Treatment to Lower High Male Testosterone

Some men strive to increase their testosterone levels, especially men above the age of 50 when testosterone levels naturally tend to fall, but some men opt to lower their testosterone levels because of unusually high levels, aggressive or risky behavior or prostrate cancer. Both medically prescribed treatments and natural dietary or lifestyle changes are available for men to try when aiming for lower testosterone levels.

Function

• The Mayo Clinic website states that testosterone is a male hormone produced primarily in the testes. The hormone is needed in the body to help maintain bone density, fat distribution, muscle strength and mass, red blood cell production, sex drive and sperm production. According to MedicineNet.com, the healthiest levels of testosterone in men range between 400 and 600 nanograms. Different types of treatments can be prescribed to men if their testosterone levels are unusually low or unusually high, with each treatment posing its own positive and negative effects.

High Levels

• A lot of good benefits come from having higher-than-average testosterone levels, such as a decrease in chances of having high blood pressure, heart attacks and obesity. However, according to MedicineNet.com, men with higher-than-average testosterone levels were 24 percent more likely to report injuries, 32 percent more likely to consume five or more alcoholic beverages per day, 35 percent more likely to have a sexually transmitted disease and 151 percent more likely to smoke. With even higher testosterone levels, men are at risk for engaging in risky behavior.

Prescribed Treatments

• According to MedicineNet.com, it is rare for doctors to prescribe medication to lower men’s testosterone levels. Doctors can prescribe a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist or antagonist that causes testosterone levels to drop 90 to 95 percent, according to Prostate-Cancer.com. This method of treatment is referred to as chemical castration because the levels of testosterone are dropped so low. This medication is only prescribed to men with prostrate cancer. Removing testosterone from the body can temporarily stop or slow the growth of the cancer cells. If this medication doesn’t work, the most extreme type of treatment is to have a surgical castration performed.

Diet

• According to a study conducted by the Department of Medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 2007, consuming two scoops of protein powder per day for 28 days resulted in serum testosterone levels decreasing by an average of 19 percent during those 28 days and then increasing within the two weeks after the soy protein was no longer consumed. According to Fitness Spotlight, other dietary ways to decrease testosterone levels include eating less meat, protein and fats.

Lifestyle

• According to Fitness Spotlight, there are lifestyle aspects that lower testosterone levels. Smoking cigarettes directly affect the Leydig cells in the body, causing a decrease in testosterone. Exercising a healthy amount, such as 45 to 60 minutes per day, can increase testosterone levels, but overtraining for longer periods of time can lower testosterone levels. Decreasing the amount of sleep you obtain at night and high levels of stress also decrease testosterone levels by creating higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. However, all of these lifestyle changes have adverse health effects and should be avoided. Consult with a doctor on ways to decrease testosterone naturally and safely.