Here’s the bad news:
This isn’t an article about how finding the hottest hooker in Amsterdam to fulfill your ultimate sexual fantasy is going to improve your testosterone levels.
Although let’s be honest, if a hooker doesn’t do the trick you’re probably beyond my ability to help you.
However, chasing ladies of the night is not a sustainable solution to your testosterone and erectile function woes anyway, right?.
Now here’s the good news:
This is an article about red light therapy and how it’s an inexpensive way to improve your testosterone levels, which works more reliably than the other plan, costs a lot less, and is far less likely to give you some kind of disease.
Let’s see what it’s all about.
Light Therapy and Red Light Therapy
Light therapy (a/k/a phototherapy) is a clinically proven medical procedure that works by exposing the skin to different wavelengths of light.
Depending on the wavelength and type of exposure, it has been shown to effectively treat a variety of ailments, including:
- Jaundice
- Eczema and other skin disorders
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Sleep disorders
- Depression
- Some forms of cancer
Some recent research has also found light therapy can help accelerate wound healing, though this claim is less well-established.
Bottom line: application of specific wavelengths of light directly impact human tissues, especially the skin.
Red Light Therapy
Red light impacts human tissues differently than other kinds of light because the wavelengths are so long.
The science on this is a little deep, so skip past the bullet list below unless you’re really interested.
- Light travels in waves, like the ones at the beach
- The distance between the peaks of each wave is called the “wavelength”
- Red light has the longest wavelength of visible light: the distance between the peaks is longest
- Violet light has the shortest wavelength of visible light: the distance between the peaks is shortest
- In phototherapy, each time a peak hits tissue, the light weakens.
To summarize, shorter wavelengths weaken fastest and longer wavelength light (Red light) weakens slowest which is why red light penetrates deepest into human tissue.
Now, even with that deeper penetration, red light can’t do much for many organs in the human body.
They’re buried beneath too much muscle and fat.
But your testicles are covered by just a thin layer of skin. Meaning red light therapy can reach them and make an impact.
And what kind of impact is really good news for men with low testosterone.
Red Light Therapy Boosts Testosterone
Quick history lesson.
Research into this began with a 1939 study where men had their chests, then genitals, exposed to UV light.
Five days of UV to the chest boosted testosterone by 120%, and eight days right to the testicles boosted T by 200%.
After that, science got seriously interested in what other wavelengths of light did to testosterone, and why light would have any impact at all.
For example…
- In 2013, a study published in Biomedical Research tested light therapy’s impact on testosterone production in a group of rats. They found red light specifically increased serum testosterone, with no side effects (source).
- In 2016, a study at University of Siena tested the impact of light therapy on men with low libido. Those who received red light therapy experienced increased libido and better satisfaction from sex, while those who received a placebo treatment experienced no change.
- A variety of studies on the microbiology level also support the idea that red light can stimulate or improve the chemical and biological processes behind testosterone production.
Put that all together, and it’s clear red light therapy can improve testosterone levels.
But how does it do that?
We’re not 100% certain, but we do know how it causes positive shifts in a related process: your fertility.
Red Light Enhances Fertility
We know without a doubt that good sperm health correlates strongly with good erectile health and balanced hormone levels.
Here’s what a century of studies have told us about this subject.
- Light therapy increases testosterone production via stimulation of the Leydig cells inside the testicles.
- Red light exposure increases sexual activity, as shown in dozens of experiments on birds, mice, and other small mammals.
- Rodent testosterone production nearly tripled after direct red light therapy to the testicles, leading researchers to predict similar results with human subjects.
We also have a solid handle on how this happens.
Sperm production and health rely very heavily on ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), which is the primary energy carrier between cells.
Red light (and infrared light — more on that in a moment) both boost ATP production when directly applied to mitochondria (source).
More red light = more ATP. More ATP = more and healthier sperm. Therefore, more red light = more and healthier sperm.
There’s also some evidence to suggest that red light improves sperm motility (how fast and well they swim).
Remember earlier when I said ATP was an energy carrier? Just like Michael Phelps, your sperm swim better when they’re well-fed. Red light feeds them better.
Red Light Therapy For Testosterone – Conclusion:
The FDA does not classify red light therapy as a viable treatment for low testosterone yet.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it, but it does mean you can’t go to the doctor and order a course of red light treatment for your balls.
Instead, you can try a few options:
- Get referred for an LED red-light bed for cosmetic condition like wrinkles (and let your balls come along for the ride)
- Visit a country where red light therapy for testosterone is approved and common
- Buy a red light therapy bulb and do it yourself at home
The third option is the most accessible to most men who read this blog, and you can get the equipment at Home Depot or a similar home improvement store. Or you can order specialized equipment online for this exact purpose.
Whatever light you chose, it’s vital to avoid lights that also heat up your junk. Remember: exposure to heat (like in a hot tub) can wreck your testosterone, testicle function, and erectile health.
Red light is right next to infrared light on the electromagnetic spectrum, and as you recall from middle school science, infrared light = heat.
Once you’re set up, try it out for a few months and see what happens.
Science is on your side.
References:
Reza Salman Yazdi, Simin Bakhshi, Firooz Jannat Alipoor, Mohammad Reza Akhoond. Effect of 830-nm diode laser irradiation on human sperm motility. Lasers Med Sci (2014) 29:97–104
Ross S. Firestone, Navid Esfandiari, Sergey I. Moskovtsev et al. The Effects of Low-Level Laser Light Exposure on Sperm Motion Characteristics and DNA Damage. Journal of Andrology, Vol. 33, No. 3, May/June 2012
Jin-Chul Ahn, Young-Hoon Kim, Chung-Ku Rhee. The effects of low level laser therapy (LLLT) on the testis in elevating serum testosterone levels in rats. Biomedical Research 2013; 24 (1): 28-32
Mendis-Handagama SM1, Siril Ariyaratne HB. Leydig cells, thyroid hormones and steroidogenesis. Indian J Exp Biol. 2005 Nov;43(11):939-62.
NM Biswas, R Biswas, NM Biswas and Late H Mandal. Effect of continuous light on spermatogenesis and testicular steroidogenesis in rats. Nepal Med Coll J 2013; 15(1): 62-64
