If you don’t feel like yourself lately, your problem may be low testosterone. Impacting men, young and old, low testosterone occurs when your testicles can’t produce normal levels of testosterone. Since this can be caused by various medical conditions or certain types of injuries, it’s important to know the symptoms of low-T so that you can work with your doctor to get things back on track.
Reduced Sex Drive
Usually the most common symptom of low testosterone and one of the most alarming to many men, you may be noticing you have a lesser desire for sex than what you’ve had in years past. Since testosterone is the main androgen, it plays a key role in maintaining your sex organs and keeping your sperm count at a high level. When things go awry, it is often caused by low testosterone levels in your bloodstream. If you have had an injury below your belt, suffer from a medical condition such as diabetes, or have been a regular user of anabolic steroids, any of these can result in low-t and reduced sex drive.
Loss of Body Hair
One of the least-known signs of hormone imbalance in men that is usually the result of low testosterone is the loss of body hair you may be experiencing. While you may assume this only means the hair on top of your head may be thinning, it can be much more than this. In fact, you may notice other types of body hair loss, such as:
● Loss of armpit and pubic hair,
● Less beard growth,
● Loss of hair on your arms, legs, or chest,
Since you are likely dealing with other symptoms related to low testosterone, losing hair from different areas of your body can make you feel even more self-conscious about your problem, which is why you should speak to your doctor about your possible testosterone deficiency as soon as possible.
Erectile Dysfunction
Since your sex drive may be lower than usual, you may also be experiencing erectile dysfunction as a result of your low-t levels. This can include being unable to get an erection when you are sexually stimulated, failing to maintain an erection, or being unable to keep your erection until the completion of sex with your partner. As to why this is occurring, you can blame much of it on your body’s inability to produce nitric oxide, which is the molecule that sets into motion a series of chemical reactions that has your brain sending the correct signals to your penis.
Hot Flashes
Unbeknownst to many men, low testosterone levels can also result in having hot flashes, just as women do when experiencing menopause. However, you don’t have to be a middle-aged man to have hot flashes that are related to low-t. If this is something that is happening to you as a result of low testosterone, you’ll have instances where you will have a very sudden and intense sensation of warmth. This can include an outbreak of heavy sweating, night sweats when trying to sleep, or having your skin gets flushed and turn red. Since these symptoms are also linked to serious medical conditions such as high blood pressure, it is vital you see your doctor as soon as possible to rule out any potentially dangerous medical conditions.
Less Muscle and More Fat
Since it is not unusual for men to lose muscle and gain a bit more fat as they age, you may be thinking this is just part of the aging process if it is happening to you. However, if you are still a relatively young man, there’s a good chance less muscle and more fat may be caused by low testosterone. Should you have an imbalance of testosterone and estrogen in your body, one other problem you may have is an enlargement of your breast tissue, a condition known as gynecomastia. Once you can get your testosterone levels balanced out, this will usually disappear.
The Bottom Line
Knowing what to look for is crucial to winning the battle against low testosterone. By recognizing the symptoms and working with your doctor on developing a treatment plan, it can be easier than you imagine to get your testosterone levels back to normal.