Why Men Today Have Half the Testosterone of Their Fathers
Tracy Gapin, MD on the Extended Podcast with Dr. Darshan Shah
Dr.Tracy Gapin recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Darshan Shah on the Extend Podcast for a powerful conversation about men’s health and the crisis that no one’s talking about—the sharp decline in testosterone and its massive impact on performance, energy, and longevity.
In this episode, he shared insights from my own clinical practice and personal journey, diving into why so many men today feel like they’ve lost their edge—and what we need to do about it.
Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways—and how they directly apply to you.
Modern Men Are Operating at a Fraction of Their Potential
We’re facing a very real and measurable drop in testosterone. This isn’t theory—it’s hard data. Studies have shown that men today have less than half the testosterone levels our fathers did at the same age.
We’re not talking about aging or bad genetics. We’re talking about an epidemic of underperformance.
Why? Because everything about the modern lifestyle is working against us. Our food supply is depleted. We’re exposed to toxins daily in our water, our personal care products, even our air. We’re under relentless stress, constantly connected, sleep-deprived, and stuck in front of screens.
And it’s not just affecting us today—it’s affecting future generations. Dr. Tracy Gapin explain on the podcast that the toxins we’re exposed to now can literally alter sperm quality and impact the health of our kids and grandkids. That’s the science of epigenetics: our environment and behavior rewrite how our genes are expressed, and those changes can be inherited.
Your choices today don’t just affect your energy, focus, and libido—they shape your legacy.
From Surgeon to Strategist: Why I Left Traditional Medicine Behind
For 23 years, I was a board-certified urologist at the top of my game. I built one of the first robotic surgery programs in Sarasota, Florida. I was operating on complex cancers, leading-edge cases, procedures that were changing lives.
But I kept running into the same problem.
Men were coming to me with serious concerns: low energy, poor sleep, struggling to focus, weight gain, a complete lack of drive—and I had no answers for them.
Why? Because traditional medicine doesn’t care about optimization. It’s reactive, symptom-focused, and designed to treat disease once you’re already in crisis.
That wasn’t good enough.
Especially when I found myself in the same situation: 30 pounds overweight, struggling to sleep, burned out, and barely holding it together.
I knew I had to change the game—not just for myself, but for every man out there who refuses to settle.
That’s when I dove into the science of genomics, functional medicine, and performance optimization. Over the past decade, I’ve developed a comprehensive system that helps men reclaim their edge, their drive, and their power—not just to survive, but to thrive.
That’s the foundation of what we do at the Gapin Institute. It’s not sick care. It’s high-performance health.
What’s Really Driving the Crash in Testosterone
During the podcast, I break down four primary factors every man needs to understand:
- Nutrition + Toxins
- You cannot optimize your health eating ultra-processed garbage and drinking from plastic bottles. Period.
- The average man is unknowingly bathing in endocrine-disrupting chemicals—pesticides, BPA, phthalates, and more—that lower testosterone, increase estrogen, and wreak havoc on the body.
- Chronic Stress
- Most men are living in a constant sympathetic state—fight or flight mode 24/7.
- When your cortisol is chronically elevated, it shuts down testosterone production, sabotages sleep, and disrupts your entire system.
- Sedentary Lifestyle
- If you sit all day, don’t train with intensity, and fail to move with purpose, your body responds by downshifting your hormones and metabolism.
- Genetic and Epigenetic Factors
- Your DNA is not your destiny. But your environment determines whether those genes work for you or against you.
- If your father or grandfather was exposed to high levels of toxins or poor lifestyle habits, you may already be at a disadvantage—but that can be reversed.
You can’t optimize what you don’t measure. That’s why precision diagnostics and individualized strategies are non-negotiable.
The Silent Symptoms Most Men Ignore
Most guys don’t know what optimal feels like. They’re so used to feeling average, they don’t even realize how much they’ve lost.
Here are the signs I see in my practice every single day:
- You hit a wall at 2 PM and need caffeine just to function.
- You can’t stay focused or sharp in high-stakes situations.
- You’ve got belly fat that won’t budge, even though you’re working out.
- You’re less interested in sex—and even when you want to perform, you struggle.
- You feel like you’re pushing through every day instead of dominating it.
Sometimes, the symptoms are subtle. Often, your partner notices before you do. You’re not as motivated. You’re more irritable. You’re not leading with the same intensity.
And the scary part? Even men in their 30s are showing up with testosterone levels that resemble men in their 70s.
That’s why I recommend starting testosterone testing by your early 30s—or earlier if you’re already seeing symptoms.
Why We Test Over 500+ Biomarkers—And You Should Too
At the Gapin Institute, we don't guess. We test.
Our team evaluates over 500 biomarkers to get a complete picture of your health—far beyond what you’ll get at your typical primary care visit.
We look at:
- Total and Free Testosterone (the bioavailable form that actually matters)
- Cortisol and stress markers
- Inflammatory signals like hs-CRP
- Micronutrient status
- Thyroid function
- Insulin sensitivity and blood sugar regulation
- Liver and kidney function
- Cardiovascular markers like ApoB and LDL-P
I shared on the podcast a client in his 60s who came in complaining of mild mental decline. What he really wanted? To stay competitive in the bridge tournaments he loved.
Once we optimized his testosterone and addressed underlying inflammation, his clarity, memory, and confidence returned.
Hormone optimization isn’t just about muscles and libido—it’s about reclaiming your mental edge.
Rethink Testosterone Testing—Most Labs Are Useless
Most guys only get their total testosterone checked. But that doesn’t tell the whole story.
Over 99% of your testosterone is bound to proteins like SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin), which makes it inactive. The only testosterone that truly matters is free testosterone—the form your body can actually use.
In my practice, we aim for around 20 pg/mL free T, but that varies based on your genetics, lifestyle, and goals.
We also track SHBG, because if it’s high, your free T plummets—even if your total T looks “normal.”
Normal is not the goal. Optimal is.
Strategy, Not Supplementation
Once we identify low T, we craft a personalized strategy based on your goals, age, and fertility needs.
Treatment options include:
- Injectable testosterone (subQ or IM, usually 2–3 times a week)
- Topical testosterone (cream or gel)
- Pellet therapy (long-acting testosterone implants)
- Clomiphene and HCG for younger men who want to maintain fertility
But here’s what most guys miss:
Testosterone therapy alone won’t fix you.
You need to dial in your sleep, nutrition, training, and stress management. Otherwise, you’re just putting a Band-Aid on a system that’s still broken.
That’s why every client at Gapin Institute works with a team: MDs, functional health coaches, nutritionists, and fitness pros who understand performance at a cellular level.
This Is a Process—Not a Prescription
We re-test every 6–8 weeks early on, then quarterly once stable. Why?
Because your body evolves. Stress, aging, diet, and training impact your internal environment every single day. You must adjust your plan accordingly.
One client, Joe, came in with nearly non-existent free T—around 4 pg/mL. He had tried everything on his own—lifestyle changes, over-the-counter supplements—but nothing worked.
Once we built his personalized optimization plan, his energy exploded. He dropped weight, got back in the gym, and reignited his drive—in business and in life.
One Size Fails All
Cookie-cutter plans don’t work for high performers.
That’s why we start every Peak Launch client with a deep-dive diagnostic—over 500 biomarkers, genomic analysis, wearable data, full-body imaging, and a customized performance blueprint.
Because we’re not interested in average.
We’re here to help you perform at your highest level—mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Final Word with Dr. Tracy Gapin and Dr. Darshan Shah
If you feel like something’s off—trust that instinct.
Get tested. Learn your numbers. Take control. Don’t settle for “normal.”
You were designed to perform, lead, and live with intensity. That requires a personalized strategy, not a prescription pad.
This is about reclaiming your edge, optimizing your biology, and becoming the most elite version of yourself.
The time to act is now. Work with Dr. Tracy Gapin today!
