Testosterone
is a hormone found in both men and women (as well as in animals). The testicles
primarily make testosterone in men. Women’s ovaries also make testosterone (though
in much smaller amounts). Testosterone production starts to increase
significantly during puberty, and begins to decrease after age 30.
While testosterone production naturally tapers off as a man ages, other factors can cause hormone levels to drop. Injury to the testicles and cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation can adversely affect testosterone production. Chronic diseases and stress can also reduce testosterone production. Some of these diseases include Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Kidney Disease, Alcoholism, and Cirrhosis of the Liver
A simple blood test can determine testosterone levels. There is a wide range of “normal” or healthy level of testosterone circulating in the bloodstream. The normal range of testosterone is between 250 and 1100 nanograms per decilitre (ng/dL) for adult males, and is between 8 and 60 ng/dL for adult females. Boys with higher levels of testosterone may begin puberty earlier. Women with excessive testosterone may develop masculine features.
You may be a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy if low testosterone (low T) is interfering with your quality of life. Artificial testosterone can be administered orally, through injections, or with gels or patches on the skin. Some of the signs below may be a signal to see your primary care physician soon for possible low T:
1.
Bones weaken : Bone is actually living tissue,
constantly broken down and rebuilt. When testosterone levels fall, your bone
breaks down faster than your body can build it back up. As a result, you’re at
a higher risk of low bone density, osteoporosis, and fractures.
2.
Memory falters: Trouble
with thinking and memory often occurs in men with low T. Men whose testosterone
levels declined over 5 years also experienced a drop in scores on tests of
their mental function and memory. Besides the amygdala, areas of the brain
important for memory and attention – such as the cerebrum – also have
testosterone receptors. When there’s not enough of the hormone pumping in to
those receptors, your brain cells may not be able to function as well.
3.
Moods plummet: Some
of the side effects of low T – such as sexual dysfunction and weight gain – can
bring on the blues. But there’s also evidence of a more direct effect of low T
on mood. 23% of young men with newly diagnosed low T met the criteria for
depression, compared to only 5% of young guys with normal levels of the
hormone. Empty testosterone receptors in brain areas linked to mood are likely
responsible for your depressed state. What’s more, mood disorders like
depression or anxiety can kick off a vicious cycle. Depression can suppress
your testicles’ ability to produce testosterone, which worsens the problem.
4.
Penis size may
shrink: Without a steady flow of testosterone, the tissues in the penis,
scrotum, and testicles can atrophy (or shrive). As a result, the penis might
lose length and girth. You may notice your testicles shrink, too. They often
shrivel to half the size and turn squishy instead of firm. Though testosterone
replacement therapy won’t bring back testicular volume, when it comes to your
penis, the treatment has a good chance
of restoration. (In fact, testosterone therapy in boys with a micropenis can
increase their size by up to an inch and a half.)
5.
Sex drive
disappears : Perhaps the best-known, quickest, and most common effect of
low T is low libido. Besides wanting less sex, men with low T may also
masturbate less and report fewer fantasies and erotic dreams. Brain areas
involved with sexual desire (including the amygdala) are packed with
testosterone receptors. The hormone fits inside them like a key inside a lock,
lighting them up to arouse you. Without it, you’re missing a critical step in
the turn-on process. This lack of desire
to have sex can cause problems with erections though low T doesn’t directly
affect the plumbing involved in getting or staying hard.
6.
The belly grows: Men
with prostate cancer gained 14% more body fat and 22% more visceral fat after
one year of Androgen deprivation therapy, a treatment which turns off
testosterone’s effects. Visceral fat is the deep abdominal fat that forms
around your organs and increases your risk for diabetes and heart disease. In
men, low T may increase the activity of an enzyme called lipoprotein Lipase.
This compound drives circulating building blocks called lipids into visceral
fat cells plumping them up.
7.
An at-risk
heart: The effect of testosterone levels on the risk of heart
problems has stoked controversy among experts. On one side, low levels of
testosterone may be linked to heart problems Men with low T have a greater risk
of dying from heart disease than men with normal levels. This may be because
testosterone can help open up blood vessels to the heart, which allows blood to
flow more freely. But on the flip side, some studies have suggested that
testosterone therapy – especially in older men or those with existing heart
conditions – might increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Experts think
it may thicken the blood, making a clot more likely.
8.
Muscles shrink: Ample
testosterone puts your body in an anabolic (or muscle-building) state by helping your body produce and
assemble proteins that form the building blocks of lean mass. When your
testosterone levels drop, your body turns catabolic instead, breaking down
muscle tissue instead of building it up. At first, you might notice that it’s
tougher to push as much weight at the gym or build muscle. And after a few
weeks of low T, you can expect to lose muscle mass. Men with low free
testosterone levels – a measure of the amount of hormone available to bind to
receptors – had double to triple the risk of muscle loss with ageing compared
to those with normal levels.
“When you
fight, anger drives up testosterone in both men and women.” (Helen Fisher)[i]
[i] Sources used:
“
·
“8 symptoms
that can mean you have low testosterone levels” by Health24
·
“HIV/AIDS” from Wikipedia
·
“Medical Definition of
Testicles” by MedicineNet.com
·
“Nanograms per Decilitre (ng/dL)” by .MyHealth.Alberta.ca
·
“What Is
Testosterone?” by James Roland
The topic for this post
was suggested by my wife, Bobbi. The purpose of this rather graphic post is to
aid any couple dealing with this.
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