There are many symptoms of low testosterone in men. Some are serious and very noticeable and others less noticeable. Because of this, understanding when to visit a medical professional who specializes in low testosterone is important.
Testosterone plays a major role in men, but most men just think of the sex drive or muscle growth. But there’s a lot more that is affected by testosterone in the body. When testosterone levels go aren’t monitored and continue to decline, it can bring about serious problems that are hard to ignore.
Testosterone is a hormone classified as an androgen, which is responsible for the regulation of many bodily functions, such as fertility. Ordinarily, testosterone levels drop by approximately 1% every year after the age of 30.
Causes of Decreased Testosterone
Testosterone levels dropping as you age is somewhat normal. However, there are some things that can contribute and even worse accelerate the decline of testosterone levels.
Chemotherapy
Alcohol abuse
Obesity
Medication complications, side effects, or drug abuse
Diabetes
Hypothyroidism
Trauma
Injury of the testes, metabolic disorders
Excessive estrogen
Improper Diet
So now let’s look at some of the warning signs to look out for when it comes to low testosterone.
1. Diminished Sex Drive
Testosterone is the primary hormone responsible for a man’s sex drive. The decrease in this hormone can result in decreased sexual interest and performance in the bedroom.
Men with already low testosterone levels entering their 30’s are prone to experiencing low testosterone symptoms, such as low libido.
This can also create psychological issues such as stress and anxiety which only make matters worse.
Furthermore, the effects of a low sex drive can place undue stress on romantic relationships which would only add an additional layer of stress to most men.
2. Hair Loss Or Lack Of Hair Growth
Hair loss and balding has been the bane of existence for most men. It just so happens that testosterone in a primary contributor to hair growth in men.
Additionally, low testosterone levels have been linked to an inability to grow adequate facial hair.
Similarly, too much testosterone can also cause balding and hair loss, which is why it’s so important to monitor your testosterone levels with a professional.
3. Chronic Fatigue and Tiredness
It doesn’t matter how much sleep you get each night, with low testosterone you will wake up feeling tired, groggy, and all around unrested. Additionally you will hit that after lunch crash and need a nap.
If you are constantly feeling fatigued and tired, this may be one of the clearest signs of low testosterone. It goes without saying that poor energy levels affect your every day tasks, workouts, and overall performance.
And yes, you see a theme here. This warning sign created more stress, thus, increasing cortisol levels.
An increase in cortisol levels for a significant period of time may lead to adrenal fatigue which would affect hormone regulation within the body.
One of the hormones that is affected by high cortisol is testosterone.
4. Stubborn Belly Fat
Testosterone is the hormone in men that affects the way your body deals with fat as well as muscle mass.
Remember when you could drink a case of Natural Light back in your 20’s and never gain a pound? Now men in their 30’s develop that “beer gut” and that is due in part by decreased testosterone levels.
Testosterone aids the body in regulating metabolism which could be the reason why it’s much easier to gain fat in this situation.
Low testosterone can lead to fat gain which can result in the conversion of residual testosterone into estrogen that results in a further reduction of testosterone levels.
Visceral fat is one of the many potential signs of fat gain as a result of low testosterone.
5. Decreased Muscle Mass
You simply cannot develop and grow muscle mass without testosterone. One of the reasons why men are able to develop a larger body frame of muscle mass compared to women is because of testosterone.
However, the reverse is also true. When men start to notice a decrease in lean muscle mass despite efforts of trying to maintain or build muscle, it could be a sign of low testosterone.
In addition to this, the lack of energy and motivation to get a good workout is also linked back to the low testosterone. So as you can see, these two issues pair together to result in decreased muscle mass.
Treating Low Testosterone Symptoms
So you have the warning signs and are wondering what can be done about this. Lucky for you, this is our area of expertise. If you are outside it’s our local area, you should seek out a doctor who specializes in treating low testosterone. Be sure their treatment includes regular monitoring of your full blood panel and testosterone level. If you are in our area, well, what are you waiting for? Schedule an appointment today.
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