Hormones helps in regulating various important functions in the human body. While some hormones are common in both men and women, some of them are quite different. One such hormone is that of testosterone. Testosterone is the male sex hormone, which is made in the testicles. This hormone is very important for normal male sexual development and various functions related to the same. Testosterone levels are high during puberty in men and various masculine features are developed at this time. Some of these features include development of facial and body hair, gaining of muscle strength, deep voice and so on. The hormone also plays a crucial role in sperm production in the male body. Thus, it is clear that a misbalance in the testosterone levels in the male body can cause various kinds of problems.
Low testosterone levels – common problem in men
There is an alarming fact about testosterone levels in men. The levels of testosterone start decreasing in men from quite an early age – about 30 years or so. And the rate of depreciation is quite fast. Research has shown that testosterone levels drop by almost 2-4% annually in men as they age. As mentioned previously low testosterone levels lead to various kinds of problems in men, particularly in their sexual life.
Apart from aging, some men generally have low testosterone levels. This is also known as Low Testosterone (low-T) or Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome (TD). This means that the male body does not have the required levels of testosterone in its system. Various kinds of signs and symptoms become evident when men have low testosterone levels in their body. When not treated in a proper manner at the right time, this might cause health issues in men.
As per American Urology Association, when testosterone levels are less than 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), it can be identified as low testosterone levels (Low-T). Interestingly, you will see that various kinds of testosterone boosting supplements are available in the market, which claim to increase the testosterone levels in the male body. The supplements are available in various formats, out of which oral capsules are the most common ones. Testogen is one of the best testosterone boosting supplements, which is made from organic ingredients. The best thing about the supplement is that apart from being highly effective, it has no side effects. The supplement is completely safe to use.
Signs and symptoms of low testosterone levels in men
There are very prominent signs and symptoms of low testosterone levels in men. While some of the symptoms are closely related to low-T levels, others might be due to some different health issues. It is best to seek advice from a healthcare professional to understand the exact situation. Some of the signs and symptoms are as follows:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Reduced libido and sex drive
- Loss of lean muscle mass in the body
- Obesity
- Less beard growth
- A sense of fatigue all the time
- Loss of body hair
- Signs of depression
- Lack of attention, focus and concentration
- Poor memory
- Low endurance and low energy levels
If these signs and symptoms appear in individual form, it might not be due to low-T. However, if you see that you have many of these symptoms, it is better to seek consultation with your doctor at once.
Reasons why testosterone levels drop in men
A drop in testosterone levels in men is nothing very alarming as this is one of the most common problems seen in males. The decrease in testosterone levels in the male body is a natural part of the process of aging. Along with natural aging, there might be other factors too which might impact testosterone levels in the male body. There might be some kind of injury which might have been inflicted on the testicles and this can be a cause for low testosterone levels. Other than this, use of radiation and chemotherapy for treatment of cancer in the genital area is also responsible for low testosterone levels in the male body. Ailments of the pituitary gland or use of steroids are also responsible for low testosterone levels in the male body.
How sexual life is impacted with low testosterone levels?
When a man has low testosterone levels in his body, there can be important health effects, particularly the sex life of a man can be hampered drastically. Men who have low levels of testosterone usually suffer from erectile dysfunction problem. This means that they have problems in getting an erection and even if they get one, they cannot sustain the erection for long. The erections which might take place might not be hard and might not last long. Also, there is lack of libido in men who have low testosterone levels. His desire to have sex declines and that will have negative impact on any relationship that he has. Due to the problem, the extent and intensity of sexual activities decrease for the man. Partner relationships go for a toss. Infact many marriages have also broken due to this problem.
Other health concerns which are related to low testosterone levels in the body
Apart from affecting sex life of a man, there are other serious and long-term effects which can be seen in the male body due to low levels of testosterone. Many men suffer from extremely low levels of testosterone and for them their bones become very weak and brittle. This condition is known as osteoporosis. It has been seen that men suffering from osteoporosis are highly prone to injury and bones are affected. It also takes a long time for them to heal from the bone injuries as the bones are not strong. The endocrine system and metabolism of men are also affected by low testosterone levels. Last but not the least, men with low testosterone levels are at high risk of death caused from heart ailments.
Diagnosis of low-T problem
Now you have a clear idea regarding the signs and symptoms which are associated to low testosterone levels. If you have erection problems along with low sex drive, fatigue etc. don’t lose time or ignore the issue. Contact a doctor immediately and report your problem. The doctor will carry out a blood test and the results will show if you have low testosterone levels. The levels of testosterone fluctuate throughout the day. Therefore the doctor might ask you to have more than one blood test for confirming the case. Usually the levels of testosterones are highest in the morning time.
Treatment for low testosterone levels
If your blood reports show that you suffer from low testosterone levels, you will be advised to carry out testosterone replacement therapy. Rubbing testosterone gel on the shoulders or arms of the man can help in increasing testosterone levels. There are other methods for the treatment as well. A patch can be worn which slowly releases testosterone into the blood of the man. Shots can also be taken into a muscle for boosting low levels of testosterone. Pellets which go under the skin are also used by many men. Oral replacement therapies are also available but they are usually not recommended for testosterone replacement therapy. Men suffering from prostate cancer should not opt for these treatments as cancer growth might increase with this.