Experts Identify 11 Testosterone Drivers as Levels Fall 1% to 2% a Year After 40
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 1
Experts Identify 11 Testosterone Drivers as Levels Fall 1% to 2% a Year After 40
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 1
Summary
11 factors can shift testosterone over a day or over years, experts said, warning that a single blood test can be misleading because the hormone is released in bursts.
Age remains a major long-term driver: levels generally decline after 40 by about 1% to 2% a year, though most men still stay within the normal range for much of life.
Sleep, time of day and season can all move readings, with testosterone typically peaking in the morning—often between 6 and 7 a.m.—which is why tests are usually done from 7 to 10 a.m.
Parenthood, extreme training, heavy alcohol use, stress and certain medications—notably opioids, glucocorticoids, anabolic steroids and some prostate-cancer drugs—can also suppress levels.
Experts said testosterone is a poor proxy for combat readiness or performance, and that sleep, exercise, diet and overall health matter more than chasing a single hormone number.