Many of us know that men with low testosterone tend to have decreased libido and have trouble maintaining muscle mass.
However, low hormone levels can do a lot more harm than just trouble in the bedroom or at the gym.
Now, experts are drawing attention to low testosterone, sometimes referred to as “male menopause,” and its debilitating effects on men’s health.
Testosterone is a male sex hormone that is primarily produced in the testicles. However, testosterone receptors are distributed throughout the body.
According to the Mayo Clinic, it helps maintain bone density, fat distribution, muscle mass, facial and body hair, sex drive, and sperm production.
Estimates from the University of Wisconsin show that low testosterone affects about 12 percent of men in their 50s, 19 percent in their 60s, 28 percent in their 70s, and 49 percent in their 80s
Male testosterone levels are typically at their highest around the age of 20 and naturally decline with age.
At its highest, testosterone levels should be between 300 and 1,200 ng/dl.
Once men hit their mid-thirties, testosterone levels drop by at least one percent per year.
However, deficiencies can occur in men of any age.
Experts have told DailyMail.com the following 10 crucial warning signs:
Testosterone levels peak in young adulthood, around age 20, but decline by about 1 percent annually after age 30
Experts told DailyMail.com that symptoms of low testosterone include a low sex drive, fatigue, decreased muscle mass, depression and weak bones, among others
Low sex drive
“Testosterone is the main driver of a person’s libido, or sex drive,” said Dr. Helen L. Bernie, director of male sexual and reproductive health at Indiana University, told DailyMail.com.
This leads to men having no interest in sex or masturbation.
Low sex drive is one of the most common symptoms of low testosterone and one of the biggest problems Dr. Bernie.
This is due to the presence of androgen receptors that testosterone binds to in areas of the brain that process cravings. Without testosterone there are no signs of arousal.
Erectile dysfunction
“It takes testosterone for a man to have an erection,” said Dr. Bernie. “If you have very low testosterone levels, it’s very difficult to get an erection.”
While maintaining an erection requires increased blood flow to the penis, testosterone is also required because of the receptor sites found inside the penis, also known as the corpus cavernosum.
“Erectile tissue can atrophy or become less healthy in someone with low testosterone,” said Dr. Bobby Najari, a urologist at NYU Langone, told DailyMail.com.
This causes blood flow to the penis to be less responsive to sexual stimulation, he said. A lack of testosterone can also make medications like Viagra less effective.
Lack of libido can also lead to erectile dysfunction.
depression
Low testosterone could affect your mood, said Dr. Najari.
Similar to sex drive, androgen receptors are found in multiple areas of the brain, including the amygdala, which processes fear.
However, more research is needed to understand this association.
“We know that androgen receptors are located centrally in the brain,” said Dr. Najari. “But the exact mechanism of the symptoms is less well understood.”
He mentioned that other factors besides low testosterone levels could also lead to depression, such as poor sleep or thyroid dysfunction.
dr Helen L. Bernie, director of male sexual and reproductive health at Indiana University (left), and Dr. Bobby Najari, a urologist at NYU Langone (right), pointed out several long-term health consequences of low testosterone, including memory problems, diabetes, and fatigue and depression
memory problems
Similar to depression, androgen receptors can lead to memory problems. These receptors are found in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory, and in the cerebrum, which controls thinking and reasoning.
When there isn’t enough hormone to bind to these receptors, it could lead to forgetfulness, said Dr. Bernie.
When there isn’t enough hormone to bind to these receptors, it can lead to forgetfulness.
fatigue
“Testosterone is our main driver of motivation and energy,” said Dr. Bernie.
Testosterone is a daytime hormone, meaning it is highest in the morning and gradually decreases throughout the day.
It is also a type of androgen hormone, a steroid, meaning it gives us energy.
As it decreases, men with low scores are more tired throughout the day than men with normal scores.
“Men with chronically low testosterone levels have decreased energy levels.” “You will be tired,” said Dr. Bernie.
Decreased muscle mass
Testosterone promotes muscle growth and has been shown to suppress fat gain. When levels are low, muscle mass begins to dwindle, said Dr. Bernie.
In a study from Japan, men with low levels of free testosterone — the amount of the hormone that is not bound to receptors — were two to three times more likely to lose muscle mass with age than men with normal levels.
This is because muscle mass is replaced by fatty adipose tissue, also known as body fat.
Strength training can help rebuild lost muscle.
Increased belly fat
More fatty tissue, especially around the abdomen, can be a sign of low testosterone levels, said Dr. Najari.
This is due to the fatty adipose tissue replacing muscle mass.
A study of overweight men found that low testosterone levels specifically increase fat deposits in the abdomen.
“One of the most common reasons for lower testosterone levels as men age is simply the increasing amount of adipose tissue that breaks down testosterone,” said Dr. Najari.
Fat cells produce aromatase, an enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen. Estrogen then causes more fat to accumulate in the abdomen, chest, hips, and thighs.
weak bones
“In men, testosterone is converted to estrogen,” said Dr. Najari. “And we know that estrogen is involved in maintaining bone health in both sexes.” “So men with lower testosterone levels also have lower estrogen levels.”
As a result, the bones become thin or break down. It can also lead to osteoporosis, a condition caused by weak or brittle bones.
At first, the condition may have no symptoms, but as it progresses it can lead to back pain, hunched posture, fractures, and loss of height, according to the Mayo Clinic.
diabetes
Testosterone is linked to insulin, the pancreatic hormone that helps the body store sugar for energy.
“Insulin is testosterone-dependent, so your body needs to have some testosterone for insulin to work well,” said Dr. Bernie.
When insulin function is impaired, it leads to poor glucose control, leading to high blood sugar and diabetes.
A 2016 study in the journal Diabetes Care found that testosterone therapy can reduce insulin resistance in diabetics with low testosterone levels.
heart disease
Some studies suggest that low testosterone levels can lead to a higher risk of heart disease, cardiac arrest, and stroke.
Research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation found that men with low testosterone levels had a higher risk of dying from heart disease than men with normal testosterone levels.
This may be due to testosterone opening up blood vessels to the heart, allowing blood to flow more freely.
The link between testosterone and heart disease is controversial among experts, said Dr. Bernie.
While some studies have suggested that testosterone therapy might increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, she pointed to research published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine. This study found that testosterone therapy in men with low levels did not increase the risk of adverse cardiac events.
Discussion about this post