A Brief Introduction To The Problem
Low testosterone affects a surprising number of men. It is estimated that 2 in every 100 men suffer from some symptoms of low testosterone. This condition is also called hypogonadism.
And before we get into the details of what that means, it is important to know whether or not you may be suffering from this condition right now. If you are suffering from lack of energy, lowered sex drive, a loss of bone density or are finding it difficult to build muscle, you may be suffering from hypogonadism.
In the following article, we will be discussing everything you need to know about low testosterone or hypogonadism as a man; including ways to combat and prevent it. But we must begin with the basics.
A Brief Introduction To The Male Sexual Hormone
So, what is testosterone?
Testosterone is the male sex hormone produced by the testicles. If you have heard of estrogen and its effects on women, you can think of testosterone in the same way with respect to men.
Just like estrogen is responsible for the traits that make a woman a woman (breast development, body mass, etc.), testosterone is responsible for the traits we associate with males.
Facial hair, muscle development, deeper voices, sperm production, and sexual drive are all products of testosterone. For men, testosterone production peaks somewhere around the teen and young adult years.
And as the years go by, the testicles produce less and less of this important male sex hormone. This is why male enhancement pills are so prevalent among men in their 50’s and beyond. But these types of treatments can be ineffective. Natural testosterone production is the best solution to the decline in testosterone levels.
When Your Body Isn’t Producing Enough Testosterone
When your body isn’t producing enough testosterone, it is called hypogonadism. This condition is natural. It happens to many men by merit of aging. However, hypogonadism produces some problematic side effects for men.
These side effects include:
- Diminished physical energy
- Low libido
- Excess body fat
- Mental fogginess
- Cognitive issues
- Erectile dysfunction
Low testosterone in men affects in different ways; and the symptoms listed above are not the only ones. But they are the most common, and they are usually the targets of the best testosterone boosters that we see crop up on the market so often.
The Prevalence Of Low Testosterone In Men
If you are suffering from low testosterone, you are surely not alone. As mentioned earlier in this article, low testosterone in men affects 2 in every 100 that roughly translates to about 2.1% of the male population.
While that may not seem like a lot, 2.1% of billions of men is still a lot of men. And this is why the market for male enhancement pills is so vast, which we will get into with more detail later. But first, let’s talk about why this is such a common problem for men.
How Does Testosterone Production Drop?
Unfortunately, there are a vast number of ways that testosterone production can drop off in men. We can break down the causes into three categories:
- Congenital Conditions – Some men are born with conditions that make it difficult for their bodies to produce testosterone naturally. One of these conditions is known as Noonan Syndrome and can result in heart defects, hearing loss, behavioral problems, and pubertal delay. Klinefelter syndrome is another condition that is known to cause low testosterone.
- External Occurrences – A large number of environmental factors can impact testosterone production, including infection, damage to testicles caused by an accident of some sort, cancer, and chemotherapy drugs.
- Natural Causes – Of course, there are also natural causes of low testosterone such as aging. Excessive obesity may also affect testosterone production.
Some Uncommon Effects
While we have discussed the common effects of low testosterone in men, there are some indirect and rarer side effects such as:
- Compromised memory
- Inability to focus
- Depression
- Lack of physical endurance
These symptoms sometimes aren’t correlated with low testosterone in men, and that is why sometimes, the best testosterone boosters aren’t even used to treat them.
Causes Of Low Testosterone
As mentioned earlier, low testosterone in men can be caused by many factors. Some lesser-known factors that you should still be aware of include diets that include the worst foods for men, antipsychotic medications, pituitary gland abnormalities, autoimmune disease, high blood pressure, and narcotic abuse.
Symptoms To Look Out For
Some symptoms of low testosterone can include irritability, loss of sexual interest, less body hair, and less facial hair.
Best Way To Diagnose Hypogonadism
By far, the best way to diagnose this condition is to seek the help of a doctor or specialist. If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms or suspect that you may have low testosterone levels, don’t try to self-diagnose or medicate. See a doctor as soon as you can.
How To Treat Low Testosterone
There are several ways to treat low testosterone in men. Testosterone therapy is one of the most common and administered by a doctor. But you may have heard of other options such as:
- Testosterone Boosters – Testosterone boosters usually come in supplement form and can be bought over the counter. However, they may be ineffective in treating the root causes of low testosterone.
- Male Enhancement Pills – Male enhancement pills also usually focus on the symptoms of low testosterone rather than the causes.
Low Testosterone And Health
If you are suffering from low testosterone, you may have some questions which we will address in this section.
- Does having low testosterone mean I am unhealthy? – Low testosterone can affect many areas of health, but in a general sense, it does not indicate poor health.
- Does low testosterone cause diabetes? – Lowered testosterone may cause insulin resistance that can increase the chances of late-onset diabetes.
- Does low testosterone cause obesity? – Low testosterone can result in a lack of energy and stamina which, over time, can result in excess fat development.
- Does low testosterone cause metabolic syndrome? – Low testosterone can result in metabolic problems like high blood pressure and high blood glucose.
- Does low testosterone cause heart disease? – It can cause specific conditions like coronary artery disease and general cardiovascular complications.
- What other conditions can low testosterone cause? – Mild anemia, loss of bone density, gynecomastia, infertility, and erectile dysfunction, to name a few.
Options For Replacing Testosterone
There are many options for actually replacing some of the testosterone that your body stops producing. These options include hormone patches, testosterone injections, surgically implanted subdermal testosterone pellets and even topical gels containing the hormone that absorbs through the skin.
The Case For Testosterone Therapy
Testosterone therapy can be beneficial if it is indeed found that your body is not producing enough of the hormone. If you have been tested for low testosterone and begin testosterone therapy; you may notice an increase in energy and vitality as well as an easing of symptoms of hypogonadism.
When You May Need Testosterone Treatment Therapy
Conditions such as bone density loss, history of narcotic use, HIV/AIDS, infertility, and gland disorders may all warrant testosterone treatment therapy.
What Are The Side Effects Of Testosterone Therapy?
Some of the side effects associated with testosterone therapy include an inability to sleep, acne, irritability, aggression, benign prostatic hyperplasia, excessive red blood cell production, testicle shrinkage, and breast growth.
Questions On Testosterone
A: Some of the worst foods for men include soy products, mint, pastries, alcohol and licorice root. Make sure to avoid them.
A: The best diet plan for men who are looking to keep testosterone levels healthy must incorporate beef, beans, egg yolks, shellfish, and low-fat milk.
A: Different products have different side effects but the most common are increased aggression, restlessness, and a worsening complexion.
A: Low testosterone can affect your mental clarity, body composition, sexual life, self-esteem, and cardiovascular health.
A: Age is the number one cause of hypogonadism followed by cancer, testicular trauma, and metabolic disorders. Diets devoid of immune-boosting foods have also been observed in men with low testosterone.
In Summary
Low testosterone can be detrimental to your life. While most men experience some sort of a drop off in testosterone production, it may cause serious complications in others.
It is vital to adopt the best diet plan possible, get a physical examination every year, and speak with your doctor as soon as you experience any symptoms that could be associated with low testosterone or if you suspect that your body is no longer producing adequate amounts of the hormone.
Remember that while testosterone therapy and testosterone boosters may be effective, they may also cause adverse reactions. Be keen and mindful of your body’s changes and speak with your physician frequently.
