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Low Testosterone vs Depression: Symptom Guide

Low Testosterone vs Depression: Symptom Guide

Males experience a gradual decrease in testosterone as they get older. The older you are, the more likely that you’ll have low testosterone. Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for low testosterone.

Testosterone replacement therapy involves taking prescribed testosterone medication in the form of pills, patches, and gel that you apply to your skin. Some doctors say that getting a good night’s sleep and reducing stress can also have a positive effect. It is thought that some of the apparent benefits of testosterone might be related to healthier men generally being more aware of their bodies and being more likely to be prescribed testosterone. The treatment for low testosterone also depends on the underlying cause. Males with low T sometimes develop gynecomastia or enlarged breast tissue. This effect is believed to occur due to an imbalance between testosterone and estrogen. Infections or injuries to the testicles can cause hypogonadism, too.

And any activity that promotes good health will be beneficial to your biological functions, like producing testosterone and other hormones. Many experts believe testosterone contributes to the higher rates of heart disease and high blood pressure that tend to affect men at younger ages. By this reasoning, high testosterone might be bad for the heart. Testosterone therapy does appear to increase bone density in the lumbar spine in middle-aged men with testosterone deficiency.

Learn who’s most at risk, how to get on trt at 30 (border-radio.it) long the condition may last, and the possible side effects of hormone therapy. The signs and symptoms of low testosterone can be broad and overlap with many other medical conditions. Once dismissed as a rare condition affecting older men, low T (testosterone deficiency) is now understood as a far more widespread issue. Thanks to a mix of modern stress, environmental exposures, and plain old aging, more men are hitting their 40s and 50s feeling like shadows of themselves — and many don’t even know why. Secondary hypogonadism is caused by damage to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. These parts of the brain control hormone production by the testes. Dr Anawalt also said he usually doesn’t start patients on the lowest dose when initiating testosterone therapy.

In both males and females, low testosterone can lead to lower bone mass and reduced sex drive. A retrospective cohort study from the U.S. showed that testosterone replacement in men with hypogonadism significantly increased the risk of urolithiasis [25]. In another retrospective case‒control study from Taiwan, androgen deprivation in prostate cancer patients reduced the subsequent development of kidney stones [26]. These two retrospective studies suggest that testosterone might induce urinary stones.

While this may not mean their sex life has necessarily ended, they might just have lost enthusiasm for it. “Men may find that while they go to the gym, and train just as hard, they can’t put on muscle, and get fatter despite nothing changing in their diet,” says Foster. “Interestingly, they also often have poorer sleep even though they are always exhausted. The most common scenario Dr Foster sees in his practice is a man aged 35-plus describing feelings of being more tired, maybe struggling to get through the day without relying on caffeine. If this is the case then fear not, as one medical expert has outlined everyday symptoms of low testosterone and how you can amend it. A doctor has highlighted the major signs of low testosterone to keep an eye out for on a day-to-day basis.

Testosterone production can slow as a person ages, and many older people experience symptoms of low testosterone. The hormone also plays a role in developing bone and muscle mass. Also, some symptoms, such as fatigue, sleep problems, and depression, can be caused by many underlying conditions that have nothing to do with testosterone.

On average, it takes about 3 weeks to see an improvement in sexual desire (libido), energy, and mood. A good first step is increasing activity levels and maintaining a healthy diet in order to reduce body fat. It can also be helpful to avoid glucocorticoid medications such as prednisone as well as opioid pain medications. Low testosterone (low T), also called male hypogonadism, may be caused by many things, such as aging, hormone changes, chemotherapy, and others.

Should your performance in the bedroom be a pressing concern for you, then check out five doctor-approved suggestions which could minimise issues around getting it up. Sometimes the cause of low testosterone in a man is unknown, and many men have several different causes. Houman suggests limiting exposure by ditching plastic water bottles and Tupperware and instead keeping drinks and food in glass or ceramic containers. “You can also mitigate exposure to these [chemicals] by choosing organic produce to avoid pesticide residues, and select natural, chemical-free grooming products,” adds Bailey. According to Bailey, there is not a single reason for the drop-off, but rather a number of culprits that have come together to cause this systemic issue. Though “environmental and behavioral influences appear to be key drivers of the overall decline,” he says.

Even if your testosterone levels are below the recommended range, you still might not have to worry. Doctors say that a reading between 200 and 300 ng/dL is sort of a gray area. Men who don’t respond to the medicines that are used to treat erectile dysfunction (such as sildenafil), should also have their testosterone level checked. One large study in Europe found that testosterone deficiency affected about 2 in 100 men aged 40 to 79 years. Testosterone deficiency affected about 5 in 100 men aged 70 to 79 years.