Identifying Low Testosterone In Men
Testosterone is an essential sex hormone, primarily found in men, but also present in women to a far lesser degree.
Responsible for a mans physical development, his muscle mass, strength, body hair, deeper voice and of course his sexual/reproductive abilities. It also helps guard against metabolic conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis and can also help control levels of body fat.
As we get older, usually from around 30, our natural testosterone production starts to reduce, experts tell us by around 1-2% per year. As it declines, we can start to notice changes in some key bodily functions:
Our sex drive can reduce
- We become less fertile
- We start to lose muscle mass and strength
- Gain weight
- Bones become weaker
It can also bring with it some emotional changes too – depression, and anxiety can often be experienced as testosterone levels reduce.
Sexual Function
One of the key effects of testosterone is our sexual function and fertility. A drop in testosterone will usually mean a reduction in libido, and sexual performance, this can be a really worrying factor for many men, as they worry that they will not be able to perform as well as they would ike too.
They can find that their erections are weaker and not as long lasting, some sufferers discover that they cannot get an erection at all.
This problem is known as erectile dysfunction (ED) it is a symptom of low T, BUT is not the only cause, therefore if you find that you suddenly start to experience ED, then its best to get your self checked out by your doctor.
Physical Changes
As our testosterone levels start to deplete, its not uncommon for us to experience changes in our physical appearance.
Common changes can include:
- Increased body fat
- Reduced strength and muscle tone
- Decreased body hair
- Swellings or tenderness in the breasts
- Tiredness
- Problems sleeping
- High cholesterol
Disturbed Sleep
Studies have shown that reduced testosterone has a marked effect on sleep patterns. It has bene linked to insomnia, reduced energy levels and a loss of focus and concentration.
Boosting testosterone could help to reduce these symptoms, furthermore they can help to reduce the risk of sleep apnea, a potentially dangerous condition that disrupts breathing while you sleep.
At best this can make your sleep pattern even worse, and could ultimately lead to other complications such as a stroke.
On the flip side, sleep apnea can also lead to bodily changes that can in tun lead to low testosterone developing – a rather unpleasant and hard to break circle of events.
A good natural sleep supplement could certainly help with this problem
Emotional Changes
Aside from the physical effects, reduced testosterone can have an emotional effect too, with sufferers experiencing depression and feelings of low self esteem, sadness etc.
Some also experience memory problems and a difficulty in concentrating.
Testosterone is crucial to the regulation of our emotions, therefore its not uncommon for men with low (or high) levers of testosterone to become irritable, angry or very excited.
Other Causes Of Low Testosterone
The problems listed above are generally linked to age related testosterone decline. There are some other health issues that have also bene attributed to the problem. These can include:
- Thyroid problems
- Injury to the testicles
- Testicular and prostate cancer
- HIV
- Type 2 diabetes
- Interactions or side effects of other medications
- excess alcohol
- pituitary gland problems
- genetic abnormalities affecting the testicles
What Is The Normal Level Of Testosterone?
Healthy testosterone levels in the blood are usually between 350 and 1000 ng/dl When the levels drop below 300ng/dl it is usually accepted that you have low testosterone (hypogonadism)
Treating Low Testosterone
If you are diagnosed with low T, you have a number of options available to you..
Your doctor might suggest a course of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) this can take the form of injected testosterone, testosterone gels and creams, patches, and pills.
These drug based forms of testosterone replacement are often very effective, but they can come at a price.
They are linked to some quite nasty side effects in some cases, in the US currently there are hundreds of lawsuits being heard in the courts.
Many men who have been given TRT (in particular gels and creams) are suing the manufacturers because they experienced heart attacks and other problems as a direct result of using these drugs.
They claim that the manufacturers of these products knew about the potential risks but failed to notify the public of the prescribing doctors.
There has already been several compensation payouts totalling hundreds of millions of dollars.
Natural Alternatives
As a far safer, and natural option, you could consider a natural testosterone boosting supplement.
Instead of forcing man made synthetic testosterone into your body, they work in a natural way to promote and encourage your body to start to manufacture more of its own natural testosterone.
It does this by using a blend of proven herbal extracts, vitamins and minerals that work with and enhance the bodies natural hormonal activity.
Hugely popular and proven to be very effective, a good natural Testosterone boosting supplement can help return your testosterone levels without running the risk of side effects experienced by men receiving drug based TRT.
What To Look For
There are hundreds, if not thousands of natural T-boosters out there, to make sure you are getting one that is effective you need to follow these simple tips:
Choose one that lists its full formula – avoid anything with proprietary blends, complex or matrix
Buy one that is sold with a cash back guarantee – this assures you of a refund if the product doesn’t live up to its expectations.
What is also does is highlights the manufacturers faith in their product and their commitment to you – the customer
Ingredients are king – Some crucial ingredients to look out for are:
- Vitamin D3
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Vitamin B6
- D-Aspartic acid
- Boron
- Fenugreek
- Mucuna Pruriens
- Luteolin
- Stinging nettle Extract
If a product doesn’t contain a large number of these, give it a wide berth, these are some of the best ingredients out there!
Discover more about Natural Testosterone Ingredients That Work – Click Here
ABOUT THE AUTHOR –
I am 60 years old, I currently live in London. I have one married daughter aged 35
I have always had a passion for fitness, In my younger days I was a keen swimmer and competed at county level both at home and abroad. I am also a keen squash and tennis player and have always been a keen gym goer.
I have a CPD accreditation in Sports Nutrition and am a published author with my articles featuring in some popular publications.
Over the past 13 years I have studied the effects of testosterone both in the younger man and as we get older, the effects of low or reduced testosterone and how increasing its production can really improve your health.
On a personal level, a number of years ago, I was diagnosed with Low-T myself, and my own in-depth research has helped me to redress my own health concerns.
