Low Testosterone in Men – Symptoms, Causes, Effect & Best Treatments

Everything You Need to Know About Testosterone

What is Testosterone?

The testosterone is the hormone associated with the male. From even before birth, testosterone is a basic sexual hormone for male development, although it becomes more evident after puberty, the stage in which the body begins to turn into an adult.

During puberty, the period from childhood to adulthood is where the highest peaks of testosterone in man occur. This is the stage where male expressions take place and are maximized, such as:

• The Growth of the penis and testicles
• The Increase of facial, public, and body in general
• Change of voice
• Muscle mass
• Strengthening the bones
• Growth in height

Functions of Testosterone

Over the years, especially in adulthood, testosterone continues to play a key role for a man, since it has multiple functions:

• It is an important piece in muscle toning
• Helps to perform physical activities by providing a stimulus
• Which results in a better physical appearance
• More strength and greater resistance
• Cuts recovery periods after training both aerobic and anaerobic
• Helps produce red blood cells
• Can prevent osteoporosis by increasing bone mineral density
• Favors memory
• Improves the skin
• Makes the liver work better
• Improves the action of insulin…

Despite all this, the main function associated with testosterone is related to the sexual area, since it is the hormone that feeds the sexual appetite, helps the sperm to form correctly, and combats erectile dysfunction.

Low level of testosterone: how does it make itself felt?

Although a decrease in testosterone levels with age is normal for men, a low level of this hormone can affect their health. In many ways, testosterone is a substance that makes men. The rapid increase in testosterone levels during puberty is the cause of increased muscle, decreased voice, accelerated sexual development. Throughout life, testosterone supports the masculine characteristics of the body.

The testosterone level begins to decline by the age of forty. But this decrease is relatively insignificant, from about 1% to 2% per year. Men of middle age and older virtually all face a decline in testosterone levels – but only a small number of members of the stronger sex have a significant reduction in the hormone content in the blood, which is sharply below normal.

The effect of low testosterone levels on health

This may seem strange, but little is known about the long-term effects that low testosterone levels have on health. A low level of male hormone is associated with some chronic diseases, for example, obesity, diabetes, depression, possibly cardiovascular diseases. However, it is not at all accurate that a low level of testosterone causes these diseases.

Testosterone is part of the bones, so its deficiency can lead to a deterioration in their structure, which is called osteoporosis. If a man has a hip fracture, then, most likely, he has a low level of testosterone. But still, there is no evidence that increasing testosterone levels, reduces the risk of fractures. But still, most doctors associate a low density of bones with a lack of testosterone.

Symptoms of testosterone deficiency

• Reduction of muscle mass;
• The decreased libido (sexual desire);
• Increase in body weight due to the growth of adipose tissue;
• Decrease in bone density;
• Increased sweating;
• Reduced endurance and physical strength;
• Various defects of sexual development, among which is worth mentioning eunuchoidism, as well as the absence of sperm during ejaculation;
• A significant reduction in the number of spontaneous erections or their complete absence;
• An increase in the mammary glands due to the growth of the fat layer under them;
• Reduction of the hair cover in the pubic and axillary region, as well as in the face area;
• Visual reduction of the testicles;
• Psychogenic disorders in the form of depressions, mood swings, loss of attention, memory and sleep disorders.

The Most Common Causes of Low Testosterone in Men

• Age -> After a certain age period (40 years), a decrease in testosterone production occurs. The decrease in testosterone is caused by age-related changes and is an irreversible process.
• Unbalanced nutrition -> The lack of microelements and vitamins necessary for the body can lead to a deficiency of testosterone.
• Excess weight -> In this case, a decrease in the production of testosterone is accompanied by an increase in the production of estrogen, which is fraught with a serious disruption in the work of the entire body of a man.
• Bad habits -> Alcohol, tobacco, drugs contribute to a decrease in testosterone.
• Power -> An improper diet, lacking the necessary vitamins, and minerals for men, may be the main cause of low testosterone levels. It is important to provide the body with building material for the formation of a testosterone molecule. In the diet, you should include products that increase testosterone and exclude products that lower testosterone.
• Lack of physical activity -> Physical training and exercises with weights help increase testosterone. Conversely, excessive physical exertion and everyday exhausting workouts can cause low testosterone.
• Stress -> Emotional stresses are also fraught with hormonal disorders, including a decrease in testosterone production.
• Excess weight -> one of the most dangerous causes of a drop in testosterone. What is dangerous for excess weight in men? First, the production of male hormones is suppressed. Secondly, the production of female sex hormones, estrogens, is launched. Estrogens in the male body further inhibit the production of testosterone. Too sparing and sedentary lifestyle also carries the risk of falling levels of the “male hormone”.

Thus, we can say that the guarantee of your excellent health and male activity at any age is proper nutrition, moderate physical activity, positive attitude and careful, caring attitude to your body.

Low levels of testosterone hormone in men can lead to complications such as erectile dysfunction and even infertility, so it is so important that, if the slightest symptoms occur, do not delay the visit to the doctor and start the treatment in a timely manner.

What diseases can lead to a deficiency of testosterone?

Low Testosterone in Men results as:

1. Decreased libido and erectile dysfunction -> Since testosterone is responsible for sexual desire, along with its fall, there is a weakening of sexual desire.
2. Decreased volume and strength of muscles -> Testosterone has an anabolic effect, i.e. responsible for the growth and strength of muscles. Therefore, with low testosterone, there is a decrease in muscle mass and strength.
3. Gynecomastia (breast growth in men) -> It is observed with a strong and prolonged decrease in testosterone.
4. Increased irritability -> Increase the deposition of excess fat. The lack of testosterone slows the metabolism, subsequently leading to the deposition of fat.
5. Reduction of the hairline -> The hair covering on the body and face is one of the sex signs of a man which may start reducing.

Among diseases of internal organs, a low level of testosterone may cause:

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma
• cardiac ischemia
• arterial hypertension
• diabetes
• obesity
• cirrhosis of the liver
• chronic alcoholism

If testosterone is not lowered to a critical level, you can try to increase testosterone naturally. Otherwise, it is necessary to undergo substitution therapy with testosterone, which will be prescribed by the attending physician.

How is testosterone level determined?

To find out what testosterone you have, you need to take a blood test in the morning (preferably in the interval from 7 to 11 hours), since in the morning the testosterone content in the blood is maximal.

In addition, other special tests are needed – the determination of the level of LH, the protein that binds the sex hormones, as well as a number of other tests that the doctor will prescribe according to the results of the examination.

At the same time, testosterone deficiency can be suspected by clinical symptoms. For this purpose, several special questionnaires and scales have been developed.

7 Effective Way to Increase Testosterone Level Naturally

#1. Remove sugar from the diet

If you really want to bring your hormonal background in order and increase testosterone levels in the blood, the first thing you need to do is to eliminate sugar from your diet as soon as possible.

It has been proven that sugar lowers testosterone levels in the blood plasma in several ways. Type II diabetics are twice as likely to suffer from testosterone deficiency.Here’s how it happens:

• When a person eats processed and sweet food, the blood glucose level is constantly elevated.
• To help reduce blood sugar levels, the pancreas begins to work beyond measure to produce insulin, which helps to transfer sugar from the bloodstream to the cells where it turns into energy.
• Ultimately, the cells become so used to the effects of insulin that insulin resistance develops and then type II diabetes comes on.

In the presence of diabetes, the body is not able to produce enough testosterone. So, doctors recommend that diabetics take tests for hormones, especially if there are symptoms of a lack of testosterone, named above.

#2. Strength and interval training

If you want to naturally increase the level of testosterone and growth hormone in the body, then start lifting weights and engage in high-intensity interval training.

Go to the gym at least 3 times a week and carry iron. Perform 6-12 repetitions of different strength exercises on different muscle groups, including quadriceps, hamstrings, back, shoulders and chest muscles. So you quickly pump your body muscles, and in just 30 minutes of strength training, increase the testosterone level several times.

Combine strength training with interval or, as they are called, with explosive training, which will increase the level of human growth hormone. It has been proven that explosive training not only increases the level of testosterone but also prevents its decrease and maintains it at a normal level. During the explosive workout, your task is to put on 90-100 percent in a short period of time to burn the sugar (glycogen) stored in the body, and then rest for a bit of rest and continue training.

As a result of such training, the human body burns calories within the next 36 hours and restores its vital energy reserves. In addition to this, due to interval training, 3-9 times more fat is burnt, heart rate and blood pressure are reduced, brain work is improved due to increased blood circulation, the body is cleared by stimulation of the lymphatic system.

#3. Reduce stress and stress

Attacks of anger, irritability, nervous breakdowns, resentment, anger reduce the testosterone content in the blood. No wonder they say that chronic stress kills the quality of life.

Mental and physical stress is sometimes therapeutic effect and actually necessary for the body. The problem is that if stress and stress are permanent, the body gets stuck in a state where the production of cortisol (a stress hormone) occurs without stopping.

“Double hormone hypothesis” Recently, from a survey, it has been found that when cortisol is elevated, testosterone levels in men also increase, but soon after the situation stabilizes, testosterone is at a lower level than before the release of cortisol. This means that you need to look for ways to reduce stress in order to keep the hormone at a good level.

• Write down a list of people you should forgive, and then do it.
• Try forgiving others.
• You can also refer to holy books or read literature on personal growth
• Seek help from a psychologist

In fact, you need to learn to solve any difficulties and deal with all the emotional problems, in particular, with resentment, anger, and frustration, and you will see that it really helps you to cleanse and enrich yourself spiritually, and also raise the level of testosterone naturally.

#4. Add Fat To Your Diet

Add more healthy fats to your diet. Most men with low testosterone eat a lot of fast food and carbohydrates. It is necessary to exclude these empty calories and add useful fats, which raise testosterone in the body.

So many studies show that when men reduced the intake of healthy fats, the concentration of androstenedione and free testosterone in the blood plasma also decreased. This suggests that a diet low in healthy fats is one of the reasons for lowering the level of male hormone in the blood.

There are three kinds of healthy fats.

1. The first is saturated fats. Not all saturated fats are useful, so you need to carefully approach the choice of a particular product. Useful saturated fats are contained in coconut oil, raw, fermented dairy products, such as goat milk kefir, yogurts, goat’s milk or sheep’s milk. Store dairy products are not recommended at all.
2. The second type of fat includes omega-3 fatty acids. Try to eat salmon several times a week or get supplements with fish oil. Useful sources of these acids are also flax seeds, chia, and walnuts.
3. And the last group of fats is monounsaturated fats. If you want to increase testosterone levels with these fats, then eat every day avocados, almonds, and olive oil.

#5. Cleansing the liver

The next step towards normalizing testosterone levels will be liver cleansing. When the liver is not working properly, it negatively affects the production of testosterone. This is because the liver contains an enzyme that conjugates the 17-beta-hydroxyl group of testosterone.

#6. Quality sleep

A sufficient amount of sleep and its right time are the two most effective natural ways to increase testosterone levels. Most people need about 7 hours of sleep each night, and it is very important to take advantage of all the benefits of sleep between 10 pm – 2 o’clock at night.

The circadian rhythm of your body is reset every night and gets rid of chemicals such as cortisol, which is extremely useful and necessary for the balance of hormones. I even heard an endocrinologist claiming that one hour of sleep between 10 pm and 2 o’clock at night has the same recovery effect on the body as two hours of sleep before or after this time interval!

Ideally, go to bed best about 10 pm and wake up around 6 am for an optimal hormonal background.

#7. Vitamin D

One of the most important nutrients contributing to the increase in testosterone levels is vitamin D3.
In 2011, a study confirmed that supplements with vitamin D increased testosterone levels in men overweight by 30 percent. And it has been proven that D3 is used as a preventive and anti-cancer drug!

If you suffer from a lack of vitamin D, the testosterone level will be very low. Therefore, go out more often on the street in sunny weather for 20-30 minutes to cleanse your body with the sun and get the necessary portion of vitamin D.

For one day without direct sunlight, your body does not receive 5000 IU of vitamin D3. If the blood contains less than 50 IU of vitamin D, then you need to visit the sun twice a day for 20 minutes for 3 months until you get the necessary 5000 IU. You can try anything in this world, but if the level of vitamin D is low, testosterone will not be enough either.

Treatment of Low testosterone in men by medicines

1. Intramuscular injections (once every 2-3 weeks);
2. A gel containing testosterone;
3. A patch containing testosterone, which is attached to the body (can be directly on the scrotum with testicles);
4. Drugs took orally.

Treatment with any of these options provides the required level of hormone replacement therapy. They have individual advantages, but there are also disadvantages. Which of the ways to prefer, it is better to consult with your doctor.

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