LH stimulates your testes to make testosterone, a hormone your body needs to produce sperm. As you age and go through menopause, your LH levels will increase as your levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease. Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates processes in your body that are important for puberty, sexual function, reproduction and sex drive. Your provider may order a test to check your LH levels if you have fertility issues, low sex drive or irregular menstruation. On treatment, the body stops making testosterone. If a man's testosterone is below the normal range, it's best to repeat it once more to be sure before starting testosterone therapy - often staying on it indefinitely. Understanding this communication network is important when it comes to diagnosing reproductive health issues. LH signals your ovaries or testes to make the hormones needed to start and maintain reproductive processes. Your hypothalamus secretes a hormone called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) that signals your pituitary gland to secrete LH. LH is part of a complex communication network that involves your brain (hypothalamus and pituitary gland) and your sex organs (ovaries and testes). They will assess your symptoms and test your testosterone levels to help provide a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan, if necessary. The designation of "healthy range" for testosterone levels depends on age and laboratory assay. As males age, their testosterone levels may decline by up to 2% annually after age 30 years. Your body needs a balance of estrogen, testosterone, and other male hormones so that your ovaries can function properly. Although testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, a small amount is also necessary for female health. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is an option for men who have low testosterone levels due to male hypogonadism. Serum testosterone, hematocrit, and prostate-specific antigen levels should be measured at baseline and at least annually in men 40 years or older receiving testosterone replacement therapy. Testosterone therapy isn’t about vanity. "Men deserve to feel strong, clear-headed, and connected to themselves again." More men are feeling drained, foggy, and disconnected, and they don’t always know why. "TRT isn’t about turning you into a bodybuilder," Pemdejian adds. When done right, it’s the opposite. "We’ve seen men come in feeling hopeless, and after a few months of proper care, they’re totally renewed." One under-discussed aspect of low testosterone? If you stop taking testosterone, your levels will return to baseline. This is because if your symptoms don’t improve, your testosterone level may not be the cause of your symptom. But it’s important to remember that TRT comes with potential risks and side effects. Your healthcare provider will work with you to figure out which option is best for you. If you stop taking testosterone, your body will have to recover its ability to make testosterone again. This can help improve the symptoms of low testosterone, like low libido and lack of energy. There are also many ways you can naturally boost testosterone levels, but those should be done in conjunction with TRT. If you are experiencing any symptoms as described above, you should definitely get your hormone levels checked. Too much estrogen in a male body is not a good thing; it can cause erectile dysfunction, or low libido." "Your body will start converting excess testosterone into estrogen to help compensate," says McDevitt. This effect of testosterone on behavioral performances is mediated in part through androgen receptors on the brain (Jia et al., 2013). There was evidence supporting the existence of a relationship between testosterone and depression and it was reported that after administration of testosterone, depression showed a significant level of improvement (Pope et al., 2010). In addition, testosterone plays a critical role in the mood and cognitive function of humans. In view of the recovery aspect, testosterone has a critical role in mediating the improved muscle mass and is essential for skeletal muscle growth (Sinha et al., 2014). Therefore, in the viewpoint of action mechanism of testosterone, there might be two types of rehabilitation, and both of these mechanisms might have effective roles in rehabilitation. "We never just give you testosterone and send you on your way," Pemdejian explains. Harvard Health emphasizes that TRT should be tailored to the individual and revisited frequently to minimize risks and optimize outcomes. "If your thyroid was underproducing, you’d take thyroid hormone. "That’s simply not true when it’s prescribed and monitored correctly." For all these reasons, your healthcare provider will carefully consider if TRT is safe for you based on your unique characteristics. This is why healthcare providers do extensive evaluations and tests before approving the use of TRT. Your body will take some time to restart production of testosterone naturally. If you stop TRT, you’ll return to your normal level of testosterone. Your healthcare provider will recommend regular testing to make sure TRT isn’t hurting your health.