Background
Testosterone is the primary male hormone, with the range being 300-1000 ng/dL. Below 300 ng/dL is considered problematic with below 50 ng/dL being infertile.
Historically, testosterone levels in men were significantly higher. Roughly double today, with a steady decline of 1% per year. The typical man today would've been considered abnormally low 50 years ago. Medicine is deceptive in the sense that it uses the moving average for testosterone levels, so even though you might be a ‘typical’ male, your levels would be far below your ancestors.
The main symptoms of low testosterone in men are:
- Fatigue: Low energy, waking up tired even after sleeping for a long time.
- Mood issues like Lack of Motivation
- Poor body composition (more fat less muscle)
- Sleep issues
- Hot flashes
Testosterone levels naturally fluctuate throughout the day with the morning usually being the highest.
Causes
The causes of low T levels in men today are so many that it can be overwhelming.
- Plastics: are endocrine disruptors and for some reason disrupt in the way that they lower testosterone and boost (or mimic) estrogen in the body. Even if you think the plastic you are using is safe like BPA free, be careful of fraud and where the ratings come from. Some common sources include plastic food containers and packaging, phone cases, receipts, bottled water, plastic linings in paper cups.
- Pesticides and Herbicides: The classic culprits like Atrazine are known endocrine disruptors and again for some reason lower testosterone and increase estrogen. “They're turning the friggin frogs gay” is actually true, if you give atrazine to male frogs they will change to females. See my full page on Atrazine for the in depth review.
- Diet: Fat is an organ. The more fat a man has, especially visceral fat, the more estrogen he has. Unlike women, men can be healthy with an extremely low body fat percentage. Sugary and processed foods also have a variety of other ways they impact testosterone levels
- Lifestyle: Working out doesn't really boost your testosterone above your ‘normal’ but a lack of exercise does decrease it. Sleep is also very important.
Solutions
First of all fix all of the negatives and get your T levels tested. No more plastics, junk food, and bad lifestyle. Then if that doesn't bring your T levels up high enough you can go with one of the below options. For your kids, if you do all the right things from the womb stage most likely your son's T levels will be solid. For adults where it's too late to make big changes, a good lifestyle still keeps you healthy and your natural T production the best possible. The best is to get whatever your consulting physician says. Personally I like Enclomophine the most since it stimulates natural production and doesn't cause long term issues, although it maxes out at whatever your body can produce which might not be enough.
Below are the different options with textbook definitions for transparency:
Enclomophine is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and the active isomer of clomiphene. It blocks estrogen feedback at the hypothalamus and pituitary. This leads to increased LH and FSH release. Which in turn stimulates natural testosterone production in men. It has mainly been studied for male secondary hypogonadism, with the goal of raising testosterone while preserving fertility, unlike direct testosterone replacement.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a medical treatment used to restore testosterone levels in individuals—most commonly men—with clinically low testosterone. It works by supplying exogenous testosterone through methods such as injections, gels, patches, or pellets, which can improve symptoms like low energy, reduced libido, loss of muscle mass, mood changes, and decreased bone density. While TRT can significantly enhance quality of life when appropriately prescribed, it also suppresses the body’s natural testosterone production by reducing luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which can negatively affect sperm production and fertility. Ongoing medical monitoring is required to manage potential risks, including erythrocytosis, prostate-related concerns, cardiovascular risk factors, and hormonal imbalance.
Peptides used in bodybuilding and fat loss are short chains of amino acids designed to signal specific biological processes, rather than directly supplying hormones like anabolic steroids or testosterone. In men, these peptides are commonly used to stimulate growth hormone (GH) release, improve recovery, enhance fat metabolism, preserve lean muscle, and support joint or tissue healing. By increasing endogenous GH and downstream IGF-1 levels, they can promote fat loss, muscle maintenance or growth, improved sleep, and faster recovery without the same degree of hormonal suppression seen with traditional anabolic agents. While often perceived as milder or more “targeted,” peptides are still bioactive compounds, and their effects, quality, legality, and long-term safety depend heavily on dosage, sourcing, and medical supervision.
Anabolic steroids, more formally called anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), are synthetic compounds derived from testosterone that are designed to promote muscle growth (anabolic effects) and male secondary sex characteristics (androgenic effects). In bodybuilding and performance contexts, steroids are used to significantly increase muscle mass, strength, recovery speed, and training capacity by enhancing protein synthesis and nitrogen retention in muscle tissue. However, because they introduce supraphysiologic levels of hormones, steroids suppress the body’s natural testosterone production, which can lead to side effects such as testicular atrophy, infertility, hormonal imbalance, cardiovascular strain, liver toxicity (especially oral forms), mood changes, and long-term endocrine disruption. While some steroids have legitimate medical uses, non-medical use carries substantial health risks and typically requires careful post-cycle management to mitigate lasting damage.
Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are a class of synthetic compounds designed to selectively activate androgen receptors in specific tissues, primarily muscle and bone, while minimizing activity in others such as the prostate or skin. In bodybuilding and fat-loss contexts, SARMs are used to increase lean muscle mass, strength, and recovery and, in some cases, support fat loss, with the appeal of producing fewer side effects than traditional anabolic steroids. Despite this perception, SARMs can still suppress natural testosterone production, negatively affect lipid profiles, and carry unknown long-term risks, as most are not FDA-approved for recreational or performance use and lack extensive human safety data. Their effectiveness and safety vary widely by compound, dose, and duration, making medical oversight and caution important.