Produced by the testicles, testosterone gives men their male characteristics, including a muscular build and deep voice. While testosterone levels decline naturally with age, men can experience a range of distressing physical and psychological symptoms when levels dip below normal.
You’re diagnosed with testosterone deficiency when your levels are below 300 ng/dl. Your provider may recommend testosterone replacement therapy if you have low levels of testosterone in your blood along with symptoms associated with testosterone deficiency.
At Pacific Pain and Regenerative Medicine, Hasan Badday, MD, offers hormone replacement therapy to treat testosterone deficiency in men.
Testosterone deficiency can happen to young men
Low testosterone isn’t just a problem for senior men. Approximately 25% of men over age 30 and close to 40% of men over age 45 have testosterone deficiency.
Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have below-normal testosterone levels. A simple blood test can provide the answers you’re looking for and put you on the path to feeling like yourself again. You may have testosterone deficiency if you notice the following symptoms:
Sagging libido and sexual dysfunction
Low testosterone can have a major impact on your ability to have a healthy, fulfilling sex life. Men with abnormally low testosterone are more likely to report a reduced interest in sex. They may also have problems getting or maintaining an erection.
Just like gas is needed to start your car’s engine, testosterone is needed to fuel your sex drive. Not only is it vital for driving sexual desire, it plays a role in increasing blood flow to help you maintain an erection. Men who choose testosterone replacement therapy report an improvement in sexual satisfaction.
Low energy levels
Men struggling with low energy may have low testosterone levels. Fatigue is prevalent in men with diminished testosterone levels. It’s common to attribute sagging energy levels to growing older, but that’s a misconception. More physicians are looking at low testosterone as the cause of chronic fatigue in men.
Fatigue from low testosterone can have a drastic impact on your quality of life. You may find yourself skipping activities that you used to enjoy, and you may notice that no matter how much sleep you get, you still feel tired.
Fortunately, men who replace missing testosterone commonly report a significant improvement in their energy levels, as their hormone levels are brought back into balance.
Weight gain and loss of muscle mass
Testosterone plays a key role in building and maintaining lean muscle in men. When testosterone levels fall below normal, you may notice you’re not as strong as you previously were. This may be due to a loss of muscle mass.
How much fat your body stores and where you store it is also influenced by testosterone. Low testosterone is linked to weight gain, especially in the abdominal area. In a vicious cycle, as your testosterone drops, so does your metabolism. This can make it easier to gain weight and more difficult to get rid of it.
Men with low testosterone may also experience other symptoms, including:
- Trouble sleeping
- Hair loss
- Poor memory
- Changes in mood
- Reduced bone mass
- Loss of body hair
Getting older doesn’t have to mean losing your vitality. To see if testosterone replacement therapy can help you, book an appointment online or over the phone with Pacific Pain and Regenerative Medicine today.
