Most men experience a drop in testosterone as they age, so understanding the signs can help you find treatment methods or spot signs of deeper health issues sooner. Our hormone levels naturally lower with older age, but low testosterone or extreme hormone drops at a younger age (under 40) can be a major cause for concern. Not only is testosterone essential for your sexual and reproductive health, but it also helps with muscles, bone density, and blood cell production as well.
Low testosterone or male hypogonadism can cause several issues and can lead to deeper concerns, such as chronic conditions or injury. Let’s dive deeper into the signs of low testosterone to help you pinpoint when your body may be experiencing hormone issues and when to seek additional medical help.
Reduced Lean Muscle Mass
Most of us assume that estrogen and testosterone are only important for reproduction and sexual health, but that is not the case. Testosterone helps to build muscle mass and helps you to maintain toned muscles. A drastic dip in testosterone can affect your workouts and overall strength when completing normal tasks. Testosterone deficiency can erase the hard work you have put in to build muscle and overall strength, or to lose weight. If you notice that workouts are more difficult or that your muscles are shrinking, it is best to consult your doctor immediately.
Erectile Dysfunction
While erectile dysfunction can occur in all men due to stress or other external factors, it should never be constant until older age, as testosterone starts to diminish. If you are noticing more frequent dysfunction, your testosterone levels could be rapidly declining before their natural time. Loss of morning or spontaneous erections can also be a sign of testosterone issues and should be brought up to your doctor, even if you believe they are caused by excess stress.
Fatique
With all hormone irregularities, fatigue is a common first sign that patients write off because of stress, work obligations, or insomnia. Fatigue is often directly linked to hormones, as they help to regulate your energy levels. Low testosterone can often be linked to feeling drained or sluggish, even with proper sleep or when drinking caffeine. Getting tested if you are experiencing constant fatigue can help treat the issue before it leads to other health issues.
Mood Changes Or Depression
Another connected aspect to our hormones is mood and mental clarity. Low testosterone can cause a shift in your daily mood or worsen your mental health, including depression. Those with low testosterone have reported feelings of irritability, lack of motivation, and excessive feelings of sadness. For individuals who have never experienced mental health issues before, this may come as a shock to the system and can be debilitating. These feelings can affect your relationships, work performance, or tasks that used to feel easy may become hard to do without panic or stress.
Trouble Concentrating
Another mental health issue that can come from low testosterone is difficulty concentrating or focusing on your school work or work responsibilities. Staying focused on one task until it is completed may be hard for those with low testosterone. This may also come along with some of the other symptoms, including fatigue and low libido. Low testosterone can make it difficult to concentrate on anything, including intimacy with a partner, cleaning, work, or caring for children.
Low Libido
In addition to erectile dysfunction, low testosterone is directly linked to lower sex drive in males. Hormone imbalances in both men and women can make it difficult to connect with a partner or spouse like you used to. Especially for younger patients, this can cause relationship strain and difficulty conceiving if couples are trying for children. Similar to these other symptoms, if it becomes a more persistent problem that wasn’t noticeable before, reach out to your healthcare provider to learn more about hormone replacement therapy or other treatments.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy From Regeneration Health
Testosterone replacement therapy can be extremely helpful for young males who are experiencing low testosterone. This treatment can help level out your hormones to a healthy level in order to help you maintain muscle, maintain your weight, maintain your sexual health, and feel like the best version of yourself. Regeneration Health specializes in functional medicine for male and female patients. You don’t have to let low testosterone control your life or experience debilitating symptoms. Reach out to our health care experts to help get to the root cause of your symptoms.