5 Signs You May Be Suffering From Low Testosterone
Did you know that men don’t have a monopoly on testosterone? Yes, testosterone is the hormone responsible for male characteristics. And it has a critical role supporting men’s health throughout adulthood, from producing sperm and body hair to maintaining healthy muscles and bones. But women need testosterone too.
Women produce a much smaller amount than men, of course, because they don’t want all those male characteristics, yet testosterone fills important roles in their overall health. For both men and women, low testosterone leads to a range of health concerns.
If you develop any of these symptoms of low testosterone, call our team at BioAge Health. We specialize in treating low testosterone, helping men and women in Eagan, Minnesota, and the Twin Cities area regain their energy, rebuild their well-being, and restore their zest for life.
1. Loss of sex drive
If you think losing your sex drive is just a part of life as you get older, it’s time for a new perspective. Whether you’re a man or woman, you should expect to have a healthy sex drive throughout your life, but it requires one vital element: normal testosterone levels.
That’s right, testosterone is the hormone responsible for triggering your sex drive — in men and women. Of course, everyone is different. Your sex drive may have been naturally high or low in your younger days. But your desire should stay at the level that’s normal for you.
So why does everyone think that loss of sex drive is natural? Because testosterone declines as men and women get older. Beginning around the age of 30, testosterone levels in men drop by as much as 2% every year. In women, testosterone levels peak in their 20s, and then slowly but consistently decline. By the time a woman reaches menopause, her testosterone level is at half of its peak amount.
In other words, a diminishing sex drive is the top symptom of low testosterone.
2. Erectile dysfunction
While there’s some evidence linking low testosterone to decreased arousal and orgasm in women, the association between low testosterone and a women’s overall sexual pleasure is unclear and still being studied.
There’s no doubt, however, that testosterone directly affects a man’s ability to have and maintain an erection. Testosterone helps stimulate nitric oxide production, which is essential for an erection, and it regulates physiological changes that must occur to have an erection.
When your testosterone is low, erectile dysfunction, whether you can’t have an erection or you have fewer spontaneous erections, is one of the key symptoms.
3. Decline in muscle mass and strength
Testosterone stimulates muscle growth at every age. In adults, it promotes protein production and maintains muscle mass and strength. A noticeable drop in your strength and performance is a sign of low testosterone.
The problem may be more noticeable in men because they have a larger total muscle mass compared to women, but both genders need testosterone to maintain healthy, strong muscles.
4. Chronic fatigue
It’s often hard to determine the cause of fatigue because there are so many possibilities, including everyday stress, sleep apnea, and a host of chronic health conditions. However, testosterone is closely connected to your energy because it stimulates red blood cell production and regulates iron levels.
Men and women have a higher risk for anemia when they have low testosterone. Even if you don’t develop full-blown anemia, you’re likely to feel the fatigue.
5. Reduced growth of beard and body hair
The fifth symptom of low testosterone is primarily for men. Testosterone helps promote body hair growth, so when its levels drop, men may notice hair thinning in unusual places like their armpits, pubic hair, and beard. A good tip off is when you don’t have to shave as often.
Low testosterone influences many aspects of your health beyond the symptoms mentioned here. For example, you may gain weight, develop osteoporosis, or feel depressed.
Because testosterone has such complex effects throughout your body, it’s important to contact BioAge Health any time you notice changes. We can evaluate your hormones and treat low testosterone with several therapies, including safe and effective bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
If you’d like to make an appointment, just click the “book online” button here on the website or give us a call.
