TRT London

Does London have a Testosterone Problem?

All other things being equal, why would a man’s testosterone levels be lower in London? We’ve put together a few good reasons;

• We suffer from more pollution in London.
• Londoners have to deal with more stress.
• Men in London get less exercise.
• Londoners booze more.
• Londoners sleep less.

Air Pollution

Recently we have seen the expansion of the ULEZ scheme, so efforts are being made to to reduce pollution in London.

Whether you agree with ULEZ or not, something had to be done. Work by King’s College London showed that areas in central London often breach the annual mean limit set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for NO2 concentrations. And a study on London’s particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) levels conducted by The Environmental Health Group showed that, although improved over the last decade, levels still surpass those in other major UK cities such as Liverpool, Newcastle, and Belfast.

A densely packed population, extensive road traffic, and concentrated industrial activities collectively contribute to a relatively more polluted environment.

What effect does this have on testosterone levels?.

It doesn’t help, that’s for sure. Multiple studies suggest that pollutants, especially particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10), can disrupt the body’s endocrine functions, leading to a decline in serum testosterone. These particulates can carry heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are suspected to interfere with the production of testosterone.

Compounds in polluted air can trigger oxidative stress, leading to a cascade of cellular disturbances in the testes and consequently reducing testosterone synthesis.(1, 2)

London is Fun … But Stressful

London performs well in subjective happiness scores. Earning over £80K a year certainly seems to help.

According to the Office for National Statistics, Londoners have historically been more anxious and unhappy than anywhere in the UK (source), with those aged 45 to 64 most likely to be unhappy.

For those paying attention … that’s also the age range where testosterone decline is most apparent.

The relationship between stress and testosterone is well known. Several studies have demonstrated that chronic anxiety can lead to diminished testosterone levels in men, because stress elevates cortisol production, and cortisol suppresses testosterone synthesis.

People in London get less exercise

Public Health England, “Physical activity: Applying All Our Health” (2019) (source)

A report which concluded people living in London are less likely to meet the recommended levels of physical activity than those in other regions of England. The report suggests that this may be due in part to factors such as high population density, limited access to green spaces, and busy lifestyles.

Sport England, “Active Lives Adult Survey: May 2019/20 Report” (source)

This survey found that people living in London were less likely to meet the recommended levels of physical activity than contemporaries living in other parts of England. The report points at factors such as high levels of commuting and a lack of time for leisure activities.

NHS Digital, “Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England, 2021” (source)

This report found that people living in London were less likely to meet the recommended levels of physical activity than those living in other regions of England. This report reasons that it could be due to factors such as the high cost of gym memberships and a lack of access to safe and convenient outdoor spaces.

Exercise & Testosterone

This comprehensive review in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research(source) explored multiple studies done on exercise and testosterone.

The text explains that both acute and long-term resistance training can elevate testosterone levels. Aerobic and cardio exercises activities have beneficial effects on testosterone, but resistance training stands out as being particularly effective for boosting testosterone.