Frequently Asked Questions About Testosterone Boosters
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a hormone found in every human body.
It is found in high levels in men, but also found in women – just in much smaller amounts.
In men, testosterone is mainly produced in the testicles, while in women, it’s produced in the ovaries (1).
Normal testosterone levels vary depending on age, sex, weight, and a number of other factors.
For men, age is often the most significant variable in normal testosterone levels.
Testosterone levels by age vary, and it’s perfectly natural to see your body’s natural levels of this hormone decrease as you get older (2).
What Does Testosterone Do?
Testosterone is a hormone with many roles in the body, especially for men. In essence, it’s what makes a man, a man.
Testosterone helps men grow facial hair, produce sperm, grow muscle and maintain sex drive – among many other functions (3).
Testosterone levels increase greatly during puberty, and help greatly in the process of boys becoming young men.
Low testosterone levels in young men can contribute to a lot of issues later on in life.
What Are the Symptoms of Low Testosterone?
Since this hormone plays many roles in the body, there are many signs of low testosterone.
The biggest one people think of automatically is a decrease in sexual drive and function.
In some cases, low T levels can even cause erectile dysfunction.
While a loss of sexual drive is one of the most widely known symptoms of low testosterone, there are many others. A drop in T levels can contribute to:
- Moodiness
- Depression
- Weight gain
- Loss of muscle mass
- Diminished libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Lack of energy
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Decrease in bone mass
As you can see, low testosterone symptoms can range from mild to life-changing (4).
Are There Any Ways to Increase Testosterone?
If you have been diagnosed with low testosterone, or you have a feeling that low T levels are contributing to some health issues in your life, you may be wondering how to increase testosterone in your body.
Well, there are several ways. You can speak to your doctor about testosterone therapy, foods that increase testosterone, testosterone replacement therapy, and other ways of increasing testosterone.
Do Testosterone Boosters Work?
The short answer is yes: for most people, taking a testosterone boosting product can greatly increase your T levels, leading to a wide array of benefits.
Many test boosters do work well, but keep in mind that not all these supplements are created equal. Some will work quite well, while others are a waste of money.
What Are the Benefits of Testosterone Boosters?
Here are some of the benefits you may experience if you have good testosterone levels:
- Increase in energy
- Increase in muscle building potential (5)
- Increase in sexual drive
- Increase in heart, bone and hair health
- Better mood regulation (source)
- Decrease in body fat (6)
- Decrease in fatigue
Keep in mind that many manufacturers of these products make bold claims that may or may not be backed up by science.
With that said, there are some documented uses for testosterone boosters, including:
Testosterone Levels
The primary use of these products is to help restore healthy testosterone levels, which usually means an increase in testosterone production.
Test boosters are usually most effective for those with low testosterone and may have little to no effect in those who already have normal T levels.
Most T-boosters include a blend of ingredients.
- D-aspartic acid is thought to increase luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones, leading to an increased natural production of testosterone (7).
- Vitamin D appears to have a direct link to testosterone levels, as it functions as a steroid hormone in the body (8).
- Tribulus terrestris has been shown to help increase testosterone levels and improve sex drive in men with ED (9).
- Fenugreek may help to reduce the enzymes that convert testosterone into estrogen, thereby increasing free testosterone levels (10).
As noted, most testosterone boosters use a combination of ingredients. Some are well-documented and well-studied, while others are not.
It’s important to choose good supplements that use evidence-based ingredients. It’s also important to note that these effects are by no means guaranteed and your best course of action is to speak with your doctor.
Benefits of Increased Testosterone Levels
The resulting increase in testosterone could lead to other benefits, including:
- Increase in muscle building potential (11)
- Decrease in body fat (12)
- Improved cardiovascular health (13)
- Increase in bone density and bone strength (14)
- Improved libido and sex drive (15)
- Improved mood and well-being (16)
Keep in mind that these are just potential benefits of having more testosterone in your system.
Different people will experience different outcomes, and some might notice no effect at all.
Furthermore, these results are only possible if the supplement actually increases your testosterone levels, which is by no means guaranteed.
Who Can Benefit from a Testosterone Booster?
- Men with low testosterone – Any man with lower-than-normal T levels may experience some benefits from adding a good test booster to their diet. Whether your levels are low due to aging, or other reasons like stress, However, you should speak to your doctor first.
- Male athletes and bodybuilders – Since testosterone plays a major role in muscle growth, men who like to exercise can benefit from these supplements (17). Test boosters may help increase energy, help burn fat, improve muscle mass growth, and much more. If you’re looking for an edge at the gym, a T-booster might be just what you need.
- Female athletes – In some cases, test boosters can also be beneficial for women. There is a lot of debate about the way testosterone supplements interact with the female body, but in some cases they can be beneficial. Testosterone supplements for women will generally be more mild boosters, and products designed for men are not necessarily interchangeable. Speak to your doctor if you’re considering taking one of these products.
How Do I Take a Testosterone Booster?
With these products, we highly recommend you speak with your doctor before taking them.
Only your doctor can tell you if you will benefit, how to properly take them and if they will affect your health negativity.
As with any supplement, it’s very important to follow the instructions found on the product packaging.
Some test boosters need to be cycled.
What that means is that they are not meant to be taken for more than a month or two consecutively.
Most products will recommend you take the supplement daily for 4-8 weeks, then take a break of 4+ weeks.
This helps prevent your body from becoming so used to the supplement that it loses its effect.
Again – be sure to follow the instructions and never take more than recommended. Speak to your doctor if you have any questions.
Are There Any Side Effects of Test Boosters?
Most of these products use a blend of many herbal ingredients to achieve the desired effect.
Because of this variety of ingredients, it’s difficult to lay out specific side effects.
There are some testosterone side effects from simply having higher-than-normal T levels, and some people may also react to certain ingredients used in these products.
Some potential side effects include:
- Elevated aggression levels – some people may notice that they are quicker to anger, and feel more aggressive when they have higher T levels.
- Skin issues – some men will experience oily skin or acne after increasing T levels
- Increased appetite – certain individuals experience an increase in appetite. This could be seen as a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your individual situation and goals
- Increased libido – many people see an increase in libido, or sex drive. For most, this is a positive side effect, but it’s still worth noting.
More severe side effects can occur if you take more than the recommended dose.
Note: We do not recommend taking any supplements featured on this website without speaking with a doctor first.
How Do I Pick a Good Testosterone Booster?
Like most supplements, there are quite a few options to choose from when it comes to picking the right test booster.
Reading user reviews is a great way to inform yourself of how well people like the product.
What you should look for when choosing a testosterone supplement:
- Ingredients – you should pay close attention to the ingredient labels of any products you’re considering. Look for key ingredients that are clinically studied to increase testosterone, such as D-Aspartic acid, ginseng, zinc, etc. Also, take note of the amounts of each ingredient and compare those to other products you’re considering.
- Brand reputation – find out who makes the product, and if they have a good reputation or not. In our list, we’ve only listed products from trustworthy, quality companies – but if you choose to do research on your own, be mindful of what company you go with.
- Value for money – price will always be a factor, and it’s no different with test boosters. Calculate the per day costs of each product, and use those to compare your total cost.
- Convenience – how many servings are needed per day? How long until the product begins working? These are all questions you should be asking yourself before making a purchase.
Recap
The side effects of lower testosterone levels can sometimes be devastating for men.
Testosterone is a big part of what makes a man energized, happy and productive. That is why keeping test levels in check is so crucial for living a healthy lifestyle.
If you think you are experiencing any symptoms of low testosterone, please speak with your doctor about it and see what he recommends.
Only your doctor will be able to provide you the personal information on how to increase your test levels.
This article is a list of test boosters, not products for testosterone therapy or replacement.
