numerical chart. It involves assessing how your body functions as a comparable reference to quantitative averages and numbers.
Many people attempt to optimize their testosterone with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), which can deliver a sizable spike in testosterone levels in a relatively short amount of time. But this route is not just hazardous to your fertility health and linked to a number of undesirable side effects, it’s also unsustainable. Sure, you may see unnaturally large muscles and rapid weight loss on TRT, but you’ll probably also experience more aggression, acne, testicular shrinkage and more.
Prescription medications like enclomiphene and even healthy lifestyle changes provide safer ways to optimize your testosterone impactfully and improve your hormonal function for increased muscle gains, better sex, more energy, and a variety of other benefits that come with having more testosterone.
What role does testosterone play in the body?
Testosterone has a variety of important functions in the body. Not only does it play a role in spermatogenesis and support the development of secondary sex characteristics (think voice deepening, facial hair, and muscle mass), but it also regulates the libido, bone mass, heart health, fat distribution, energy levels and red blood cell production.
As men age, their testosterone naturally declines, but there are a number of other contributing factors, such as obesity, heavy alcohol use, and even chronic stress. Such factors suppress the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis, which is the signaling system between your brain and your testes that controls testosterone production. When the HPG axis is suppressed and you have less testosterone circulating in your system, you are more likely to experience symptoms of hypogonadism (low testosterone), such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, increased body fat, depression, and fatigue.
What are optimal testosterone levels?
The American Urological Association (AUA) considers a testosterone range of 450-600 ng/dL as normal. An even wider range of 264 to 916 ng/dL is considered normal in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
But normal does not always translate to optimal. And most testosterone tests do not distinguish between total testosterone and free testosterone, which can tell two entirely different stories. While total testosterone refers to all forms of testosterone circulating in your bloodstream, free testosterone refers to the amount that is bioavailable, active, and available for use in your body. It is this latter form of testosterone that is considered a more accurate indicator of low testosterone because it shows up as results you can see and feel.
Your body uses free testosterone for your sex drive, hair growth, muscle gains, and even your cognitive functioning and it only represents about 1-2% of your testosterone. In many cases, a man may have normal levels of total testosterone, but low levels of free testosterone. So, despite his test looking fine, he’ll likely have all those physical signs pointing to low testosterone. Testosterone optimization aims to improve these symptoms by shifting your levels to the range that suits you and your body best. The numbers are just one part of the story.
What are optimal free testosterone levels?
Normal levels of free testosterone in adult males typically fall within the range of 35 and 155 pg/mL. But, remember, normal doesn’t always mean optimal. If you are a high-performing athlete, you probably need more free testosterone than a guy who only runs a marathon every few years (or never). Testosterone optimization is as much about identifying how you feel as it is about how you want to feel and what you want to achieve.
Benefits of optimized testosterone
The proven benefits of optimized testosterone are both physical and mental and include:
- Increased lean muscle: Research indicates that, within a span of 12 weeks, the majority of men who boost their testosterone levels typically experience an increase of around 5 pounds in muscle mass and a reduction of 10 pounds in body weight.
- Higher sex drive and better erections: Studies have demonstrated that erectile function, sexual potency, and sperm production improve when testosterone levels are increased.
- More confidence: Research indicates that increased testosterone is associated with improved quality of life, including better focus and self-confidence.
- Improved energy: Optimizing testosterone has also been shown to improve energy levels without the jitteriness that you would expect from stimulants like caffeine.
How to optimize testosterone
Optimizing your testosterone may help you look and feel better, but how exactly should you do it? We already mentioned the drawbacks to using TRT, ranging from testicular shrinkage to infertility, but fortunately there are other paths you can take. From testosterone optimization therapy with medication to healthy lifestyle changes, explore what options are currently available.
Medication for testosterone optimization
Enclomiphene citrate is a medication that can help you optimize your testosterone sustainably without compromising your fertility or shutting down your body’s natural testosterone production. It belongs to a class of drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) that bind to estrogen receptors in the brain to stimulate the production of the hormones luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). This prompts the body to make more of its own testosterone.
Though enclomiphene works differently from TRT, it has proven to be just as effective in some studies, without subjecting users to the negative impacts on fertility. For example, in this three-month study comparing enclomiphene citrate to topical testosterone, researchers found that while both testosterone treatments improved testosterone levels, those taking topical testosterone experienced a significant decline in sperm concentration, rendering more than half of the subjects to become oligospermic.
Men taking enclomiphene have seen their free and total testosterone levels increase by an average of 1.5-2.5X, producing mental and physical results that look and feel natural without the “roid rage.”
Lifestyle changes for testosterone optimization
There are a number of other ways you can optimize your testosterone on your own. These include integrating healthy habits into your life like the following:
- Following a regular exercise routine
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Getting adequate sleep
- Eating a well-balanced diet (preferably with red meat)
- Cutting back on drinking and smoking
- Reducing your stress levels
- Taking supplements to close nutritional gaps
- Limiting exposure to endocrine disruptors and plastics
Benefits of the Testosterone Protocol for testosterone optimization
The Testosterone Protocol is a testosterone optimization program that offers an individualized approach. Combining prescription enclomiphene tablets with health coaching and access to a community full of accountability partners, the King Protocol is a customized treatment plan that will optimize how you look, feel, and perform with regular monitoring.
There are a few different reasons why the Testosterone Protocol is different from other testosterone optimization therapies:
- Preliminary planning: Before we write you a prescription, you’ll have to complete a medical questionnaire to establish your health goals, which will be reviewed by a board-certified licensed physician.
- Testing: CLIA-certified lab tests are shipped to your door so you and your doctor can monitor your testosterone levels before and after starting treatment and establish a baseline. The Testosterone Protocol does not use a finger prick test, which does not provide a sufficient blood sample for testosterone optimization.
- Customized treatment plan: This is the heart of testosterone optimization. After receiving your lab work and reviewing your health goals, your doctor will devise a customized treatment plan that best fits your needs.
- Re-testing: After 30 days, you’ll receive another CLIA-certified lab test to ensure the protocol is working for you.
- Monitoring: You’re never left on your own with the Testosterone Protocol. In addition to checking on your T levels, your doctor will also ensure you are performing at the level of your expectations. How does your body feel? What are your energy levels like? How is your libido? All bases are covered to make sure you’re getting the most from the protocol.
Testosterone optimization is complex, but it doesn’t have to be detrimental to your health. Find a plan that works for you with the Testosterone Protocol.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article, including, but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other information, is for information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. The content is not meant to be complete or exhaustive or to be applicable to any specific individual's medical condition. You should consult a licensed healthcare professional before starting any health protocol and seek the advice of your physician or other medical professional if you have questions or concerns about a medical condition. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice or treatment because of something you have read on this site. Maximus does not recommend, endorse, or make any representation about the efficacy, appropriateness, or suitability of any specific test, products, procedures, treatments, services, opinions, healthcare providers or other information contained herein. Maximus is not responsible for, nor will they bear any liability for, the content provided herein or any actions or outcomes resulting from or related to its use.
