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Too low or high levels of testosterone can cause a bad mood, sadness, or lack of desire for sex. What’s more, even the tendency to aggression and quarrels is one of the effects of this hormone. More depends on testosterone than you might think, so be sure to control its level!
To check if testosterone is normal, a blood sample taken from a vein is tested. In the case of most men, in the period up to 25-30 years of age, the concentration of this hormone remains at a normal, constant level, but after crossing the “magic limit” which is thirty, it gradually decreases (on average by 1% per year). The reason for the increased decline is also diseases such as orchitis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, as well as excessive consumption of cigarettes, alcohol and chronic stress.
Basic symptoms of testosterone deficiency
When there is not enough testosterone, a man’s silhouette takes on feminine shapes, i.e. the belly and breasts are outlined, the hips become rounder, the testicles become smaller (and become less firm), the interest in sex decreases. There is apathy, fatigue, muscle weakness, low self-esteem, sometimes depression.
Semen is not produced in sufficient quantity, libido decreases, and the risk of menopausal-like symptoms – fatigue, hot flashes, etc., and the risk of osteoporosis increase. Also, the growth of body hair is much slower, but the voice and size of the penis do not change.
How to research?
A decrease in the level of the male hormone can only be diagnosed by a doctor. It determines this based on the analysis of the symptoms and physical examination, in addition to laboratory tests. It is best to measure testosterone levels in the morning, as it reaches its highest value around 8 am.
Pros and cons of treatment with hormone therapy
Specialists recommend patches and gels rather than tablets, which may simply be less effective and cause side effects in the form of liver damage or cancer. Treatment with testosterone gels and patches has many benefits, such as:
- Improvement of libido and sexual function,
- Increased interest in sex
- mood improvement,
- Alleviating the symptoms of depression,
- Eliminating the feeling of fatigue, disorientation,
- Likely improvement in bone density.
They are also available in the form of injections. Although the therapy is usually well tolerated, side effects can also occur:
- Breast tenderness, swelling or development of breast tissue
- Increased body hair, the appearance of acne and a tendency to seborrhea,
- redness,
- An allergic reaction where the testosterone patch is applied, such as itching or irritation.