What Happens When A Mans Testosterone Is Low
Lower than optimal testosterone levels have many effects on your health. These are the most common ones:
- Reproductive health: Men with low testosterone levels often lose their sex drive. You also experience a low sperm count and erectile dysfunction .
- Vitality: When male hormone levels experience a dip, your energy levels sink, too.
- Obesity: High body fat is both a symptom and a cause of low testosterone.
- Loss of muscle and bone: Testosterone is key in the maintenance and production of muscle mass and bone, for both men and women .
- Mood disorders: Low levels of testosterone have been linked with a raised incidence of anxiety and depression.
Testosterone levels tend to drop with age, causing some additional problems due to the loss of muscle mass and bone density. Its a natural part of the aging process in men and doesnt necessarily require any action, such as hormonal therapies .
You can give yourself a boost to get your testosterone levels as high as possible through food and lifestyle choices, though.
Learn Martial Arts Or Boxing
So far, we have looked at two dozen ways that you can naturally increase testosterone levels in your body. Most have involved some form of strength training or dietary adjustments. This one, however, involves neither of those. In this case, the recommendation is to get involved with some form of aggressive sport such as martial arts or boxing. Why? Because studies have shown that when you cultivate an aggressive mindset , you actually increase your testosterone production .
Granted, not everyone is up for trading punches to the face as a way to stimulate testosterone production. But the option is there if you want it. And it works. Dont worry, you dont have to turn into prime Mike Tyson to enjoy this benefit. You just need to engage in some type of sport that requires genuine physical aggression.
Do Estrogen Levels Fall At Menopause
Yes. Estrogen levels fall at menopause. This is a natural transition for all women between ages 40 and 55. The decline in estrogen can happen abruptly in younger women whose ovaries are removed, resulting in so-called surgical menopause.
Perimenopause is the period of transition before menopause. The first natural decline in estrogen levels starts during this phase. Other physiological changes also start. Women going through perimenopause may experience weight gain along with other menopause symptoms. For instance, there may be irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness.
On average, menopause occurs at age 51. When it does, a woman’s body produces less estrogen and progesterone. The drop of estrogen levels at menopause can cause uncomfortable symptoms, including:
Some women experience moodiness. That may or may not be related to the loss of estrogen. Lower levels of estrogen may also increase a woman’s risk for heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and fractures.
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What Is Testosterone Therapy
Testosterone replacement therapy is an FDA-approved way to increase testosterone and treat the symptoms of low testosterone. Testosterone therapy can be administered in these ways:
- Skin patch
- Surgically implanted pellets
- Tablets
A common side effect of testosterone replacement therapy is low sperm count. Artificial testosterone can cause your body to slow the production of sex hormones because it thinks youre making enough. This may have the undesired side effect of slowing down sperm production and worsening your bodys ability to make its own testosterone, which could make you dependent on continued TRT.
According to the American Urological Association, other side effects can include acne, enlarged prostate, enlarged breasts, lower fertility, and worsening sleep apnea. The data is conflicting, but the FDA has concluded that TRT can increase the risk of cardiovascular issues.
If youre experiencing a chronic low sex drive or reduced sexual function, talk to your healthcare provider. They can evaluate you for other conditions that might be causing your symptoms, refer you to a specialist in endocrinology if appropriate, and prescribe testosterone treatment if its right for you.
Treating Testosterone Issues In Women
When treating high testosterone levels, your doctor will consider your goals and your symptoms. Treatment is different if youre trying to conceive. For example, one possible treatment is birth control pills, but that wouldnt be appropriate for someone trying to get pregnant.
Another possibility is the anti-androgen drug spironolactone Spironolactone is not safe to take when pregnant, so it isnt appropriate for those trying to conceive. Options for women hoping to have a baby include:
- Weight loss and exercise: Losing excess weight and regular exercise, especially in women with PCOS, can help lower testosterone levels and may even restart ovulation.
- Metformin: Treating insulin resistance with the diabetes drug metformin may help reduce PCOS symptoms and even restart ovulation.
- Fertility drugs: You will likely need both lifestyle changes and fertility drugs to conceive. Clomid and letrozole are the first line fertility treatments for women with PCOS.
- Cosmetic treatments: For women trying to conceive, cosmetic treatments like waxing or plucking are possible solutions for unwanted hair growth.
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Avoid Drugs And Alcohol Abuse
Abuse of drugs and alcohol has been linked to lower testosterone.
According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol use affects the glands and hormones involved in male reproductive health.
Further, alcohol can cause low testosterone levels due to the effects it has on the body, including causing hormonal reactions and cell damage.
How Does Testosterone Affect Your Sex Drive
Testosterone is a male hormone although small amounts of it are found in females.
High levels of this hormone in men, is often linked with aggressive behavior which can lead to a negative view of testosterone and its importance to your body.
In fact, testosterone is essential to the health of the male body its presence affects almost every aspect of your life:
- Appearance studies suggest that the more masculine your features the higher your level of testosterone will be.
- Sex drive Low levels of testosterone have been linked with a decreased sex drive.
- Bone and Muscle Mass Testosterone is essential to help your muscles grow and improve your strength. It does this by binding to the receptors in your muscles and boosting the rate of protein synthesis which causes muscle growth.
- Aggression Extremely high levels of testosterone are linked with aggressive behavior. However, testosterone boosters can actually help to regulate your mood and increase confidence. This will usually translate as a better approach to issues and less aggression.
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Benefits Of Higher Testosterone Levels
It stands to reason that a higher level of testosterone will result in a higher sex drive. This is likely to keep you and your partner happier. However, there are several other benefits to increasing you testosterone levels:
- Fertility
This is not the same as sex drive! You can have a high sex drive and low fertility, but increased testosterone will help to improve your sperm mobility, morphology and even quantity.
- Body
You may not be undertaking much exercise, although perhaps you should be. Fortunately an increase in your testosterone levels will increase your energy level, desire to exercise and reduce your body fat.
It will not give you a ripped body by itself, but testosterone does play an important part in providing you with a fitter, healthier body.
- Mood
High levels of testosterone are associated with aggression however this is actually a result of artificial testosterone and the other chemicals which are present in steroids.
Boosting your testosterone level will help you to look at each situation rationally, you will have more pride and confidence in yourself and will want your actions to reflect the person you are!
How Is Testosterone Controlled
The regulation of testosterone production is tightly controlled to maintain normal levels in blood, although levels are usually highest in the morning and fall after that. The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland are important in controlling the amount of testosterone produced by the testes. In response to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland produces luteinising hormone which travels in the bloodstream to the gonads and stimulates the production and release of testosterone.
As blood levels of testosterone increase, this feeds back to suppress the production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus which, in turn, suppresses production of luteinising hormone by the pituitary gland. Levels of testosterone begin to fall as a result, so negative feedback decreases and the hypothalamus resumes secretion of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone.
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Why Are Athletes At Risk For Low Levels Of Estrogen
Women with low body fat often do not produce sufficient amounts of sex hormones. This can be a problem for women such as athletes, models, and gymnasts. It can also be a problem for women with eating disorders. These women can experience a cessation of menstruation, known as amenorrhea. They may also develop osteoporosis — thin bones — and fractures as well as other conditions more common in older women after menopause.
Testosterone What It Does And Doesn’t Do
When you think of testosterone, what comes to mind? Macho men? Aggressive, impatient, type A behavior? Road rage? Violence?
Testosterone’s role in bad behavior is largely a myth. What’s more, testosterone plays other important roles in health and disease that may surprise you. For example, did you know that testosterone is a key player in ? Or, that women need testosterone, too? There’s more to testosterone than guys behaving badly.
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Causes Of High Testosterone In Men
Abnormally high testosterone levels are also known as hypergonadism.
If you are male, your doctor may consider your testosterone levels too high if:
- Total testosterone level is above 950 ng/dL
- Free testosterone level is above 30 ng/dL
Possible signs and symptoms of high testosterone include:
- Acne
- Early puberty, in young men
- Excessive hairiness
- High red blood cell count
- Increased risk-taking behaviors
Abnormally high testosterone levels can be caused by:
- Tumors: Adrenal and testicular tumors may cause abnormally high testosterone.
- Anabolic steroid abuse: Sometimes used by athletes and bodybuilders to build more muscle mass or increase athletic performance. Some athletes take Clomid illegally to boost performance.
- Testosterone supplementation: Sometimes prescribed by a physician, and sometimes purchased illegally without a prescription.
- Testosterone gel: Coming into contact with someone who is using testosterone gel can be an issues. The gel can accidentally be rubbed off onto someone else, raising their testosterone levels unintentionally.
So How Does Testosterone Influence Your Libido
This is a complicated subject after all low sex drive to one person may be a high sex drive to another! In general research shows that testosterone levels decrease as you age. However, this does not need to be the case.
It is first important to understand how testosterone works:
Testosterone is produced by the testes.
It is a naturally occurring hormone, the production of which is controlled by the amount of lutein in your bloodstream.
The amount of lutein, which triggers the production of testosterone, is controlled by the hypothalamus which monitors the amount in your bloodstream and attempts to regulate it.
It is possible to produce too much testosterone but it is very rare in adult men.
There is no doubt that the level of testosterone in your body will affect your desire to have sex. However, scientists have not yet been able to work out the exact link between the hormone and your libido.
A natural reduction of testosterone in your body will reduce your sex drive, although it is not the only reason for a low libido:
- Stress
Stress is responsible for many changes in the human body. In stressful situations you produce cortisol which floods the body and blocks the production of other hormones until the situation is resolved. If you are constantly stressed you will see a reduction in your testosterone levels.
- Endocrine Issues
- Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- Medications
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Get To Know Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha has been a part of Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, mostly as a treatment for infertility. Until recently, Western medicine tended to scoff at the idea that this small evergreen shrub produced anything more than a captivating myth. However, once Western researchers finally got around to taking a look at Ashwagandha, they were impressed.
It turns out Indian ginseng, as its also called, does pretty much what traditional healers have been saying for centuries that it does: boost testosterone and increase sperm counts. Ashwagandha is most often taken as a supplement in capsule form, but ashwagandha powder can also be sprinkled into your latte or used in baking.
Testosterone And Vegetarian Diets
Another common concept is that vegan and vegetarian diets will contribute to lower levels of testosterone. Still, one study found vegans to have higher testosterone levels than both vegetarians and meat-eaters .
The vegans and vegetarians in this study were younger and had a lower body weight than meat-eaters, which can affect the results. If these men were healthier in general, they would also tend to have higher testosterone levels.
Nonetheless, the study seems to prove that you can have a vegetarian or vegan diet and enjoy optimal hormonal balance and health.
Need a boost?
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What Kind Of Testosterone Therapy Is Available
Testosterone therapy can be administered in several different ways depending on the patient’s needs, wants, and expectations.
The very first question Dr. Pastuszak asks is whether or not a guy plans on having kids in the near future. It may come as a surprise, but testosterone does not improve a guys fertility. In fact, testosterone does the exact opposite. After six months to a year of taking testosterone, most men see a dramatic drop in fertility.
Testosterone therapy is often made up of several different medications:
TestosteroneThe basic form of the treatment is to add more of the male hormone to the body. This can be through injections, creams, pills, or even injections under the skin. These hormones aim to raise a man’s testosterone levels to a more typical range.
Human chorionic gonadotropin or hCGhCG is a drug that helps to stimulate the testes to produce testosterone naturally. It is prescribed with testosterone to prevent the testicles from shrinking during treatment. If testosterone is taken by itself, it interrupts the connection between the brain and testicles. The testes will stop producing testosterone and over time will begin to shrink. In some cases, the testicles will shrivel up to the size of raisins. hCG helps keep them the right size during testosterone therapy.
There are many different testosterone treatments available. Work with your doctor to find out what type of therapy will work best for your situation
What Happens If I Have Too Much Testosterone
The effect excess testosterone has on the body depends on both age and sex. It is unlikely that adult men will develop a disorder in which they produce too much testosterone and it is often difficult to spot that an adult male has too much testosterone. More obviously, young children with too much testosterone may enter a false growth spurt and show signs of Precocious puberty’ data-content=’1268′ > early puberty and young girls may experience abnormal changes to their genitalia. In both males and females, too much testosterone can lead to precocious puberty and result in infertility.
In women, high blood levels of testosterone may also be an indicator of polycystic ovary syndrome. Women with this condition may notice increased acne, body and facial hair , balding at the front of the hairline, increased muscle bulk and a deepening voice.There are also several conditions that cause the body to produce too much testosterone. These include androgen resistance, congenital adrenal hyperplasia’ data-content=’1315′ > congenital adrenal hyperplasia and ovarian cancer.
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Get To Know Fenugreek
Unless you are a fan of herbs, it is likely youve never heard of fenugreek, or if you have, it was simply mentioned in passing in a conversation with someone at the gym. Turns out this little known herb is actually quite the testosterone booster, a fact that has been confirmed clinically on numerous occasions.
Despite the fact that studies have shown that fenugreek can increase serum testosterone , most people still dont know how to use it. In most cases, the long, brownish seeds of the fenugreek plant are dried and then ground up and used in a variety of dishes. If youve ever had Indian food, there is a decent chance youve had fenugreek. You can also use it in wraps and stews, or you can eat the seeds raw in their whole state.
Male Body Odor And Sexual Attraction
Humans have always had a tendency to try and mask our natural odors.
Through bathing in teas and flower petals, to mixing herbs in alcohol solutions like perfume. It seems to be a natural thing that modern humans like to dowe want to smell good!
However, there is evidence to suggest that masking your natural musk might not be the only way to attract the opposite sex.
There is some level of study that seems to indicate that hetrosexual females respond positively to a certain level of body odor.
In addition, its possible that that reaction is different with single males and partnered males.
A study conducted by Frontiers in Psychologymedical journal had a lot of interesting things to say about the topic.
Lets break down what their findings were.
- Single Males Have More Testosterone.
The study conducted by Frontiers references numerous studies that have been conducted by various medical journals and researchers over the decades.
These studies all seem to indicate that men who are married have lower levels of testosterone on average than men who are single.
Actually, a more accurate way to describe this would be: men with lower levels of testosterone are more likely to be in committed relationships than men with higher levels of testosterone.
There is some debate about the reasoning behind this.
However, many believe it has to do with the bodys natural ability to lower testosterone levels once a man has found a mate.
Single Males Have Stronger Body Odor.
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