Signs and Symptoms of Low Testosterone

What Is Testosterone & What Is Low T?
Testosterone is an important hormone made by the body. In an adult male it helps maintain:
- Sex drive and sexual function
- Muscle mass and strength
- Mood and energy levels
- Bone strength

Normal Levels of Testosterone
In healthy men, there is a range for testosterone levels (also known as T levels) that is considered normal. The brain and the testes work together to keep testosterone in this range. When levels of testosterone are below normal, the brain signals the testes to make more. When there is enough testosterone, the brain signals the testes to make less.

Normal levels of testosterone are based upon age. Shown here are those amounts.

Age -- Normal Testosterone levels*
25 to 34 years old -- 446 to 786 ng/dL
35 to 44 years old -- 445 to 879 ng/dL
45 to 54 years old -- 394 to 818 ng/dL
55 to 64 years old -- 366 to 756 ng/dL
65 to 74 years old -- 327 to 721 ng/dL

*Normal T levels are based on age (noted in chart). T levels are measured in units called nanograms (ng) per deciliter (dL). Your doctor may look for a reading that is normal for your age. Typically, a man's T level is considered low if it is below 300 ng/dL.

If your T level is below 300 ng/dL and you have at least one symptom of Low T, you may have a medical condition called Low T, which should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

What Is Low T?
Typically, a man's testosterone level is considered low if it's below 300 ng/dL. Low T can be caused by a signaling problem that occurs between the brain and the testes that causes the production of testosterone to drop below normal. Low T also can occur when your body can't make normal levels of testosterone. Low T is a medical condition that can lead to fatigue or low energy, decreased sexual function, and depressed mood.

Low T affects more than 13 million men in the U.S. ages 45 and older. Even though it's natural for men to lose testosterone as they age, the medical condition hypogonadism (hī pō gō na dizm), also known as Low T, is not a natural part of aging. Common symptoms include lack of sex drive, low energy and decreased sense of well-being. There is typically no cure for Low T. It is a medical condition that requires ongoing treatment.

The good news is, it can be easily diagnosed by your doctor with a simple blood test and treated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to raise your T levels back to normal.

Signs and symptoms of Low T may be clear and easy to recognize. But at first look, you may not think they point to Low T.

Take a look at the symptoms below to see if any seem familiar to you. You may be surprised how easily they can be overlooked.

Signs and symptoms of Low T may include:
* Fatigue or loss of energy
* Low sex drive (reduced desire to be intimate)
* Sexual dysfunction (weak erections, failure to get erections)
* Depressed mood
* Decreased sense of well-being
* Increased body fat
* Loss of muscle mass
* Decreased bone strength

These symptoms may be a sign of Low T or other health conditions and should not be ignored. Low T can be diagnosed by your doctor with a simple blood test.

Normally, a man's testosterone level is considered low if it's below 300 ng/dL. It's important to keep your testosterone at a normal level for your age.

How to Treat Low Testosterone Naturally
Low testosterone levels can cause a variety of male health problems, including depression, low libido, fatigue and unsightly weight gain. While many men try to increase testosterone through costly testosterone injections and other androgen supplements, few realize that their homone imbalance can be restored naturally. If you suffer from low testosterone levels, here are some effective ways you can increase your levels.

Instructions:

Step1 - Getting more zinc in your diet is one way to boost low testosterone levels. Zinc is one of the key components in the chemical makeup of this male hormone. Foods naturally high in zinc include read meats, eggs, and dairy. You can also get more zinc by taking a multi vitamin.

Step2 - Ginseng and saw palmetto are two herbs that have been used for centuries to enhance male function. Ginseng and saw palmetto are inexpensive yet effective in treating low testosterone.

Step3 - Researchers have found that men who eat monounsaturated fats, such as those found in nuts and olive oil, had naturally higher levels of testosterone. Mono unsaturated fats are also heart healthy.

Step4 - Besides adding testosterone boosters to your diet, there are also physical fitness methods to increase testosterone and restore male hormone imbalance. One activity is to exercise with weights. Weight lifting and strength training will increase low testosterone levels over time.

Step5 - Getting enough sleep and having sex will also stimulate your body's natural production of testosterone.

Step6 - Eliminating excess body fat also helps improve the testosterone balance. When a person carries too much body fat, it stimulates the production of estrogen, which effectively "cancels out" the effects of testosterone.

Step7 - Lastly, cutting back on alcohol and smoking is also known to have a positive impact on the levels of testosterone. If your body has to spend a lot of energy cleaning out toxins, there are fewer resources to devote to testosterone production.

Step8 - Before you shell out money for expensive creams and injections, try some of these techniques to boost your t levels naturally. Although creams and injections are very effective, hormone balance can be restored for far less money.

Dr. Fisch concludes, “Men who maintain their health can have the desire for sex until the day they die.”