Low Testosterone? Here’s What Your Doctor Might Not Be Telling You

Testosterone—it’s just a “male hormone,” right?

Not quite.

This misunderstood molecule plays a major role in energy, mood, muscle, motivation, and even longevity—for both men and women. Yet most doctors only flag it when you're severely deficient, and even then, they focus on getting you "in range" rather than helping you feel like your best self.

If you’ve been feeling flat, foggy, sluggish, or like your performance just isn’t what it used to be, testosterone might be a big part of the story. But mainstream medicine often misses the mark, brushing off low energy and low libido as part of “getting older.”

This newsletter’s goal is to flip the script, and look at testosterone the way functional doctors and healthspan coaches do.

Quick Take:
🟠 Cost: Varies (testing and protocols can range from free to $$)
🟢 Actionable: Yes, with the right info
🟢 Impact: High

The Idea

Testosterone isn’t just a “male” hormone—it’s a key driver of health and vitality for everyone. In men, it powers muscle, mental clarity, sex drive, bone strength, motivation, and mood. In women, especially post-menopause, it's crucial for libido, energy, and emotional resilience.

But here’s the issue: most standard doctors only care whether you’re “within the range.”
Let’s say you're a 40-year-old male with a total testosterone of 350 ng/dL. Technically, that’s “normal”—the lab range might say 300–1,000. But functionally? That’s low.
Many hormone specialists would want to see you closer to 600–800 ng/dL, depending on your symptoms, goals, and lifestyle.

The same applies to women: testosterone is rarely tested, and if it is, subclinical levels are often ignored. A functional approach looks at how you feel, how you perform, and whether your levels support true vitality—not just whether you tick a box.

The Evidence

📚 Studies Show

• Testosterone & All-Cause Mortality (Men):
  Men in the lowest quartile of testosterone levels had significantly higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality compared to those in the highest quartile.

• Long-Term Effects of Untreated Low Testosterone:

  According to the International Society for Sexual Medicine, untreated low testosterone can lead to serious long-term effects on physical health in adult men. These effects include decreased bone density (osteoporosis), reduced muscle mass and strength, increased body fat, and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.

• Low testosterone levels have been associated with depression and negative mental health:
  Low testosterone has been linked tyo mood disturbances, such as depression and irritability. This underscores the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate management of testosterone deficiency to mitigate these risks.

🎧 Podcast – Huberman Lab: How to Optimize Testosterone
Andrew Huberman discusses testosterone optimization, including thresholds for performance, mental clarity, and libido—not just disease prevention.

📺 YouTube Deep Dive: Male Hormone Optimization w/ Dr Kyle Gillett
Why “normal” testosterone doesn’t mean optimal—and how to take a proactive, data-driven approach.

The Action

Here’s how to approach testosterone the optimization way:

✅ Get Tested the Right Way

• Ask for total testosterone, free testosterone, and SHBG (for men). Women should test free & total testosterone, and DHEA.

• Test in the morning (7–10am), fasted.

• Don’t accept “you’re fine” if you’re at the low end of the range and feel off.

Order a No Doctor Visit Testosterone Test via Ulta Labs for just $62.95. For Australian Subscribers, order via I-Screen AUD$69

✅ Lifestyle Wins That Move the Needle

• Strength Train: Compound lifts 2–3x/week are proven to boost testosterone naturally.

• Prioritize Sleep: One bad night can tank testosterone by up to 15% the next day.

• Vitamin D, Zinc, Magnesium: Deficiencies in these = hormonal stagnation.

• Healthy BMI (18.5 and 24.9): High body fat = high aromatase = more testosterone converted to estrogen.

🧠 For Those Ready to Optimize

• Work with a functional practitioner or hormone optimization coach.

• If below Optimal range, monitor labs every 3-6 months, and assess how you feel—not just what the numbers say.

• Only Consider TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) or low-dose bioidentical testosterone (for women) if natural interventions fail and symptoms persist.

What’s Next?

If you’ve been told your testosterone is “normal,” but your energy, mood, and drive say otherwise—it might be time for a deeper look. Optimization is about giving your body the hormonal foundation it needs to function at its peak.

Want help translating your lab results into an action plan, or want to help identify your testosterone profile prior to a blood-test? Take our Testosterone Quiz here, and get your Testosterone Protocol which includes a 90 Day Action Plan with recommendations you can actually use—without generic fluff.

To your energy, vitality, and longevity,

Longevity Daily

P.S. Testosterone is the most important hormone for male vitality—yet most men have no idea where their levels sit. It could be the hidden reason behind low energy, low mood, and lack of drive. Know someone who might be feeling off? Forward them this newsletter—it could be the insight they’ve been missing.