Should I Check My Testosterone Levels?

Testosterone is the male sex hormone that is produced by the testicles. Testosterone plays a vital role in the development of male sex characteristics such as a man’s frame, strength, facial and body hair growth, and a deeper voice. But low testosterone can lead to a number of issues that men often complain of as they age. At Nexus HealthSpan in Mission Viejo, CA, Nurse Practitioner Zachary Lott offers a number of testing methods and treatment options.

Testosterone

Testosterone also has a number of health benefits. As men age, testosterone levels can decline and the benefits of the hormone can be lost. Low testosterone levels have been associated with increased mortality and may contribute to several other health conditions such as heart attack, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and bone density loss.

Causes of Low Testosterone Levels

Some men are born with medical conditions that cause low testosterone and this is typically recognized early in life or during a period of time when puberty would be expected to occur.

Low testosterone levels can occur because of injury or illness such as an accident that can cause physical damage to the testicles, removal of one or both testicles from a medical condition like cancer, or disease in the pituitary gland of the brain where the signal is sent to the testicles to produce testosterone, or even from infection.

Some men can develop low testosterone as part of aging. For other men, it can be a downstream effect of other health conditions like metabolic syndrome, obesity, or untreated sleep apnea. Some men can even develop low testosterone because of the use of particular medications.

Low Testosterone Symptoms and Conditions

There are a number of symptoms and conditions associated with low testosterone. Some of them are specific to testosterone, particularly when multiple symptoms are clustered together, and others are quite non-specific. The most common symptoms and conditions associated with low testosterone are:  

• Low libido: Your sex drive may have diminished over the last few years.
• Erectile dysfunction: The quality of your erections, or ability to maintain an erection may have changed.  
• Fatigue: You can't get through the day like you used to, or have energy to play with your kids when you get home.
• Depressed mood: Things might not seem as fun as they used to.
• Irritability: You might notice that your patience isn't what it used to be.
• Poor focus: You may become easily distracted.
• Brain fog: Your brain might not feel like it's operating at its full potential.
• Weight gain (particularly around the belly): Your clothes might not fit like they used to.
• Loss of lean muscle mass: Your build could look more like a pear-shape and your legs may have thinned out.
• Loss of physical strength: Workouts might not be like they were a few years ago.
• Loss of facial and body hair growth: Man-scaping might not be as high-maintenance as before at least.

In cases of suspected testosterone deficiency, it is important to work with a healthcare provider who can complete the appropriate medical workup to rule out other causes of the symptoms or conditions. Simply having one or more of the above does not mean that you have low testosterone, as there are a number of other possible causes. But if you have any of these symptoms or conditions, and the effects are affecting your relationship, your job performance, or your quality of life, then you should speak with your healthcare provider. You can also contact  Nexus HealthSpan about your concerns and inquire about getting your levels tested.