5 Signs Of Low Testosterone In Aging Men

Testosterone is the essential hormone for males as it is essential for traits and appearance. With the increasing age, the level of testosterone fluctuates, causing problems in men. Here are five signs that indicate low levels of testosterone.

1. Enlarged breast

Men also secrets female sex hormones ? estrogen. But this is produced in a limited amount.

Nature has it that estrogen and testosterone are mutually counterbalancing. This means that when one hormone spikes, the other reduces in proportion.

And since most males produce more testosterone most of the time, the estrogen quantities get stifled. But things start changing when testosterone production starts declining.

In this case, the quantity of estrogen starts increasing exponentially. Yet this hormone supports feminine features.

So one development that is common when estrogen level increases are the breasts.

In this situation, the lack of testosterone allows excess estrogen to increase body fat.

Your breast tissues start enlarging and form more massive breasts. This condition is known medically as gynecomastia.

This enlarge breast is sometimes associated with increased body fat. Thus, fat deposits begin spreading all over their bodies.

Gynecomastia, as explained by Mayo Clinic, the decrease in testosterone levels or hormonal equilibrium can be disrupted by various factors, such as natural fluctuations in hormone levels, certain medications used to treat different medical conditions, the use of recreational drugs, illicit substances, alcohol consumption, specific health conditions, and the usage of unregulated herbal products. But testosterone levels normally decrease with age too.

You notice these men spotting portly belly and rounded hips. Instead of the masculine features, their body features turn feminine.

2. Sleep deprivation

Sleep is essential for energy replenishment. During sleep, all the worn-out tissues are repaired. Meanwhile, new cells are also produced during this cycle.

You may already know that testosterone is a crucial compound in inducing a sound sleeping pattern.

Thus when this male hormone is insufficient, it disrupts typical sleep patterns. And poor sleep causes other severe conditions.

Sleep apnea is one such condition. When you have this medical condition, you encounter difficult breathing during sleep.

Your regular breathing mechanism may be affected through prolonged stoppages for several seconds before resuming. 

This situation disrupts your rest and forces you to wake up several times during the night. On the other end, poor sleep interferes with your body’s ability to produce more cells and hormones.  

Worst still, sleep apnea could ham your heart and brain. Irregular breathing deprives vital organs of reliable oxygen supplies. Hence, it could lead to a stroke and other medical complications.  

Based on information from the Baptist Health Kentucky website, studies indicate that decreased testosterone levels can cause disruptions in the regular sleep cycle. These disruptions include reduced sleep efficiency, more frequent awakenings at night, and a decrease in the amount of deep, restorative sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep. Additionally, low testosterone levels have been associated with a higher risk of developing sleep disorders like insomnia.

3. Reduced sexual desire

Testosterone hormone is vital for triggering sex desire in men. Thus when its quantity reduces, you become sex averse.

It’s natural to experience a drop in libido as you age. But when the testosterone levels decline, then this condition gets worse. Your low sex drive manifests in many unhealthy forms. But how?

The first is difficulty garnering an erection. Testosterone is crucial in boosting your sperm and semen production.

Further, it helps grow muscle, which helps in oxidation. But in its absence, your penile veins atrophy.

Next, you lack sufficient sex juice to trigger desire. Thus your erections grow weaker and far apart. This situation is supported by many studies on the role of testosterone in creating libido.  

Further, you notice a decline in sexual function as a result of low testosterone levels.

Apart from low sexual urges, you also have erectile dysfunction symptoms. You could also show signs of impotence and infertility.  

4. Fatigue

The primary male sex hormone is essential for building muscles. And as a muscular body requires more energy, it improves your metabolism.

An excellent metabolic function burns nutrients better, thus eliminating fatty deposits. You gain by having a masculine built and robust features. Besides, you become active and full of energy.

So what happens when testosterone levels start waning? Well, the first is a slowdown in metabolism. Your body becomes less efficient in transforming glucose into energy.

And without adequate energy levels, you show lethargy. Instead of agility, you remain tired and lack the zest to scuttle things up. You also exhibit a lack of enthusiasm and drive.

But the real test of fatigue is more psychological than physical. The lack of energy is prominent in your cognitive functions.

With a poor mental state, you tend to forget obvious things and appear to struggle to complete mundane tasks.

In extreme cases, fatigue arising from low testosterone can bring about depression.  

5. Emotional challenges

Perhaps the unseen implication of a low testosterone level is the emotional issues. T-cell is the main reason why you exude confidence and aggression.

So when its supply fizzles out, then these self-esteem factors fly out of the window.

The male sex hormones bring out motivation, cheerfulness, and masculinity. Instead of these attributes, men with low T levels are meek, unsure, and confused.

An article published on Lets Get Checked, low testosterone levels can result in emotional challenges such as depression, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, and difficulties with concentration and memory. Testosterone plays a vital role in regulating mood and overall well-being. When levels are low, individuals may experience feelings of sadness, restlessness, and anger, along with a decline in motivation and cognitive function.

With low testosterone, you harbor a feeling of sadness and defeat. Further, you also have problems concentrating and making decisions. Other negative traits include low motivation and lacking self-confidence.

And since your physique betrays you, you have nothing to show. Your hitherto masculinity is replaced by a receding hairline and diminishing bone density.

Further, your body bares the adverse effects of excessive cholesterol levels and decreased strength. 

Yet your slow mind still has to navigate the hormonal conflict that results in irritability. And these adverse factors don't end here.

You suffer from emotional challenges caused by both mental and physical strains arising from the reduced testosterone supply.

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6. Mental decline

Testosterone secretion declines with advancing male age. About 40% of men above 45 years have low male sex hormones.

Reduced testosterone production accelerates memory decline. Various studies seem to indicate a direct relationship between low testosterone levels and impaired memory in old men.

A 2019 study on the effects of testosterone supplements found that it helps to improve cognition, albeit marginally.

Testosterone triggers the development of nerve growth factors in the hippocampus. This causes increased uptake of NGF in the forebrain, making your mind active and analytical.

NGF lights up the visual-spatial brain regions, making your brain more resilient to evaluating and resolving difficult analytical chores. Besides, you become mentally agile, being able to process and archive data into the long-term memory cache of the brain.

Hence if testosterone production reduces, the performance of the NGF fails, resulting in poor cognitive functions. This may result in depression and a bad mood.

7. Loss of muscle mass

The male sex hormone plays a role in building muscles in men. When muscles mass multiplies, men become bulkier and stronger.

But as testosterone production reduces with age, the muscles start waning. A study done in 2016 found that testosterone is vital for maintaining muscle mass.

But this hormone doesn’t necessarily control muscle strength and functions. So how doesn’t it increase your muscles?

Well, testosterone speeds up muscle protein synthesis. The process is a bit complex, but it allows the binding of amino acids with the energy-producing mitochondrial proteins in the skeleton.

Thus more protein is made which is then converted into energy to help stimulate and build bigger muscles. Hence you retain your heavy build.

Leaner body mass helps control fat deposits by burning fat to produce more energy. But with the dwindling testosterone levels, this process is hampered.

As a result, your muscle mass fades.xx