Testosterone is a hormone that plays a huge role in the sexual development and function in men. Tennessee Men’s Clinic team mentions that men need testosterone to make sperm and maintain their sex drive. This hormone also assists them in maintaining muscle and bone strength as well as make red blood cells. Healthy testosterone levels contribute to the overall well-being of a man. With age, men naturally produce less testosterone. But if the testosterone levels of a man become too low, they can experience issues with sexual health and wellbeing. Fortunately, today there are testosterone optimization treatments available that help men to maintain balanced testosterone levels.
Tennessee Men’s Clinic provides insight into the signs of low testosterone in men
Testosterone levels usually increase during puberty, and help boys develop muscle strength and body hair. This hormone is also necessary for sperm production. However, after the age of 30, the testosterone levels in many men start to decline. The extent of this decline would vary from one man to the other. Certain men tend to have higher testosterone levels than others of a similar age, while some have lower levels. In general, older men tend to have lower testosterone levels. If the testosterone levels of a man are too low, then the condition is known as hypogonadism or testosterone deficiency. This basically means that the man’s body is not able to produce enough testosterone.
There are several reasons why a man may have low testosterone levels. While reducing testosterone levels with age is normal, there are also men who have low testosterone throughout their lives. Factors like illness, surgery, and emotional stress may momentarily reduce testosterone levels, but they should go back once the man has fully recovered. Habits like high alcohol consumption and smoking may also reduce testosterone levels. Here are a few other causes of low testosterone:
- Injury to the testicles
- Genetic conditions like Klinefelter syndrome
- Certain medicines, especially particular painkillers and antidepressants
- Cancer treatment – Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may affect testosterone production
It is common for men to experience issues like low libido and erectile dysfunction as they age. Low testosterone can also cause such problems. In addition to changes in sexual health, there can be many other signs of testosterone deficiency, such as:
- Weight gain and obesity
- A decrease in muscle mass
- Excessive tiredness or fatigue
- Reduced beard and body hair growth
- Poor memory and focus, and difficulty concentrating
- An increase in breast tissue (gynaecomastia)
If a man believes that he is experiencing signs of testosterone deficiency, it would be prudent to consult a medical professional. The medical professional may first suggest lifestyle changes to ease these symptoms. Such changes may include:
- Following a healthy diet
- Relieving stress
- Getting enough sleep
- Increasing physical activity
- Reducing alcohol consumption and smoking
Tennessee Men’s Clinic team mentions that if the changes discussed above does not help, then one may need to go for hormone optimization. Medical interventions like testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can help improve symptoms of low testosterone.
