A decrease in testosterone levels in men is a natural and, unfortunately, irreversible process of aging. In addition to natural aging, the state of general health, the individual’s lifestyle, the presence of bad habits and much more play an important role in reducing androgen levels. Thus, the presence of some chronic diseases leads to reduced levels of hormones. Knowing the main symptoms of low testosterone helps you respond to the problem earlier and begin treatment.
Fig. 1 - Decrease in testosterone synthesis with age.
Testosterone and the male body
The level of this hormone tends to gradually decrease in men after 40 years of age. This immediately affects their health, because testosterone is the substance that makes a man a man. During puberty, there is a sharp increase in testosterone levels in men, we see this in how a man’s voice changes, sexual development accelerates and muscle mass increases. Throughout life, testosterone supports the male body and its capabilities.
As mentioned above, by the age of 40 the hormone begins to be produced in smaller quantities, gradually decreasing by 1-2%. Not everyone feels these changes, since the androgen level remains sufficient. Those who are unlucky and the hormone levels begin to drop rapidly may complain of serious health problems. This applies not only to the sexual sphere.
So, is a decrease in testosterone in men an irreparable process, one of the components of aging, or a problem that doctors have to solve?
The fact is that experts recommend focusing on manifestations, “listening” to your body. If there are no signs of low testosterone, then treatment is not required. Hormone replacement therapy is prescribed for those who have complaints and symptoms. In such patients, the result of using androgens will be noticeable (the intensity of clinical manifestations will decrease).
Treatment
Minor variations in testosterone levels can be corrected through natural processes that require the following:
- refusal of alcoholic products;
- proper sleep and rest;
- refusal or at least restriction in the use of tobacco products;
- lifestyle changes, including diet;
- engaging in any sport where most muscles are involved.
Nutrition also plays an important role, that is, zinc containing a protein product must be present in the patient’s diet.
Another key point in restoring testosterone levels is avoiding stressful situations.
But when the situation is more serious, the use of medications is required, which are prescribed exclusively by a doctor. For this purpose, medications are prescribed with the missing hormone. They are sold in the form of tablets, injections or capsules.
2-3 weeks after drug therapy, you should re-take tests that will show the effectiveness of taking medications and the necessary adjustment in their dosage.
In rare situations, a decrease in testosterone requires the use of medications for life, otherwise the result of lack of treatment may be infertility. Treatment also includes a folk method, which is based on the use of herbs.
How does low testosterone manifest?
In some pathologies, insufficient testosterone production is due to genetics. As for sexually mature men, the symptoms that should cause concern are the following:
- Lack of sexual desire, erectile dysfunction;
- Low sperm count, impotence;
- Irritability, loss of interest in life, depression;
- A noticeable decrease in the volume of muscle tissue;
- Low tone, fatigue, lethargy;
- Fragility and weakness of bones, disorders of the musculoskeletal system caused by a lack of calcium;
- Slowing hair growth, baldness;
- Deterioration of metabolism, weight gain, while fat deposits are distributed according to the female type;
- Growth of mammary glands;
- There are symptoms that look like menopause in women - sweating, dizziness, sensations when you suddenly feel hot;
Signs of low testosterone levels
A decrease in testosterone in men begins to manifest itself with the following symptoms:
- The volume of ejaculate decreases. The higher the level of testosterone in the blood, the more seminal fluid the sex glands produce. It is worth noting that the duration of the interval between ejaculations does not normally affect its volume, but the number of sperm in the semen decreases.
- A healthy man experiences 3-4 morning erections per week. It has been established that the onset of an erection in the morning completely depends on the daily fluctuations of the hormone in the blood. The rarer these episodes are, the lower the blood hormone concentration.
- Age-related changes in androgen levels occur in the form of male andropause. Men feel hot flashes at this time, just like women do during menopause. Sweating increases sharply at the moment of hot flash, a feeling of heat descends from head to toe.
- The male hormone significantly affects the psycho-emotional sphere. The decrease in aggressiveness is directly related to its low level, and not to the wisdom that has come over the years.
Low Level Consequences
If low testosterone levels in guys are not treated, the consequences of a careless attitude towards one's own health can be quite serious. In the future we will develop:
- Infertility. Sex hormones are produced in the testicles and affect the functioning of the genitourinary system. Impaired synthesis leads not only to erectile dysfunction, but also to the inability to have children.
- Osteoporosis. This disease mainly affects older women. But with a lack of sex hormone, a man’s bone tissue will weaken, as a result of which even a minor injury can result in a complex bone fracture.
- Hypertension and other cardiovascular pathologies. Periodic surges in blood pressure will begin to be persistent. This will negatively affect the circulatory system. Loss of elasticity and plasticity of blood vessels often leads to heart attacks and strokes.
Over time, signs of testosterone deficiency will become more obvious, changing a man's appearance. Due to the predominance of female hormones in his body, the following features uncharacteristic of the stronger sex will appear:
- muscle laxity;
- abdominal obesity;
- poor hair growth or complete baldness;
- sickly look.
To avoid this, you need to focus all your efforts on treating the pathology and restoring hormonal balance.
Symptoms of androgen deficiency
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Decreased libido and potency. As a rule, this symptom is the first sign of hormonal imbalance in the male body. Decreased libido implies a decrease or complete absence of desire for sexual contact, a decrease in erotic fantasies, etc. Erectile dysfunction manifests itself as a partial or complete inability to perform sexual intercourse for various reasons. Separately, erectile dysfunction can be a symptom of various pathologies not related to hormones. However, along with a simultaneous decrease in libido, weakening of potency most often indicates disturbances in the hormonal balance.
Depressed mood, depression. Testosterone influences a man’s behavioral function and is responsible for mental resistance to stressful situations, thirst for life and ambition. The duration and stability of a depressed state, as well as sudden mood swings, may indicate a change in the level of the main male hormone in the direction of its decrease. Associated with this condition is the so-called middle age crisis.
Decreased muscle mass, strength and endurance. Testosterone has an anabolic effect on the body, i.e. promotes muscle growth, development of strength and endurance. Many sports are completely dependent on the effects of testosterone, for example, bodybuilding, powerlifting, etc. Androgens prevent destructive processes (catabolism) in muscles. Therefore, loss of muscle mass is a direct sign of androgen deficiency.
Increased deposition of adipose tissue. Testosterone speeds up metabolism in the body. Due to this, men are less susceptible to obesity than women. With sufficient androgen levels, a man is protected from excess adipose tissue. Problems begin when testosterone levels drop and its protective functions weaken. It is noteworthy that just as low levels of sex hormones can cause the deposition of excess adipose tissue, obesity also provokes androgen deficiency. Those. This creates a vicious circle that leads to an even worsening of the condition. That is why normalization of hormonal balance is used, among other things, in the treatment of male obesity.
Decreased vitality. One of the effects of testosterone is to maintain the body's energy function. A feeling of constant fatigue, apathy towards previously favorite activities, a long recovery after physical activity - all this indicates a lack of vital energy.
Reduction of male secondary sexual characteristics. Is your stubble not growing as fast as before? Has your body hair started to thin out? Has muscle mass suddenly disappeared somewhere (if it existed, of course)? This is roughly what the picture looks like when a man loses testosterone. Remember, it was this hormone that made you so hairy in all accessible and inaccessible places, powerful, and a fierce defender of your property. All this will disappear along with testosterone.
If hormonal imbalance is observed in boys before and during puberty, then secondary sexual characteristics may not appear at all. For example, there will be no deepening of the voice, protrusion of the Adam's apple, formation of a male-type figure (in the shape of a triangle, when the shoulders are wider than the waist), body and facial hair growth, normal development of the external genitalia, and more.
Enlargement of the mammary glands (gynecomastia). This condition is associated with a hormonal imbalance in men. A decrease in sex hormones may be a consequence of an increase in testosterone antagonist hormones. For example, with gynecomastia in men, an increase in the level of estrogen - female sex hormones - is typical. Against the background of a decrease in androgens and an increase in estrogens, there is a shift in male sexual characteristics towards female ones. Along with gynecomastia, female-type obesity in men, female-type pubic hair, etc. can be observed.
Decreased bone density (osteoporosis). Testosterone builds bone tissue, helps absorb calcium from food and distribute this element to those parts of the human body that need it, strengthening the skeleton. Bone strength is at its highest at age 30 and begins to decline after this period. It is known that the rate of decrease in bone tissue density corresponds to a decrease in the level of free testosterone, which allows us to consider androgen deficiency as one of the main reasons underlying the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.
Decreased cognitive abilities. According to recent data, a decrease in cognitive abilities correlates with a decrease in the biologically active form of testosterone. In addition to the deterioration of an individual’s mental abilities, the central nervous system may experience sleep disturbance, mood swings, deterioration in creative productivity, and fatigue.
Urinary dysfunction. Manifests itself as frequent urination or nighttime urination. You should make sure that urinary problems are not associated with prostate adenoma.
Anemia. Testosterone deficiency can lead to the development of anemia - a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood. In turn, the presence of anemia in a man can provoke androgen deficiency.
Testosterone plays not just an important, but a dominant role in the male body. That is why it is necessary to monitor the level of the main male hormone through periodic blood tests or determine testosterone levels using other signs.
Herb to Treat Low Testosterone
Herbal treatment has long proven its effectiveness in the fight against many pathologies and low testosterone levels are no exception. They are available in the following forms:
- leaves;
- roots;
- fruit.
They are prepared immediately before use and used in the form of tinctures and decoctions. But pharmacies also sell ready-made herbal-based medications, produced in the form of tinctures or as a regular tablet.
The following herbs are used to treat low testosterone levels:
- Tribulusterrestris is able to increase luteinizing hormones, which play an important role in the production of testosterone. In addition, this plant improves spermogenesis.
- Ginseng, which is used by men to increase endurance in athletic sports. It is able to perfectly restore the male hormone and helps with infertility.
- Eleutherococcus increases physical activity and increases hemoglobin levels. But this plant has a number of contraindications - it is strictly forbidden to use Eleutherococcus for insomnia, nervous excitability and hypertension.
- Tribulus terrestris can not only increase testosterone, but also increase muscle mass. Reviews from doctors about the use of this plant are mostly positive, since the development of side effects is unlikely.
All medicinal herbs contain vitamins and essential oils that help mental and physical work, and are also indispensable for the condition of the skin and the entire body as a whole.
Prevention
Thanks to preventive measures, it is possible to prevent a decrease in testosterone, which will keep the man’s body in normal tone. These rules are not at all complicated and do not require drastic changes in a man’s life:
- Nutrition should be adjusted. The production of hormones directly depends on the quantity, quality and time of food consumption.
- Lack of cholesterol can lead to disruption of testosterone synthesis, which is why it is so important not to drop the level of this substance below the minimum level. It also depends on nutrition.
- It is necessary to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, because they are an excellent source of vitamins and beneficial elements.
- It is important to properly load the body, perform active exercises and give up habits that cause various ailments, problems and disorders in the body.
Thanks to these measures, it is possible to prevent low testosterone in men; it is important to immediately take into account the symptoms of this problem and go to the hospital. Only the right treatment methods will restore men's health. Testosterone is an important hormone in the body of every man, so it should be constantly monitored and controlled, because it is the key to a good figure, health and strength! First of all, you should normalize your diet, sleep and add moderate physical activity to your schedule.
What is testosterone?
It is an androgen sex hormone produced by the testes and adrenal cortex. It is synthesized not only in the male, but also in the female body, but in women its concentration is much lower. Androgen is present in the body in free and bound form. Throughout life, its content in the bloodstream changes. But there are certain standards according to which the health of a man of any age category is assessed. Optimal values are 12–22 nmol/l.
Quantitative indicators of free testosterone significantly affect the body. Normally, its concentration is 5–30 nmol/l in patients under 50 years of age. At older ages, the norm drops to 5–19 nmol/l. If the content of free hormone in the body is less than 5 nmol/l, then you need to contact a specialist.
Important! A reduced level in men may indicate various pathological processes that require immediate treatment.
Functions of testosterone in the body of men
It performs many functions in the body:
- regulates spermatogenesis;
- responsible for sexual desire, erection, libido;
- affects the growth of muscle mass and bone density;
- rationally distributes fat cells, preventing their accumulation in problem parts of the body;
- provides phosphorus and nitrogen metabolism;
- maintains normal emotional mood;
- participates in the formation of secondary sexual characteristics.
