Testosterone is well-known for enhancing characteristics like muscle mass and libido, but there’s far more to the male sex hormone than these masculine traits.
For one thing, women also have testosterone in their bodies, although in much smaller quantities. For another, testosterone is responsible for multiple functions, from bone growth and deepening the voice to sperm production.
Testosterone also promotes facial hair growth during puberty but, ironically, can contribute to hair loss later in life.
You need balanced testosterone levels for optimal health because too much is as harmful as too little. It’s uncommon for the body to produce excess testosterone, but low testosterone is a widespread problem, especially in middle age. Several clinical studies show 40% of men over 45 have significantly low testosterone.
At Keven Tagdiri, M.D. in Encinitas, California, our men’s health experts can quickly determine if your testosterone levels are too low and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Falling testosterone doesn’t usually cause sudden, dramatic symptoms because it happens gradually. You might assume any problems are down to getting older or stress, so the first hurdle is being aware of the issues low testosterone can cause.
Here, we’ve selected five common signs of low testosterone to look out for.
Testosterone boosts muscle mass and helps you stay in shape. When you don’t have enough, your muscles weaken, soften, and lose definition. You might also gain weight and develop a drooping belly and sagging in the arms and buttocks.
Testosterone boosts endurance, so you likely feel tired more often if your levels fall. You might find physical activities challenging and lack staying power. You may head to bed earlier in the evenings because you feel worn out.
Unfortunately, low testosterone can also affect sleep quality, so you may find it hard to drop off to sleep or wake frequently, compounding your fatigue.
Testosterone is a mood-enhancing hormone. A common sign of insufficient testosterone is mild depression — feeling hopeless and sad, losing motivation, and struggling to see life’s positives.
Testosterone’s role in sexual function is fundamental, so an insufficiency can have a significant impact.
Two common issues affect sexual function. First, you might not feel like having sex so often or even at all (loss of libido). Second, when you do want to have sex, you struggle to get or keep an erection (erectile dysfunction).
Insufficient testosterone can disrupt cognitive functions like thinking and remembering. You might become increasingly forgetful, struggle to commit information to memory, and find solving problems harder. Cognitive changes often show up at work as reduced performance.
If you recognize these signs, schedule a checkup so we can identify the cause. Aging can indeed slow you down a little, but in many cases, we can easily rectify underlying problems like low testosterone.
Treating low testosterone is pretty straightforward. Once we determine you need additional testosterone, we can prescribe supplemental hormones. These come in a variety of forms, including:
We usually reserve oral testosterone pills for patients with medical conditions that can cause low testosterone, like Klinefelter syndrome.
Call our courteous staff at Keven Tagdiri, M.D. today to arrange a testosterone evaluation or inquire about testosterone replacement therapy. You can also request your visit online.
