In recent years, Spyros Mezitis, MD, PhD, has found himself talking to a lot more male patients about low testosterone, a diagnosis he says is becoming increasingly common.
The promise of testosterone therapy may seem enticing, but there are a lot of misconceptions about what the treatment can and can't do for you. As you get older, testosterone therapy may sound like the ultimate anti-aging formula.
"More men are getting older, and men are more open about talking about erectile dysfunction," Mezitis, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
What Is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a hormone. It's what puts hair on a man's chest. It's the force behind his sex drive. During puberty, testosterone helps build a man's muscles, deepens his voice, and boosts the size of his penis and testes.
In adulthood, it keeps a man's muscles and bones strong and maintains his interest in sex. In short, it's what makes a man a man (at least physically).
Testosterone is the hormone responsible for the development of male sexual characteristics. Hormones are chemical messengers that trigger necessary changes in the body.
Females also produce testosterone, usually in smaller amounts. In men, testosterone is thought to regulate a number of functions alongside sperm production. These include:
Sex Drive
Bone Mass
Fat Distribution
Muscle Size And Strength
Red Blood Cell Production
Low Testosterone Levels
The bottom of a man's normal total testosterone range is about 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). The upper limit is about 800ng/dL depending on the lab. Low levels of testosteronecan produce a variety of symptoms in men, including:
Decreased Sex Drive
Less Energy
Weight Gain
Feelings Of Depression
Moodiness
Low Self-Esteem
Less Body Hair
Erectile Dysfunction
Low Sperm Count
Loss Of Muscle Bulk
Loss Of Strength
Increased Body Fat
Enlarged Or Swollen Breast Tissue
Thinner Bones
Loss Of Body Hair
While testosterone production naturally tapers off as a man ages, other factors can cause hormone levels to drop. Injury to the testicles and cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation can adversely affect testosterone production. Chronic diseases and stress can also reduce testosterone production. Some of these diseases include:
AIDS
Kidney Disease
Alcoholism
Cirrhosis Of The Liver
Some medicines and genetic conditions can also lower a man's testosterone score. Aging does contribute to low scores. In some cases, the cause is unknown.
Too much testosterone, on the other hand, can lead to the triggering of puberty before the age of 9 years. This condition would mainly affect younger men and is much rarer.
In women, however, high testosterone levels can lead to male pattern baldness, a deep voice, and menstrual irregularities, as well as:
Growth And Swelling Of The Clitoris
Changes In Body Shape
Reduction In Breast Size
Oily Skin
Acne
Facial Hair Growth Around The Body, Lips, And Chin
Recent studies have also linked high testosterone levels in women to the risk of uterine fibroids.
Testosterone imbalances can be detected with a blood test and treated accordingly.
Testosterone supplements
One proposed treatment for low testosterone comes in the form of testosterone supplements.
One study investigated the effects of testosterone supplementation in older men with low testosterone at 80 milligrams (mg) a day. The study specifically looked at the potential effects of testosterone on:
Functional Mobility
Cognition
Bone Mineral Density
Body Composition
Lipids
Quality Of Life
The most effective testosterone booster we can suggest is Ropaxin Rx. The researchers found no adverse effects from taking two doses per day.
The Takeaway
Testosterone is most commonly associated with sex drive in men. It also affects mental health, bone and muscle mass, fat storage, and red blood cell production.
Abnormally low or high levels can affect a man’s mental and physical health. Your doctor can check your testosterone levels with a simple blood test.
Testosterone supplements are available to treat men with low levels of testosterone. If you have low T, ask your doctor or use testosterone pills.