Signs and Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Men and Women

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Symptoms of low testosterone in men and women may include notable loss of muscle mass, decreased semen volume, increased body fat which can cause weight gain especially in women and many more symptoms. Here’s a complete list of the signs and symptoms of low testosterone levels in both men and women.

Testosterone can best be described as a hormone that helps put hair on the man’s chest, and is also the force behind a man’s sex drive. When a man is in the puberty stage, this particular hormone assists in helping build the man’s muscles, boosts the size of his testes and penis, as well as deepen his voice. In short, testosterone is what makes a man what he is, at least from the physical aspects.

For many men, when they reach thirty years, they often begin to experience a gradual decline in their testosterone levels. This decline is then accompanied by a decrease in their sex drive, which in many cases, leads the men to mistakenly believe that their sudden loss of interest in sexual intercourse has been brought about by their increased age.

According to Jason Hedges, MD, and urologist at the Oregon Health Center and Science University in Portland, Oregon, the gradual decline in testosterone levels in men cannot explain the nearly total lack of interest in men. For instance, he says that men who are between the ages of twenty and forty, and who happen to be dealing with erectile problems may be suffering from other health complications, and not just the decreased levels of testosterone brought about by aging.

Symptoms of low testosterone in men

According to the American Urological Association, the production of Testosterone normally decreases as a man begins to age. You will find that every two out of ten men above the age of sixty years suffer from low levels of testosterone.

Men have been known to experience a wide range of symptoms when the testosterone levels begin to decrease more than they should. A doctor can diagnose low T when the levels fall below three hundred nanograms per deciliter. According to the US food and drug administration, normal testosterone levels should be between three hundred and one thousand nanograms per deciliter.

Symptoms of low testosterone in men
Symptoms of low testosterone in men

To determine the current levels, the doctor will need to perform a serum test in order to determine the levels of circulating testosterones in the body. When the testosterone production drops drastically, there are a number of symptoms that may begin to manifest. The symptoms in men include:

1. Low sex drive

In men, testosterone has been known to play a very important role in regulating the sex drive (libido) levels. There are men who experience a decline in their sex drive as they begin to age. However, you should note that people with low T levels are more likely to experience a major decline in their desires to engage in sexual intercourse.

2. Difficulty having erections

Even though testosterone has been known to assist in stimulating the man’ sex drive, it has also been known to assist in helping the man get and maintain an erection. It is important to note than testosterone alone cannot help in causing an erection in a man, but it does help in stimulating the receptors that are in the brain. Once stimulated, they produce nitric oxide.

The nitric oxide produced by the brain receptors is considered to be a molecule, that will assist in triggering several chemical reactions, all of which are necessary for the man to have an erection.

When these levels are too low, the man will no doubt have problems getting and maintaining erections prior to engaging in coitus, or getting spontaneous erections, such as when sleeping.

However, it is important to note that testosterone is one of the many factors that assist the man get adequate erections. The available research has proved inconclusive pertaining to the role of testosterone replacement when it comes to treating erection dysfunction in men. It has been seen that there are many other health problems, which play an active role in men who are experiencing erectile problems, and which include:

  1. Alcohol use
  2. Stress
  3. Anxiety
  4. Depression
  5. Smoking
  6. High cholesterol
  7. Diabetes
  8. Thyroid problems
  9. High blood pressure

3. Low volumes of semen

Testosterone plays a very important role when it comes to semen production. Semen is the milky fluid, which assists in sperm motility. A man with low testosterone levels will often notice a decline in the volume of their sperm after they have ejaculated.

4. Hair loss

Testosterone is vital in supporting various body functions, such as production of hair. For most men, balding is considered to be a natural part of the aging process. Even though there is an inheritance component that is associated with balding, most men with low testosterone levels will often have to deal with loss of facial and body hair.

5. Fatigue

Many men with low testosterone levels often report experiencing decreased energy levels as well as extreme fatigue. If you are tired all the time, there is a high likelihood that you could be suffering from low testosterone levels, even though you may be getting enough sleep. Additionally, if you find that its becoming harder for you to get the required motivation to engage in meaningful exercise activities, then there is a chance that you are suffering from low testosterone levels.

6. Muscle mass loss

In men, testosterone has been known to be quite useful in assisting men build their muscle. As such, any man with low T levels is likely going to experience a decline in their overall muscle mass. Several studies have shown that testosterone has the capacity to affect muscle mass, but this does not necessarily translate to a decline in functionality or strength.

7. Increase in body fat levels

There is a high probability that low testosterone in men will experience an increase in body fat levels. It is something that could lead to the men experiencing enlarged body tissue or gynecomastia. The effect is believed to come about due to an existing imbalance between estrogen and testosterone levels in men.

8. Decreased bone mass

Bone mass thinning, also known as osteoporosis is a condition that has for many years been associated with women. Latest studies however have shown that men with low T levels may also experience bone loss.

Testosterone plays an important role in the production and strengthening of the bone mass. As such, men that have low testosterone levels, more so the older men, will likely have a lower bone volume, and will also be more susceptible to fractures in the bone.

9. Mood changes

It is normal for men with low testosterone levels to experience changes in their moods. Given that testosterone has an influence in many physical processes in the human body, it also has the capacity to influence a man’s mental and mood capacity. Research has suggested that men with low testosterone levels are likely to experience irritability, depression, as well as have a lack of focus.

10. Genital numbness

Men with low T levels will often complain of experiencing numbness in their nether regions. Even though they may not be completely numb, you will find that a touch of the scrotum or the penis will usually fail to elicit the feeling of “electricity”, which is required so as to spark sexual encounter in the man, and which, helps in making sex to be pleasurable.

According to Dr. Abraham Morgentaler, an associate clinical professor at the Harvard Medical School, when men with low T levels touch this area, it just feels very wrong for them.

11. Shrinkage

Have you checked your testes of late? It has been seen that low testosterone can cause the testes to shrink, and this will make them to feel softer and smaller than is normal.

For men with low T levels, the good news is that all is not lost as it is possible for them to boost their testosterone levels. Low T levels can easily be treated using skin gels as well as under the skin pallets. The skin gels and the pallets will release testosterone slowly, allowing it to get into the body.

Apart from assisting solve sexuality, appearance, and mood related problems, testosterone can also assist men resolve other medical problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular, and osteoporosis.

Signs and symptoms of low testosterone in women

Signs and symptoms of low testosterone in women

Many women do not consider testosterone to be vital to them, as they classify it as a hormone in the male category. However, women need to understand that their sexual health can be extremely affected by decreased testosterone levels.

In women, the testosterone hormone is emitted from the adrenal glands as well as the ovaries. Naturally, the hormone levels will increase during pregnancy as well as during the puberty stage, and will decrease with age, as well as the onset of menopause.

When there is a sudden drop of testosterone in women, it can affect their energy, libido, as well as their mood. The following are the most common signs of low T in women.

1. Fatigue

Women with low T levels will often notice a decline in their energy levels. The decline in the energy levels can manifest itself in a number of ways; you could find it hard getting the required energy to get out of your bed in the morning, or you may start to feel drained of energy as the day goes by.

Additionally, you may find that the normal day to day physical activities, which normally do not require a lot of energy could be causing you a lot of fatigue, and this may be leaving you feeling exhausted and spent, and as such, you could find yourself struggling to get through, what would otherwise be a normal day at work.

According to medical experts, one of the known telltale signs, which indicate that the chronic fatigue could be caused by low T levels, is when the fatigue is not relieved by sleep. What this means is that, if you find that you are always tired, despite the fact that you are getting enough sleep each night, hormone deficiency could be the main cause of your fatigue problem.

It is however important to note that lots of medication can also bring about fatigue, and as such, you should see your physician so as to get the correct diagnosis.

2. Disrupted sleep

Women with low T levels will often find that their sleep patterns have become disrupted. For instance, a woman that has low testosterone levels will find that she is suffering from sleep apnea, insomnia, and may find herself waking up at several times during the night. Of all these symptoms, sleep apnea is the most serious condition, and is also the most troublesome.

When sleep apnea occurs over extended periods, it increases the chances of a woman getting heart related problems. To reduce the risks of a woman suffering from these heart related problems, there is a need for the condition to be diagnosed as soon as possible. Over the years, researchers have not been able to determine why reduced testosterone levels cause sleep disturbances in women.

However, there is a prevailing theory, which states they could cause additional imbalances in the important regulatory hormones as well as the brain chemicals, which promote healthy, and restful sleep patterns.

You should note that disrupted sleep patterns could also be caused by other medical problems, or they could as well be an indication that there is an underlying health problem. It is vital to make sure that you seek medical help, if you notice that your normal sleep patterns have become disrupted over the last four to six weeks.

3. Weight gain

For women affected by low testosterone levels, you will find that weight gain will normally begin to manifest itself within a few weeks.

For example, you may find that muscle tissue loss is followed by a sudden and unexplained increase in the amount of body fat, more so in the areas that are around the abdomen. Many researchers, have in fact come to believe that the diminishing testosterone levels could be the main cause of midlife weight gain in many women.

The weight gains in women, that is associated with the decreased testosterone levels in women could also manifest alongside other physical changes in the body. For instance, women with decreasing levels of testosterone could also experience changes in their bone density as well as their muscle tone, and this will in no doubt have a significant impact in the appearance and character of their bodies.

The symptoms will often begin to appear when a woman is in her id thirties. In many cases, women assume that these symptoms are a part of getting old, when in actual fact, they are treatable, and with luck, they can easily be reversed, allowing a woman to go back to her natural beauty.

4. Decreased libido

As women begin to age, many of them start becoming less interested in sex. In cases where a woman has very low T levels, she may experience a sudden and extreme change in her sexuality, which will often include vaginal dryness, reduced libido levels, as well as a general disinterest in sex related activities.

The reason for this is because testosterone plays a crucial role in the sexual arousal of both men and women. As such, a deficiency of this hormone leads to the woman experiencing a lack of intimacy, as well as losing interest in sex.

Studies have shown that hormone replacement therapies, when coupled with other treatments could assist in restoring the sexual drive of a woman back to her normal levels. However, it is recommended that you proceed with caution, and ensure that you do not self-medicate. If you must take testosterone supplements, you need to make sure that you take the correct dosage, to ensure that you minimize your risks of being affected by the side effects associated with the supplements.

5. Depression

Mood swings, depression, as well as many other unexplained emotional symptoms may be brought about by reduced testosterone hormone levels. The symptoms are known to occur because the testosterone hormone plays an important role in regulating more than just a woman’s libido and energy levels, as it also assists in regulating and stabilizing her mood.

Additionally, neuropsychiatric symptoms include lack of interest in activities that a woman once enjoyed, as well as a general lack of motivation. There are women who also complain of having pervasively low moods, which may at times descend into full-blown depression.

In women, the mood based symptoms are often misdiagnosed, and as a result, they end up being treated with antidepressants, while hormone therapy treatment has the potential to yield better results, with a reduced risk of encountering complications, or having to deal with unwanted side effects. Even though these symptoms could be the most noticeable, there is a need to evaluate yourself to ensure that you do not misdiagnose yourself, and end up taking the wrong medication or the wrong supplements.

6. Osteoporosis

For women with low testosterone levels, bone deterioration is one of the most common symptoms, even though it does not appear right away as it develops over time. Testosterone comes in handy in assisting with the production and maintenance of bones in the body. As such, when its levels decrease, your body is no longer able to produce and maintain the bones as it once did.

References;

  1. http://www.activebeat.com/your-health/women/10-signs-of-low-testosterone-in-women/6/
  2. http://www.webmd.com/men/features/low-testosterone-explained-how-do-you-know-when-levels-are-too-low#2
  3. http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/11-warning-signs-of-low-testosterone/14/
  4. http://www.healthline.com/health/low-testosterone/warning-signs?m=0

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