As men get older, the levels of testosterone present in the body decrease as a natural response to the aging. However, in some healthy men under the age of 30, testosterone levels can decrease prematurely, causing an array of health-related issues that can affect overall quality of life. The best way to determine if you have abnormally low testosterone levels for your age and clinical profile is to provide a blood sample that can measure testosterone levels in the body. However, there are body responses that serve as red flags that indicate low testosterone in healthy men.
Before considering any type of low testosterone therapy, it is important to take control of your health by eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, losing weight, reducing stress levels, and taking supplements like zinc and vitamin D. If you are a healthy individual, and are taking all of the recommended steps to maintain healthy testosterone levels, but are still concerned, here are 5 signs that you might have low testosterone levels.
5 Signs of Low Testosterone
Fatigue and Low Energy
We often attribute fatigue and low energy to lack of sleep, poor eating habits, and lack of exercise. However, if you are taking the right steps to maintain healthy energy levels and are experiencing unusual fatigue throughout the day, it could be an indication that you have abnormally low testosterone levels in your body.
Low Sex Drive
Testosterone is the ingredient that fuels sexual desire in men. If you have abnormally low testosterone levels, sexual desire diminishes overtime, and in some extreme cases, it becomes non-existent. It is important to talk to your doctor about your sex drive even if you are too embarrassed to bring up the subject. This could help better determine the appropriate low testosterone therapy for you.
Erectile Dysfunction
Testosterone plays an important role in getting and maintaining an erection suitable for sexual intercourse. Low testosterone levels can reduce a man’s ability to get an erection, but that is not always the main cause of ED, so it is important to talk to your doctor about health conditions like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease as they can help determine the best way to treat this symptom.
Reduced Muscle Mass
It is natural for men to lose muscle mass as they age or become less active over time. However, men with low testosterone experience a reduction in strength and muscle mass that can make it difficult to perform certain tasks. Men who follow a healthy diet and strength train, but if still have a difficult time maintaining or building muscle mass could indicate a presence of low testosterone.
Irritability
Men who have low testosterone often experience irritability, and it often translates into moodiness and an unusually low temperament. While this symptom is not the only determining factor for low testosterone, it often works in sync with an array of unusual mood swings and feeling uneasy around coworkers and family members.
Ways to Treat Low Testosterone
If you have any of the symptoms discussed, there various therapies that can help restore healthy levels of testosterone in men. It is very important to note that the only way to determine if you have low testosterone is to perform blood tests that will measure the adequate levels for your clinical profile.
If your doctor finds that you do have low testosterone, it can be treated with therapies like testosterone 1% gel that replenishes the hormone level in men. The gel formulation can be applied to clean, dry, intact skin on shoulders, upper arms, or abdomen. If you do not like topical solutions, there are also generic testosterone patches that can be worn throughout the day on the body. Testosterone patches will deliver a dose of the hormone through the body. Generic testosterone injections are often administered in a doctor’s office, but they can be prescribed to patients to administer at home. Injections however, have a greater risk for improper use when compared to other delivery methods.
Recent studies show that men taking testosterone have more cardiovascular events like heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease, so it is crucial to choose the best therapy for your clinical profile. Do not hesitate to ask questions about the risks of taking testosterone and telling your doctor about your full medical history to avoid serious health complications.
