Low Testosterone Symptoms
As the primary male sex hormone, testosterone is critical to ensuring proper sexual development and function, muscle mass growth, and bone density. Testosterone levels normally increase during puberty and progressively decline after reaching the age of 30 in men. It is necessary to be aware of your testosterone levels and the effects having low levels of it can have on the body to better understand your physical condition.
Want to learn if you’ve got low testosterone levels? Keep reading to find out!
10 Symptoms of Low Testosterone
1. Low Sex Drive
Sex drive in both men and women both naturally decline with age, but if you feel your libido unusually decline significantly, this may be a sign you have low testosterone. A low sex drive results in a low semen count and significantly reduced sexual pleasure.
2. Hair Loss
Hair production is a function of normal testosterone levels and it naturally declines over time as men age, resulting in increasing baldness. While it can be down to genetics at times, low testosterone levels could also be a major reason for it.
3. Chronic Fatigue
As a major symptom of low testosterone levels in men, chronic fatigue is always characterized by fatigue that doesn’t improve even after getting adequate rest. While the level of fatigue varies from person to person, persistent fatigue usually results in a drastic drop in productivity and motivation.
4. Erectile Dysfunction
Testosterone aids men achieve and maintain long-lasting erections by activating brain receptors as a result of visual stimuli. Having low levels of testosterone can adversely affect a man’s ability to maintain an erection and often results in decreased sex drive and activity.
While low testosterone levels can cause erectile dysfunction, other causes also affect it such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, stress, alcohol consumption, and thyroid problems.
5. Mood Swings, Depression, or Irritability
Low testosterone levels increase the chances of men experiencing irritability, depression, or problems focusing as testosterone is closely linked to mental capacity and mood. Men experiencing this symptom are most at risk of acting on instinctual behaviors.
6. Memory Loss
While memory naturally declines with age, cognitive functions affecting memory are also a major responsibility of testosterone. As a direct result, low levels of it are linked to declining memory & cognitive function. This puts older men at a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
7. Less Muscle Mass & More Body Fat
Since testosterone is involved in muscle building through tissue growth, a decline can be directly related to a decrease in muscle mass. The same can be said for body fat, which serves as a function of metabolism. Low testosterone levels reduce the effectiveness of the body to burn fat.
8. Sleep Issues
Low levels of testosterone can result in persistent insomnia and irregular sleep patterns. A study done on 10 healthy, young men revealed that testosterone levels were significantly reduced as a result of reduced sleep hours. Likewise, an increase in the quality and duration of sleep improved testosterone production dramatically.
9. Hot Flashes
Although hot flashes are more commonly associated with women during menopause, men can also experience them too, and are another sign of low testosterone levels.
10. Reduced Testicle & Penis Size
Since testosterone helps in the development of male sex organs, low levels could contribute to a visibly smaller penis or testicles compared to a man with normal testosterone levels. There are, however, other causes aside from low testosterone, so this isn’t always applicable.
What Is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)?
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) is an artificial way to boost testosterone levels through the use of gels, skin patches, mouth patches, injections, and implants. These methods of testosterone ingestion directly inject testosterone into the blood. Testosterone pills could also be used at the patient’s discretion, but experts believe that they can have adverse effects on the liver.
Testosterone Replacement Center Specialists of Raleigh and North Carolina of New provide comprehensive Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) programs to assist male patients improve hormonal balance while avoiding the symptoms that come with hormonal decline. Our certified staff provides 24/7 support to answer any concerns and assist patients to improve their overall health.
Unfortunately, aging is a normal phenomenon that cannot be controlled, but what can be controlled is how we choose to age. If you are experiencing some of the symptoms described above, or are concerned with your exposure to low testosterone levels, it is critical for you to consult with a doctor as soon as possible.
If you or someone you know are located in Raleigh and need professional guidance related to declining testosterone levels, please reach out to TRT Specialists of North Carolina for a TRT consultation. See if our TRT treatment is right for you! We are here to help improve the lives of our patients. Put your health first; take charge and call us today!