Treatment for low testosterone can be Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Your doctor will prescribe you a topical gel to apply to your penis daily that will start to relieve the symptoms of low testosterone. The other treatment option you have to choose from is an injection. This will be done in office first, and then you will be given the opportunity to do your own injections in the comfort of your own home.
Are There Any Side Effects to Testosterone Therapy?
The negative side effects can increase if you are treating an age related drop in testosterone. Our body naturally declines in testosterone production as we age and there is less reason to treat a deficiency if it is from normal causes as opposed to a medical issue in your youth. If it is still a concern with age, you can try natural ways to boost your testosterone levels, such as diet and exercise.
Visit Genesys Men’s Health for Your Testosterone Replacement Therapy Needs
Here at Genesys Men’s Health, we offer an up to date and aggressive apTestosterone information may be confusing to interpret at first because of all of the clinical terms you may encounter.
There is so much information out there, and it is hard to separate truth from error and find what you are looking for. We are discussing everything about Testosterone levels in men, and how it can affect you in your day to day life. From where it is made to how to check your testosterone levels, you can find it all here.
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is the main sex hormone in men. Termed an “Androgen, ”it is included in a group of steroids that have a growth effect. Testosterone is the most important Androgen in Males. Contrary to popular belief, Testosterone plays many different roles in the male body and each is important. You might only associate Testosterone with puberty and male sex organs or being masculine. But this hormone affects more than that. When your body isn’t producing enough Testosterone, you will notice some different symptoms that may indicate a deficiency. This can start anywhere from a low sex drive to the increase in production of breast tissue in males.
Why Do I Need Testosterone?
Testosterone is needed in the male body to develop the penis and testicles, for developing muscles, bone growth, sex drive, develop sperm, puberty aspects such as facial hair, pubic hair, growth spurts, and a deepening voice. It also affects mood ranges and aids in keeping a uniform or normal mood. Not developing healthy levels of Testosterone in the pubescent years can alter the levels of Testosterone and development later in life.
Where is Testosterone Made in Men?
You can count on testosterone to be made in the male testes. Leydig cells in the testes synthesize testosterone. It can also be produced in adrenal glands. To secrete testosterone, the Hypothalamus releases GNRH or Gonadotropin, releasing hormones in groups. This in turn stimulates the pituitary gland to make LH or Luteinizing Hormone. LH, then converts Cholesterol to make testosterone. This is all a part of the negative feedback loop that creates testosterone.
When Do Testosterone Levels Start to Decrease with Age?
Your testosterone levels will get to their all time high when you are in your teens to early 20s. You are young, have a lot of energy, and are exploring your life. After you reach your 30s your testosterone levels can gradually decline around 1% per year. With that said, normal aging will most likely bring about decline in Testosterone levels. If you are younger and experience symptoms of low testosterone, it is best to talk to your doctor to find out if there is a medical condition causing it, since the natural cause of age is not a factor here.
Can I Have too Much Testosterone?
The short answer to this question involving testosterone information is yes, men can have too much testosterone in their bodies. Although it is important to consider that having too much testosterone is far less common than having too little. Symptoms of having too much testosterone in your body are as follows: increased risk of heart attack and damage to heart muscle, acne, difficulty urinating, liver disease, high cholesterol, weight gain, increased risk of blood clots, headaches, retaining fluid, inability to sleep, irritability, impaired judgement, mood swings, aggressive mood, muscle mass growth, and prostate enlargement. Most of the time, individuals who have an excess of testosterone and are experiencing trouble are athletes who, in search of better performance, have chosen to take steroids or other testosterone enhancing drugs.
Can I Have too Little Testosterone?
Men can produce lower levels of testosterone in their bodies than they actually need to thrive. This can happen more gradually and naturally as opposed to an excess of too much testosterone which would most likely be from taking steroids or additional testosterone to boost sports performances. Some symptoms or signs of low testosterone are: small testicles, low sex drive, low sperm count, infertility, decreased muscle mass, lack of deepening voice, Erectile Dysfunction, weak bones, increased breast tissue, hot flashes, less or lack of body hair. Most of these symptoms mentioned are not a result in a normal decline of testosterone, especially if you are part of the younger generation.
How is Testosterone Circulated?
The body is a smart machine. If it senses that there is already too much testosterone being regulated, it will stop producing it on its own or use it to make something else. This is also why it is important to get Testosterone Therapy when you really need additional help, and not seek it out for opposite reasons. Regulation of testosterone starts in the Hypothalamus and is also regulated by the Pituitary Gland in the negative feedback loop with the end result of testosterone production.
What is a Typical Testosterone Level for Males?
This range for men can run from 230-1200ng/dl. This can be broken down further by age category as follows. If you are a male between the ages of 17 and 18, the normal or typical range of testosterone in your body would be around 300-1200 ng/dl. From 19 years old and up, these ranges can vary between 240-959 ng/dl.
When is Low Testosterone not a Concern?
If you are experiencing symptoms of low testosterone, and have a medical condition such as prostate cancer, it is best to not try to boost your testosterone levels. It is possible for Testosterone to stimulate tumors or cancer to grow. For this reason, medications that lower Testosterone will be prescribed to prevent further growth of cancer.
Do Females Need Testosterone?
Even though women do not need testosterone for lower voices or other development of male anatomy, Testosterone plays an important role in their bodies as well. It is produced in the ovaries, and similar to men, also made in the Adrenal Glands. Testosterone also contributes to sex drive in women, and plays an important role in secreting hormones for the menstrual cycle. If women have too little Testosterone produced in their bodies, they can experience depression, infertility, lack of menstrual cycles, problems sleeping, memory issues and inability to concentrate. If they produce too much Testosterone, the effects are development of facial hair, masculine voice, and manly body image, as well as male pattern baldness.
How Important is Diet with Low Testosterone?
Taking care of your body with food is one of the best things you can do for yourself from day one. Everyone should make eating healthier foods a priority. The effects that a good diet of a variety of nutrient rich foods has for your body is insurmountable. Eating severely low calories can have a loss effect with your levels of testosterone. With that said, when trying to determine if you have low testosterone, there are some foods that have been shown to have a higher influence on the production of testosterone. Check with your doctor before trying foods affecting testosterone. Foods that contain a higher amount of Zinc & B vitamins are in this category. These include Eggs, Beans, Oysters, Avocados, Red Meat, & Bananas.
Does Exercise Affect Testosterone Levels?
In short, exercise does affect testosterone levels, and here is why. When we think about what we know about testosterone, one of the main responsibilities of testosterone is muscle growth. The level of Androgen exposure you have as an adolescent may determine how our muscles grow and develop when we are in the adult stages of life. When you exercise, you do experience an increase in testosterone release for a small period of time. Now, the type of exercise and the duration and intensity have an affect on this. In terms of metabolic conditioning exercises or resistance training you get more testosterone production. Exercises that fall under the endurance category have been shown to have a suppressive effect on testosterone. The best thing you can do for your body and testosterone levels for exercise is to participate in intense exercise workouts consistently.
What Can Cause Low Testosterone Levels?
If you are experiencing lower testosterone levels, there are lifestyle changes you can analyze to see if they are affecting you. In today’s society, working full time, having a family, and a social life and or hobbies, can leave self care at the bottom of the list. Boosting your self care can greatly affect how you feel and your testosterone levels. Several factors could be relatable when it comes to a drop in Testosterone. You might be experiencing depression, be under extreme amounts of stress or have anxiety, be obese, not be conusming enough fat in your diet, eating too much or too little calories, not be sexually active, over train, partake in drug use, be medically ill, or be getting little to no sleep. All of these things can greatly affect how your body produces Testosterone.
How Can I Get My Testosterone Levels Checked?
If you want to have your Testosterone levels checked out, you can talk to your primary care doctor and they can refer you to a specialist and direct you what to do next. You will need to have your blood work done to find out what your current levels are and if they are in normal ranges for your age. If they are not, you will be presented with treatment options that will allow you to start on the path to healing. The prime time to get your blood work done is in the morning when your testosterone levels in the blood are the highest.
How Often Should I Get My Testosterone Levels Checked?
If you are in the younger years of your life and experiencing some issues you think might be related to low testosterone, it is best to meet with your doctor to get checked out. This could look like Erectile Dysfunction, small testicles, low sperm count, infertility, low sex drive, hot flashes, weakness, and/or development of breast tissue. The first step is talking to your doctor about what the causes may be and finding you treatment. If you are in the older years of your life and are experiencing changes in testosterone that are natural with age, it is not as imperative that you get tested.
What Are Some Available Treatment Options for Low Testosterone?
After you confirm you have low testosterone levels, you and your doctor wiproach to Testosterone Therapy for men. When it comes to Testosterone Information, we consider ourselves experts and are eager to share our knowledge with you. We offer a variety of treatment options for Low Testosterone. We know that everyone is unique and their treatment will be unique also. You can expect to regain mental clarity, energy, emotional stability, sex drive, physical stamina and endurance, as well as improved muscle strength. Take our free quiz online to find out if you have low testosterone and to get your free hormone evaluation. You can find our office located in Sandy, Utah, or reach us by phone at (801)- 671-7456. Contact us today!