10 Alarming Signs of Low Testosterone Levels
Could you have low testosterone?: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Testosterone is responsible for a man’s sex drive, his appearance, bone mass and muscle development as well as his ability to generate sperm. Hypogonadism means diminished functional activity of the gonads—the testicles or the ovaries—that may result in diminished production of sex hormones. Low androgen (e.g., testosterone) levels are low doses of testosterone safe – sonnenreiter.de – referred to as hypoandrogenism and low estrogen (e.g., estradiol) as hypoestrogenism. These are responsible for the observed signs and symptoms in both males and females.
Current research shows that this effect only happens in about 2% of men as they age. But there is a lot of research going on right now to learn more about how testosterone affects older men and if using testosterone replacement therapy would be helpful. Since testosterone is a key influencer in so many bodily functions for men, it’s no surprise that low T may result in serious emotional changes. Some men lose focus, become more irritable, or even report feelings of depression. The difficulty to achieve or maintain an erection may not be entirely due to low T, though. Erection difficulties are linked to a variety of health concerns, such as diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and thyroid issues.
Suppose you don’t have a medical condition that could be causing your testosterone levels to drop. In that case, your doctor might recommend natural ways to boost testosterone, like losing weight and building muscle mass through exercise. Testosterone is a hormone produced by testicles in people assigned male at birth. Testosterone can affect many aspects of life, including appearance, sexual development and sex drive (libido). A small amount of testosterone is also produced in people assigned female at birth, however this article focuses on low testosterone in males.
However, if testosterone levels are low, the brain may not receive the signal it needs for a man to achieve an erection. Alternatively, a man may experience erections at random times, like while he’s sleeping. Low testosterone is an often overlooked but common challenge for men. Testosterone is the powerhouse hormone responsible for many male characteristics.
Low testosterone can cause this volume to shrink, which can make the bones more likely to break. Additionally, studies show that testosterone makes osteoporosis worse. When a man has low testosterone, this chemical reaction slows down. The child’s pubic hair, penis, and testes may not grow as much, and their voice may not change as much. Boys who don’t have enough testosterone may not be as strong or as durable as other boys their age, and their limbs may continue to grow out of proportion to the rest of their bodies. Because testosterone affects so many things, you may have signs and not even know it. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to pain and injury.
Millions of men use testosterone replacement therapy to restore low levels and feel more alert, energetic, mentally sharp, and sexually functional. For instance, being overweight, having diabetes or thyroid problems, and taking certain medications, such as glucocorticoids and other steroids, can affect levels. Therefore, simply having low-t levels does not always call for taking extra testosterone. Testosterone helps the body produce healthy red blood cells (RBCs). Low testosterone levels could lead to anemia, a blood disorder that may occur due to the decrease of RBCs. Inadequate serum levels of testosterone also interfere with the normal quality of sleep. For example, sleep apnea is a common disorder that is not directly related to hypogonadism but has been reported more frequently in obese or overweight individuals (2, 3).
Our focus in this series is really to educate men on testosterone and its affects on their body, but we thought this an important point to bring up. Even those that see other friends or family experiencing these symptoms. You can read more about the effects of low testosterone in women by clicking here. If you’ve noticed recent deterioration in your ability to play sports. Maybe you’re falling asleep after dinner or when you come home from work- i.e. you feel like you need to take a nap. Really any recent deterioration, either at home life or even work-life performance, can be seen as a symptom of low testosterone. These are all the symptoms of low testosterone that one could expect to see.
Some people call this change andropause or male menopause, comparing the testosterone decline to the drops in estrogen production in women’s bodies during menopause. Men’s testosterone levels decline gradually, while women’s estrogen levels fall more quickly over time. There are many symptoms of low testosterone in men, including flagging energy levels, low libido, weight gain, and hair loss. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consider getting your testosterone levels tested.
But there is a connection between hair growth and testosterone. Testosterone can help create the androgen DHT, which binds to hair follicles. As a result of low testosterone, these follicles become weaker, causing thinning hair. DHT helps with hair growth in men, mainly on the chest and back. Hypogonadism is a common condition in the male population, with a higher prevalence in older men, obese men, and men with type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that approximately 35% of men older than 45 years of age and 30-50% of men with obesity or type 2 diabetes have hypogonadism.
