10 Benefits Of Testosterone

Medically reviewed by Dr. Irina Andrea Gianluca, MBBS, MSc

Updated on June 1, 2022

“Testosterone is the success hormone for men. Testosterone makes effort and hard work feel good. High Testosterone levels make accomplishing your personal goals and reaching success much easier. ”
Dr Andrew Huberman, Stanford University

Fast Facts

High testosterone levels are associated with increased confidence, self-esteem, and reduced symptoms of depression and social anxiety. (JAMA Psychiatry, 2019; Front Psychiatry, 2015)
Testosterone acts as a natural nootropic, enhancing memory, concentration, learning, and spatial awareness. (Frontiers In Endocrinology, 2020; PubMed, 2006)
High testosterone prevents cognitive decline and memory loss, reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. (PubMed, 2006)
Testosterone increases drive, ambition, masculine behavior, and the desire to dominate in social situations and increase social status. (PubMed, 2009)
Men with high testosterone are less agreeable and more likely to want to be leaders, while those with low testosterone are more submissive and agreeable. (PubMed, 2015)
Testosterone increases muscle growth, strength, and exercise recovery by enhancing protein synthesis and reducing muscle breakdown. (PubMed, 2017)
High testosterone boosts metabolism, improves insulin sensitivity, and reduces body fat. (PubMed, 1992; Journal Of Endocrinology, 2014)
Testosterone is linked to increased sperm count, semen volume, and enhanced erectile function. (Loma Linda University, 2022; PubMed, 2006)
Women are more attracted to men with high testosterone and low cortisol, as it signals good health and genetic fitness. (PubMed, 2019; Live Science, 2013)

In Depth

Boosting your testosterone levels naturally is the fastest way to reach your full potential as a man both mentally and physically.

What are the benefits of increasing your Testosterone?

Testosterone Improves Mental Health

A major benefit of optimal Testosterone is improved mental health.

High Testosterone is associated with increased confidence and higher self esteem. (JAMA Psychiatry, 2019)

Optimal Testosterone levels reduces symptoms of depression and social anxiety. (JAMA Psychiatry, 2019; Front Psychiatry, 2015)

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials involving a total of 1890 men found that testosterone treatment was associated with a significant reduction of depressive symptoms, particularly in participants who received higher-dosage regimens (JAMA Psychiatry, 2019)
Andreas Walther, PhD; Jonas Breidenstein, BSc; Robert Miller, PhD

Low Testosterone is linked to depression, suicidal thoughts and social anxiety. (Front Psychiatry, 2015)

Testosterone improves symptoms of depression by: increasing serotonin uptake in the brain and increasing dopamine levels – thus improving mood, happiness and overall mental health. (BMC Neuroscience, 2012; PubMed, 1998)

Testosterone Enhances Focus, Cognitive Function And Improves Learning

A key benefit of Testosterone is that it acts like a natural nootropic – enhancing memory, concentration and learning while improving spatial cognition and spatial awareness. (Frontiers In Endocrinology, 2020; PubMed, 2006)

High Testosterone prevents cognitive decline and memory loss at old age, preventing diseases like Alzheimer’s. (PubMed, 2006)

In small amounts, Testosterone gets converted to DHT and neuro steroids responsible for improved memory, focus and cognitive function. (Frontiers In Endocrinology, 2020)

Testosterone Increases Social Dominance and Dominant Masculine Behaviour

Testosterone Increases Dominant Masculine Behaviour

One of Testosterone’s major benefits is increasing drive, ambition, masculinity and leadership.

High Testosterone increases a man’s desire to dominate in social situations and increase his social status. (PubMed, 2009)

As a result, Testosterone increases motivation, ambition and risk taking behaviour. (PubMed, 2009)

Men with high Testosterone often want to be leaders, and are less agreeable to follow instructions and be told what to do. (PubMed, 2015)

Meanwhile low Testosterone makes men less dominant, more submissive and more risk averse (avoiding risk taking). (PubMed, 2009)

Men with low Testosterone are more agreeable, and desire to be followers instead of leaders (PubMed, 2015).

Low Testosterone in men is linked to low levels of motivation and ambition. (PubMed, 2009)

Testosterone Increases Muscle Growth And Strength

By far the biggest benefits of high Testosterone is increased strength and muscle mass.

Testosterone puts your body in an anabolic state, increasing muscle protein synthesis (the process of building muscle); while reducing catabolism (preventing muscle protein break down and loss of muscle mass).

Around 10% of Total Testosterone gets converts to DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) via the 5 Alpha Reductase enzyme (PubMed, 2022; Your Hormones, 2018).

DHT increases force production in type II fast twitch muscle fibres (PubMed, 2011). Fast twitch muscle fibres have high growth potential and can significantly increase in size. Increased DHT allows you to lift more weight and stimulate muscle growth via progressive overload.

Read Next: How To Build Lean Muscle

Interestingly, DHT reduces force production in slow twitch muscle fibres (PubMed, 2011). Slow twitch muscle fibres have low muscle growth potential and are more geared towards endurance.

Testosterone Enhances Exercise Recovery

Via increasing protein synthesis, High Testosterone allows your body to recover faster from intense exercise – allowing you to train more frequently at the gym and stimulate more muscle growth. (PubMed, 2017)

Testosterone Reduces Body Fat

As a result of increasing muscle mass, Testosterone raises your basal metabolic rate (BMR) – helping you burn more calories per day. As a result, you can eat more food while maintaining a lean muscular physique and burning excess body fat.

Boosting Testosterone to healthy optimal range increased metabolism by 10% to 13% in only 3 months for men suffering from low Testosterone. (PubMed, 1992).

If your body has a basal metabolic rate (BMR) of 2000 calories per day, optimising your Testosterone levels could help you increase your BMR to 2200 to 2260 calories, helping you burn an additional 200 to 260 calories per day while expending zero additional effort.

Furthermore, Testosterone improves metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats – directing more glucose from carbohydrates towards muscle cells instead of fat accumulation. (PubMed, 2013). Testosterone does this by improving glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity – improving fat loss while reducing risk of Type 2 diabetes. (Journal Of Endocrinology, 2014)

Testosterone Increases Sperm Count And Semen Ejaculation Volume

High Testosterone is linked to increased sperm count and fertility, while Low Testosterone is associated with decreased sperm count and infertility. (Loma Linda University, 2022)

Leutinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating hormone (FSH) are essential for the production of Testosterone and sperm in the testes.(PubMed, 2014)

High levels of LH and FSH are associated with high Testosterone, increased sperm count and increased semen volume. (PubMed, 2014)

Low levels of LH and FSH are associated with Low Testosterone, low sperm count and decreased semen volume. (PubMed, 2014)

Testosterone Enhances Erection Quality

Does Penis Size Matter Sexy Woman Measuring Penis

High Testosterone is responsible for stronger, bigger and harder erections. (PubMed, 2006)

Testosterone and its metabolite DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) facilitate erections by increasing nitric oxide production and acting as vasodilators – widening blood vessels and increasing blood flow to the penis. (PubMed, 2006)

The penis is like a balloon – the more blood flows to it – the bigger, stronger and harder the erection. (PubMed, 2006)

Testosterone Increases Attractiveness To Women

What Women Really Want Female Hypergamy | Best Man Unleashed

Women are more attracted to men with high testosterone and low levels of cortisol (the primary stress hormone). (PubMed, 2019)

Meanwhile, women are significantly less attracted to men with low Testosterone and high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. (PubMed, 2019)

Women are attracted to physical features in men like broad shoulders and wide jawlines which are indicators of High Testosterone.

If you have high Testosterone levels, your body releases chemicals called pheromones – which signal to women subconsciously you have high Testosterone and increase attraction (Live Science, 2013).

High Testosterone is a sign of strong immune system, good overall health and dominant genes. From an evolutionary perspective, this is attractive to women, as it will ensure her future offspring have a high chance of survival and resistance to disease.

Low Testosterone is a symptom of poor immune system and low overall health. From an evolutionary perspective, women find this unattractive as poor genes means her future off spring will have a low survival rate and low resistance to disease.

Interestingly, men with high Testosterone are attracted to hyper feminine women (with more feminine facial features and submissive feminine behaviour), while men with low Testosterone are attracted to less feminine women. (PubMed, 2008)

High Testosterone Prevents Diseases

A key benefit of Testosterone is reduced risk of disease.

Testosterone Reduces Severity Of COVID 19 Symptoms

Men with high Testosterone experienced less severe COVID symptoms and had higher survival rates, while men with low Testosterone experienced more severe COVID 19 symptoms during hospitalization and had higher risk of dying from COVID. (Frontiers In Endocrinology, 2021)

Testosterone Reduces Risk Of Diabetes, Obesity & Heart Disease

Testosterone deficiency is associated with an increased fat mass (in particular central adiposity), reduced insulin sensitivity, impaired glucose tolerance, elevated triglycerides and cholesterol and low HDL-cholesterol. All these factors are found in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes, contributing to cardiovascular risk. (Journal Of Endocrinology, 2013)
Daniel M Kelly, T Hugh Jones

Optimal Testosterone levels improves metabolism of glucose and insulin sensitivity, reducing risk of Type 2 diabetes and obesity (Journal Of Endocrinology, 2013). Furthermore, healthy Testosterone levels improve heart health and reduce risk of heart disease (Journal Of Endocrinology, 2013)

In a 2015 study in 83,000 elderly men, men with healthy Testosterone levels were 24% less likely to suffer a heart attack, 36% less likely to have a stroke. (European Heart Journal, 2015)

Testosterone Reduces Risk Of Osteoporosis

High Testosterone levels increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis.

Testosterone Prevents Muscle Atrophy

Testosterone also prevents muscle atrophy and loss of muscle mass due to old age and from muscle wasting conditions like AIDS and HIV.

Testosterone Prevents Alzheimer And Neurodegenerative Diseases

Additionally, high Testosterone prevents Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases by enhancing memory and cognitive function. (PubMed, 2004)

Testosterone Improves Symptoms Of Depression

Testosterone has been shown to improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, low self esteem and improve mental health.

References

Bhasin, S., Storer, T. W., Berman, N., Callegari, C., Clevenger, B., Phillips, J., … & Casaburi, R. (1996). The effects of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone on muscle size and strength in normal men. New England Journal of Medicine, 335(1), 1-7.

Carré, J. M., & Archer, J. (2018). Testosterone and human behavior: the role of individual and contextual variables. Current Opinion in Psychology, 19, 149-153.

Cherrier, M. M., Matsumoto, A. M., Amory, J. K., Asthana, S., Bremner, W., Peskind, E. R., … & Craft, S. (2005). Testosterone improves spatial memory in men with Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment. Neurology, 64(12), 2063-2068.

Jannini, E. A., Screponi, E., Carosa, E., Pepe, M., Lo Giudice, F., Trimarchi, F., & Benvenga, S. (1999). Lack of sexual activity from erectile dysfunction is associated with a reversible reduction in serum testosterone. International Journal of Andrology, 22(6), 385-392.

Kelly, D. M., & Jones, T. H. (2013). Testosterone and obesity. Obesity reviews, 14(7), 563-583.

Kocoń, K., Bałkowiec, P., Szumowski, Ł., & Szumowski, P. (2020). The influence of testosterone on cognitive functions in men. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 11, 586909.

Loma Linda University. (2022). The Link Between Testosterone and Fertility. https://lluh.org/patients-visitors/health-wellness/ask-expert/link-between-testosterone-and-fertility

Mazur, A., & Booth, A. (1998). Testosterone and dominance in men. Behavioral and brain sciences, 21(3), 353-363.

Puts, D. A. (2010). Beauty and the beast: Mechanisms of sexual selection in humans. Evolution and Human Behavior, 31(3), 157-175.

Puts, D. A., Bailey, D. H., Cárdenas, R. A., Burriss, R. P., Welling, L. L., Wheatley, J. R., & Dawood, K. (2013). Women’s attractiveness changes with estradiol and progesterone across the ovulatory cycle. Hormones and Behavior, 63(1), 13-19.

Snyder, P. J. (2004). Effects of age on testicular function and consequences of testosterone deficiency. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 89(8), 3741-3746.

Walther, A., Philipp, M., Lozza, N., & Ehlert, U. (2016). The rate of change in declining steroid hormones: a new parameter of healthy aging in men?. Oncotarget, 7(38), 60844.

Welker, K. M., Lozoya, E., Campbell, J. A., Neumann, C. S., & Carré, J. M. (2014). Testosterone, cortisol, and psychopathic traits in men and women. Physiology & behavior, 129, 230-236.

Zarrouf, F. A., Artz, S., Griffith, J., Sirbu, C., & Kommor, M. (2009). Testosterone and depression: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 15(4), 289-305.

10 Benefits Of Testosterone

Fast Facts