Most men don’t worry about low testosterone (T) levels until they learn the medical name for it — hypogonadism, which means your testicles are underperforming.
When your testicles (i.e., gonads) don’t produce enough T, a whole range of problems can ensue. Many of the changes you’ve experienced lately and have shrugged off as part of the aging process could be due to low T.
No matter your age or sex, T is an essential hormone that your body uses in many ways. If you’re male, you need sufficient T to maintain the secondary sex characteristics that once turned you from a boy to a man.
However, T declines as you age. About 45% of men over age 45 have low T. If you’re unsure of your current levels, we can check them as part of our men’s health examination.
Our expert medical practitioners at Enrich Family Practice believe you have the right to feel optimal, not just average, no matter your age. That’s why Kelly Burrows, APRN FNP-C, Lee Ann Garza, FNP, and our entire team offer hormone testing and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for both men and women at our office in Odessa, Texas.
Men, do you need to check your T levels? Following are five signs that you might.
If your fuse seems to light on fire and lead to an explosion much faster than it used to, a lack of T might be the source of your TNT temper.
If you’re irritable and angered easily, you might be depressed. Men tend to exhibit depression with anger, while women tend to express it through withdrawal and repressed moods. Men with low T are more likely to be depressed than men with normal T levels.
Testosterone helps you build muscle tissue, which, in turn, enables you to burn fat and keeps your metabolism robust. As T levels decline, you may find maintaining or gaining muscle mass harder than ever.
Instead, you start to accumulate fat, especially around your middle. Your muscles may not be as strong as they used to be and have become “flabby.”
You may also have begun to develop “man boobs,” a condition officially known as gynecomastia. In addition, low T can cause your testicles to shrink slightly.
If your sex drive has stopped driving you, you may just need to fuel up on T. A healthy, robust sex life isn’t just for young people; it’s a healthy part of life for seniors, too.
Unfortunately, even if your mind is willing, your body may not be. Another sign of low T is erectile dysfunction (ED), which can make obtaining and/or maintaining an erection challenging.
When your sex drive is low or you have ED, it may harm your relationship, which can then affect your mood. If your partner also experiences hormonal imbalances, you might both benefit from HRT.
Everything that used to spark your interest — from the latest movie or video game to a night out with friends or family — seems inconvenient at best. Low T can make you feel chronically fatigued, which makes it difficult to work up enthusiasm for just about anything.
Without sufficient testosterone, your entire body runs low on fuel, including your brain. In addition to a depressed mood, you may experience other brain-related symptoms, including:
Take any brain-related symptoms seriously. Without lifestyle changes or treatment, cognitive changes could become permanent and may increase your risk for dementia.
You don’t have to accept low levels of T and the compromises that brings to your quality of life. We help you initiate and maintain lifestyle changes that can help boost your T, such as:
After we test your T levels, we may also recommend HRT. By supplementing with T, your body can reverse some unwanted signs of aging.
Get the T your body craves and needs by contacting us today at 432-200-9052. You can also fill out our online form to schedule a testosterone test.
