Low testosterone in men is the cause of many unpleasant effects, which are generally aimed at “killing” the man in him.
The situation is not hopeless, we can fight it. But first you need to make sure that the problem is really testosterone.
In this material, we have collected 10 symptoms of testosterone deficiency in men.
Main thoughts:
Low testosterone levels may be a consequence of age (after 30 years it gradually decreases), poor environment, taking medications and poor lifestyle
Testosterone norm in men is 0.3 - 1 mcg/dl
One of the most unpleasant symptoms of low testosterone for men is decreased sexual desire (desire).
Low testosterone can affect erection, but is not always the cause of erectile dysfunction. Testosterone is only effective in treating it in 50% of cases.
Low testosterone manifests itself in a deterioration in the ratio of muscle mass and fat in the body: muscles disappear, body fat increases
Men with low testosterone are more likely to experience depression, irritability, decreased motivation, concentration and self-confidence
You can increase testosterone levels with the help of relatively safe testosterone boosters, anabolic steroids (not recommended by doctors due to the high risk of harm to health), and correct lifestyle habits
Functions of testosterone in the body of men
Testosterone is perhaps the most widely known hormone produced in the body of men (and women).
Men have a much higher level of it than women. In their body, it is produced in the testicles and is responsible for male appearance (growth of muscle mass and hair in appropriate places, strengthening of bones) and sexual development (sperm production, sexual desire, etc.).
In the male body, testosterone determines the following functions:
- sexual (desire, erection, sperm production);
- growth and maintenance of muscle mass;
- ratio of fat and muscle mass;
- bone density;
- production of red blood cells.
If we take these functions with negative signs, we get a picture of what will happen with a lack of testosterone. Overall, it is unpleasant, both from a physical and emotional point of view.
Therapy to raise testosterone
A premature sharp decrease in the most important male hormone most often accompanies the development of a serious depressive state. Consciousness becomes clouded, motivation and the ability to concentrate on anything are noticeably reduced, the man begins to arrive in a state of apathy.
In especially severe cases, the emotional background is so suppressed that suicidal tendencies arise. Doctors prescribe treatment with steroids to young men in such situations. If you start it, you will have to do injections constantly. Otherwise, depression will worsen.
Causes of low testosterone in men
There are several factors that influence the decrease in testosterone in men.
Age
The production of testosterone in the body increases during puberty, but after 30 years it begins to gradually decline : every year by about 1%.
According to the American Urological Association, approximately 2 in 10 men aged 60 have low testosterone 1.
Ecology and medicines
Testosterone levels in middle-aged men may be negatively affected by the environment , which scientists have been increasingly talking about lately.
It is reliably known that some chemicals (Roundup herbicide, for example), used today in agriculture to control weeds, when entering the body, inhibit the natural production of testosterone 7.
Medicines
Some medications also reduce testosterone production in men. This particularly applies to drugs to lower blood cholesterol 8.
Lifestyle
As is known, natural factors that stimulate testosterone production are sleep, exercise, a healthy diet, and the absence of bad habits.
It is an obvious fact that all of them are neglected by most of humanity today and even by many athletes.
Mark Twain outlined this position quite eloquently at one time: “The only way to be healthy is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like and do what you’re lazy.”
Low testosterone levels may be a consequence of age (after 30 years it gradually decreases), poor environment, taking medications and poor lifestyle
Next, we’ll talk about the symptoms of a lack of testosterone, what it means for men, how dangerous it is and whether something can be done about it.
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Age-related drop in testosterone
A decrease in the male hormone, occurring at a rate of one to three percent annually, is observed between the ages of 30 and 35 years. There is a condition medically called “andropause”, in which the decline in testosterone occurs at an earlier age and reaches five percent per year.
The processes associated with the fall of hormones in the male body proceed slowly, which quite often leads to the fact that many of the symptoms of this problem remain invisible, and no attempts are made to change this. Constant strength training, diet, and mineral consumption help to counteract and significantly increase testosterone.
Testosterone levels in men
First, let's decide on the testosterone norm for men, so as not to panic and diagnose ourselves in vain.
A testosterone level of less than 300 ng/dl (0.3 mcg/dl) is considered low (according to the FDA - the American Food and Drug Administration).
The normal level of testosterone in men is 300 - 1000 ng/dl (0.3 - 1 mcg/dl).
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The exact value can be determined using a blood test.
Testosterone norm in men is 0.3-1 mcg/dl
Treatment methods
What to do if testosterone is low in men? First of all, you should contact an endocrinologist and find out why testosterone is low. Then you will need to normalize the body's functioning.
To improve your general condition, you need to:
- play sports, but do not overload the body (swimming will be especially beneficial);
- organize proper and balanced nutrition;
- avoid stressful conditions;
- saturate your life with positive emotions (attend concerts, exhibitions, go on vacation);
- maintain a daily routine;
- sleep at least 8 hours a day (testosterone is produced during sleep);
- quit smoking.
Diet
Following a diet will help normalize low testosterone. It is necessary to give up sweets, fast foods, fatty foods, spicy and salty foods, marinades and smoked foods, carbonated drinks and alcoholic drinks (especially beer).
At the same time, you should increase the amount of vegetables, fruits and foods containing zinc in your diet (it is part of testosterone molecules): sea fish, seafood, cheese, nuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin.
Vitamins C, E, F and group B are important for men's health, which are found in high concentrations in fish oil, citrus fruits, avocados, rose hips, and black currants. Proteins are also needed to produce testosterone. Therefore, the diet should include lean meat.
Drug treatment
If the above methods do not achieve the desired result, the doctor prescribes hormone replacement treatment, which includes:
- use of a hormonal patch;
- taking pills;
- intramuscular injections;
- use of gels.
Treatment of men with testosterone will increase the level of the hormone, which will help get rid of unpleasant symptoms and normalize erectile function.
Medicines include Nebido, Androgel, Andriol, Omnadren. These are hormonal drugs containing testosterone, prescribed by prescription. Evo-Test, Vitrix, Tribulus are used to treat andropause. Their action is aimed at restoring testosterone naturally.
Preventive actions
To prevent a situation where men have low testosterone, it is recommended to exercise in order to strengthen muscle mass and avoid obesity, eat right, get proper rest, and follow a daily routine.
Symptoms of testosterone deficiency in men
1 Decreased sexual desire
Perhaps the biggest problem that men face when testosterone levels decrease is a violation of the quality of sexual life.
Testosterone and sex are inseparable . It plays a key role in libido (sex drive) in men. Symptoms of its deficiency may be:
- decreased desire to have sex;
- erectile dysfunction;
- decrease in sperm volume.
These three factors together influence the quality of sex. Violation of any one of them will make sexual intercourse impossible.
Many men experience a natural decrease in sex drive as they age. However, those who have low testosterone for other reasons will also experience a sharp decrease in sexual desire.
Contrary to popular belief, erectile dysfunction (when it's not worth it at all) is usually not associated with a lack of testosterone.
One of the most unpleasant symptoms of low testosterone for men is decreased sexual desire (desire).
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2 Difficulties with erection (when it’s “not worth it”)
Testosterone not only stimulates a man's sex drive, but also helps achieve and maintain an erection: it does not cause an erection on its own, but it activates certain receptors in the brain to produce nitric oxide .
Nitric oxide is involved in the chemical reactions necessary for an erection to occur.
As you know, in bodybuilding, nitric oxide supplements are used to dilate blood vessels and fill them with blood. An erection is the result of the penis filling with blood.
When testosterone levels are too low, a man may have difficulty getting an erection before sex or have spontaneous erections (for example, during sleep).
However, testosterone is only one of many factors that contribute to normal erections.
Research does not allow a clear conclusion that testosterone hormone therapy is effective in treating erectile dysfunction: in about half of the experiments it was ineffective 2.
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Many other reasons can cause erectile dysfunction. Among them:
- diabetes;
- problems with the thyroid gland;
- high blood pressure;
- high cholesterol;
- smoking;
- alcohol consumption;
- depression;
- stress;
- anxiety.
Low testosterone can affect erection, but is not always the cause of erectile dysfunction. Testosterone hormonal therapy is only effective in treating it in 50% of cases.
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3 Decreased sperm volume
Testosterone plays a role in sperm production.
Men with low testosterone often experience a decrease in sperm volume during ejaculation.
4 Hair loss
Another function of testosterone in the body is the creation of hair.
While genes are often the cause of hair loss, it can also be due to low testosterone.
Hair may disappear on the face (the beard does not grow or it is sparse) and the head (baldness).
5 Fatigue
The next symptom of low testosterone in men is a very strong feeling of fatigue.
Chronic fatigue even after sufficient rest or lack of motivation to go to training are likely consequences of low testosterone.
6 Loss of muscle mass
Lack of testosterone leads to unpleasant physical transformations.
This hormone is often called “male”, since it is responsible for the growth of muscle mass and strength, the appearance of hair in places of the body characteristic of men, and in general, for the formation of a male bodily constitution.
Research clearly suggests that testosterone determines muscle growth (but not necessarily muscle strength) 3. See Anabolic steroids for muscle gain: what are they and how do they work?
A decrease in muscle mass is one of the most unpleasant symptoms of low testosterone for men and athletes, especially when it is accompanied by the growth of a “belly” and female breasts.
This explains the almost complete sad absence of lean old men of athletic build in our society.
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Low testosterone manifests itself in a deterioration in the ratio of muscle mass and fat in the body: muscles disappear, body fat increases
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7 Increased body fat
An increase in body fat percentage is another unpleasant symptom of low testosterone in men. It manifests itself, in particular, in the development of gynecomastia - the growth of “female” breasts.
Scientists believe that this occurs due to an imbalance between testosterone and estrogen (the female sex hormone).
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8 Decreased bone mass
Osteoporosis, or thinning of the bones, is a condition more common in women. However, a lack of testosterone in men can have a similar effect, since this hormone is involved in the production and strengthening of bones.
Decreased testosterone levels in men, especially older men, lead to decreased bone mass and a greater susceptibility to fractures.
9 Impaired sleep quality
In addition to being responsible for decreased energy levels, low testosterone can also lead to insomnia.
Testosterone replacement therapy does not help in this case, and may, on the contrary, lead to shortness of breath during sleep (apnea) (periodic stopping and resumption of breathing). This greatly affects the quality of sleep 5.
Disturbed sleep, in turn, leads to an even greater decrease in natural testosterone levels 6.
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10 Mood swings
Low testosterone is not limited to its effects on muscle mass and sexual function. It affects the emotional state (mood) and mental activity.
Research shows that men with low testosterone are more likely to experience depression, irritability or inability to concentrate, and have decreased motivation and self-confidence 4.
A possible reason for this is the distortion of the two most important aspects for every man (lack of sexual desire, transformation into an ugly fat creature), which leads to persistent depression.
Men with low testosterone are more likely to experience depression, irritability, decreased motivation, concentration and self-confidence
Heat
The most common cause of sudden fever is considered to be a decrease in estrogen levels in women during menopause, but men can also experience similar sensations due to a lack of testosterone. This manifests itself in the form of a short-term increase in temperature, which is accompanied by sweating, redness of the face, and shortness of breath. Hot flashes can occur at any time of the day.
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The symptoms of testosterone deficiency listed above may be a consequence of dangerous diseases
The symptoms listed above can be either a consequence of a lack of testosterone, natural aging processes, or signs of certain diseases:
- thyroid disease;
- testicular damage;
- testicular cancer;
- infectious diseases;
- HIV;
- type 2 diabetes;
- side effects of medications;
- alcohol consumption;
- genetic abnormalities affecting the testicles;
- problems with the pituitary gland.
Only a doctor can understand the true reason.
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What to do if testosterone is low?
Regardless of what causes low testosterone, the situation is not hopeless. There are several ways (legal and illegal) to increase it and get rid of unpleasant effects.
1 Testosterone hormone therapy
Hormone therapy refers to the introduction of additional doses of testosterone into the body to artificially adjust its level.
There are several ways to administer testosterone:
- injections;
- pills;
- gels;
- patches (a piece of fabric that is applied to the skin or inside the mouth);
- granules (injected under the skin of the buttocks).
In the world of sports and bodybuilding, athletes use anabolic steroids and testosterone boosters to increase testosterone levels. However, it is noteworthy that athletes are not actually at risk for low testosterone .
Sports drugs for increasing testosterone (boosters), as well as some natural products with a similar function, are much safer for health than steroids.
The use of steroids can be accompanied by serious side effects, sometimes irreversible.
Doctors do not recommend testosterone therapy for those at high risk of prostate cancer.
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3 Reducing body fat mass and physical activity
Physical activity and weight control are natural factors for increasing or preventing a decrease in testosterone levels.
3 Taking sleeping pills to improve sleep quality
Sleeping pills can help you sleep more soundly, which normalizes testosterone levels. The physical activity from the previous point is also known to promote better sleep.
You can increase testosterone levels with the help of relatively safe testosterone boosters, anabolic steroids (not recommended by doctors due to the high risk of harm to health), and correct lifestyle habits
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Conclusion
Unlike women, whose levels of hormones in their bodies decrease very sharply during menopause, men experience a gradual decrease in the main male hormone, testosterone.
The older a man is, the more likely he is to have lower than normal testosterone levels.
Low testosterone levels in men (below 300 ng/dL) present with many unpleasant symptoms.
You can increase testosterone levels either in safe natural ways (using certain natural products or sports nutrition products), or dramatically, using anabolic steroids with the risk of serious side effects.
Do not try to diagnose and prescribe treatment for yourself. Make friends with doctors. In order to determine the problem, it is enough to simply take a blood test for testosterone. In addition to this, the doctor will be able to determine the true reason for its decrease... in some cases it may be a dangerous disease.
Prevention of normal testosterone levels
It is better to maintain normal hormonal levels as early as possible: the problem also occurs in young people. This does not require significant effort.
Enough:
- Set aside time for physical activity several days a week;
- Adhere to the principles of proper nutrition;
- Refuse or minimize fried, salty, spicy foods;
- Reduce the impact of negative emotional factors;
- Maintain a daily routine.
Testosterone below normal is a problem that requires a prompt solution. Otherwise, it will worsen the quality of intimate and social life and affect health.
