Reasons You May Need Testosterone Therapy As You Age
Testosterone is a crucial male sex hormone responsible for developing and maintaining several male characteristics. The hormone regulates sex drive and plays a vital role in developing male reproductive tissues like the prostate and testes.
Besides impacting sex health, testosterone affects other physiological functions such as bone mass and density, muscle mass and strength, fat distribution, beard and body hair, heart health, and the production of red blood cells.
Typically, the male body starts producing testosterone about seven weeks after conception. And as the male body matures, the testosterone levels rise gradually. The body records peak testosterone levels during the late teen years, which are maintained until around 30. After this peak stage, the body’s testosterone levels will naturally decrease slightly every year.
Maintaining a high testosterone level as you age is essential to ensure your physical, mental, and emotional well-being is in good shape. Low testosterone can lead to several health issues, including regular body weakness, erectile dysfunction, low self-esteem, depression, low sex drive, high body fat, and so on.
Why go for testosterone therapy?
When your testosterone levels are low, you may need testosterone therapy to help boost the levels and improve your overall health. Although aging is the most common factor that causes testosterone levels to dwindle, other possible factors include:
? Injury or infection of the testes
? Metabolic disorders
? Chronic illness
? Tumors of the pituitary gland
When testosterone levels reduce due to a disease and not the natural aging phenomenon, it is called hypogonadism. Experimental results show that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can help reverse the impacts of hypogonadism and improve men’s overall health. However, it’s unclear if the therapy will produce the same results in individuals who experience low testosterone due to aging.
That said, many older men have testified that they feel younger and more vigorous whenever they take testosterone medications. They explained that their sex life and other aspects of their physiological functions have significantly improved since they received testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Thus, as you age, you need testosterone therapy to help you maintain this important hormone at high levels and ensure that your mental and physical health is in good condition. Getting help from the best online TRT experts can give you an insight into whether or not you’re a candidate for TRT.
Signs of low testosterone
Knowing the signs of low testosterone can help you take timely action to correct the situation and restore your optimal body performance. When you notice any of the following signs, you may want to speak with your doctor to ascertain your testosterone levels and seek testosterone replacement therapy if that should be the problem.
1. Low sex drive
Testosterone plays a vital role in your sex drive (or libido). While it’s normal for the sex drive to reduce as you age, low testosterone can make the reduction more drastic. If you notice any drastic change in your sex drive, you probably are dealing with testosterone issues.
2. Difficulty achieving and maintaining an erection
Testosterone tells your brain receptors to produce nitric oxide, a molecule that helps initiate a series of chemical reactions required for an erection. And even once you achieve an erection, maintaining it throughout intercourse can be daunting when the testosterone levels are low.
If achieving and maintaining an erection has become problematic, you may be dealing with low testosterone issues or any other possible cause, such as:
? Diabetes
? Thyroid disorders
? High blood pressure
? High cholesterol
? Depression
? Anxiety, etc.
Speak with your doctor to determine what’s wrong and take the right steps to correct the situation.
3. Hot flashes
Hot flashes can be another sign of low testosterone in men. You should see your doctor for medical advice when you feel this sudden sensation of warmth without any explanation for the cause. Other accompanying signs of hot flashes include heavy sweating, skin reddening, and night sweats.
4. Hair loss and fatigue
Normal testosterone levels promote beard and body hair growth and boost your energy levels. When the testosterone levels drop, you may start to feel weak often despite getting enough sleep and even begin to lose significant body hair. The phenomenon is different from balding, which is a natural part of aging in men.
Other signs of low testosterone you should pay attention to are decreased muscle mass, increased body fat (due to the imbalance of testosterone and estrogen in the body), decreased bone mass, mood changes, smaller testicles, and penis size, and low blood count.
Although TRT, like most other treatments, comes with some side effects, having an experienced professional handling your therapy would ensure you get desirable results.
But don’t be in a rush. It’s extremely important to speak with your doctor to determine whether testosterone therapy is right for you and how to prepare for it.
