10 symptoms of testosterone deficiency - what causes it and how to solve it?
Testosterone is a dominant hormone, especially in men, but women also have a certain amount of testosterone in their bodies. Its level naturally decreases with age, but its more significant decrease may also occur due to other factors. You will learn what causes testosterone deficiency, what are its symptoms, and how to increase the levels of this hormone for overall health.
What is testosterone
Testosterone is primarily a hormone that is very important for a man's health and is not just about fertility or muscle mass. In addition, testosterone is not a purely human hormone because it is also present in animals. This primary male hormone has several roles in the body, including proper fertility function, production of male sexual characteristics, or regulation of gender differences.
Testosterone was once considered a hormone responsible mainly for the physiology and androgenesis of men and boys. In addition, however, it affects our bones, which can be attributed to its conversion to estrogen. The reach of testosterone is complex, and researchers are also addressing its role in pain and cardiovascular function in men and women. To emphasize the importance of testosterone, we list all the processes where this hormone is important:
size and strength of muscles
growth and strength of bones
thickening of the voice and the occurrence of hair
libido function
penis and testicular development and sperm production
Symptoms of low testosterone
Testosterone levels in men naturally decrease during their lifetime, more precisely after the age of 30, its amount decreases by 1% per year. Low testosterone is also called male hypogonadism. This is a condition where the testicles do not produce enough testosterone. However, there are several other reasons for lower testosterone levels. It is not easy to determine how many men have low testosterone, but the information so far states that in total it is 2.1% of men, ie 2 men out of 100 have the mentioned difficulties. However, we must also take into account their age. In the case of young men it is about 1%, but in older men over the age of 80 this problem has about 50%.
Interestingly, testosterone deficiency is more common in obese men. According to research, low testosterone levels have been found in 6.4% of men with optimal weight, but up to 30% of obese men can have testosterone deficiency. Similarly, in the case of diabetes mellitus, other research states that approximately one in four diabetics also has low testosterone levels.
You are probably wondering what the optimal testosterone levels are and when testosterone is already considered low. The upper normal limit is considered to be 1000 to 1200 nanograms per deciliter. 300 nanograms are set beyond the lower limit. According to the American Urological Association, values below 300 nanograms are considered low.
How do you know you have low testosterone? Focus on the most common symptoms we offer you in the following lines.
Erectile problems and lower sexual desire
Lower testosterone levels may result in less desire for sex, which naturally decreases with age, but is more pronounced in people with lower testosterone. Another feature is the erection problem, which may be due to the reduced production of nitric oxide in the tissue of the penis, which is stimulated by testosterone. For completeness, erectile dysfunction is not only the result of low testosterone, but also high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stress and anxiety, or alcohol and smoking consumption.
Depression and emotional fluctuations
Decreased desire for sex is basically also associated with emotions, but in addition to it, low testosterone levels can also manifest in the emotional level of depression and sadness. Testosterone has an effect on emotional regulation, so symptoms of its deficiency can also be fatigue, irritability and the mentioned aversion to sex. Last but not least, problems with motivation and self-confidence are also mentioned in this context.
Physical manifestations
In addition to sexual and psychological manifestations, testosterone deficiency is accompanied by certain physical changes. These include a decrease in muscle mass and energy, higher fat content, but also so-called gynecomastia (enlarged and fine breasts) and hair loss.
Testosterone and alcohol
We will probably agree that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to the human body in every way. However, alcohol also has a negative effect on testosterone levels, and we are not just talking about a negligible effect. 3 glands are needed for testosterone production - the hypothalamus, the mammary gland and the testes. Alcohol affects every one of them, which can disrupt testosterone production.
A 2019 study looked at the negative impact of alcohol on testosterone levels in men. It presents the results of a study comparing chronic alcoholics with volunteer respondents who were to drink a pint of whiskey a day (US pint = 473,176 ml, or 0.47 l) for 30 days. Almost all alcoholics had low or low testosterone levels. In healthy volunteers, testosterone levels began to decline 72 hours after digestion and reached the same levels as in alcoholics after 30 days. It follows that it doesn't take years to get into a state similar to hard alcoholics, a month is enough.
Excessive alcohol consumption also has an adverse effect in the short term. One night in which you overdo it with alcohol will reduce testosterone by up to 40%, which can last another 1 to 2 days. The worst case is chronic drinking, in which testicular atrophy (shrinkage) can occur, which can be irreversible.
Want to know more about the effects of alcohol on athletes? You will learn all the important things in the article - How alcohol affects weight loss, muscle regeneration and growth.
Testosterone, stress and cortisol
Many call stress an "invisible killer" because its impact on health is often downplayed. During stress, the levels of cortisol, a hormone responsible for several processes, such as metabolism and immunity, increase. Last but not least, high cortisol and stress can increase appetite, resulting in both body weight and dangerous body fat, which can be reflected in testosterone levels. Stress and anxiety are a common part of many people's lives, but their negative impact is more complex than many people think.
Testosterone and sleep
The constant emphasis on 8-hour sleep is not just a myth. For most of the population, 7-9 hours of sleep are associated with good health. After a healthy diet, sleep is the second most important factor for testosterone production. According to one study, as little as 1 week of restricted sleep can cause a daily drop in testosterone levels of 15%. Good sleep can not only increase testosterone, but also decrease cortisol, which we mentioned in the previous point. You'd better be more active during the day and give the body a rest at night, even for hormonal balance.
Testosterone supplements
Proper testosterone production can be supported not only by sleep, exercise and a proper diet, but also by nutritional supplements. Here are some supplements that can help you with this:
Vitamin D - contributes to the regulation of testosterone levels. The body makes it from sunlight, but you may need to supplement it if you spend too much time indoors, have darker skin, or live far from the equator. Among other things, an increase in vitamin D levels can also promote sperm quality.
DAA - d-aspartic acid - this amino acid has a positive effect on testosterone, which, according to scientists, could be an increase in luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone.
Zinc - Testosterone production can also be "blocked" by zinc deficiency. To a greater extent, it can come to athletes because it is washed out of the body afterwards. You can supplement zinc in your diet, but you can also increase its level with nutritional supplements.
Ashwagandha - a plant known in traditional Indian medicine, which is primarily an adaptogen, which helps to deal with anxiety and stress. However, according to research, Ashwagandha supplementation also has a positive effect on testosterone, the level of which in men has increased by 10-22%.
DHEA - behind this abbreviation is the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone, which the body naturally produces in the adrenal glands. According to studies, 50-100 mg of DHEA can increase testosterone levels by up to 20%.
Tribulus terrestris - This plant has been known in natural medicine for centuries and its effect on testosterone levels and sexual desire has been supported by several scientific studies.
Testosterone deficiency has a whole range of symptoms that you may also notice. However, if you want to be absolutely sure about your amount of testosterone, look for an expert who will use tests to verify its exact level. As you read in the article, testosterone affects many factors and in addition, it can drop very quickly. It is not always necessary to undergo treatment to increase it again, sometimes it is enough to change your lifestyle and take appropriate nutritional supplements. We believe that you have read everything important about testosterone and its meaning. Do you want your friends to know about this important hormone? Feel free to support the article by sharing.
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