Do you have low testosterone?

If you have any of the following signs or symptoms, you may have low testosterone levels.

·         Reduced muscle mass.

Testosterone is essential to build and strengthen muscle. Men with low T may experience a loss in muscle mass and strength. With low T levels, it can be difficult to build muscle back up through weight training until T levels are back to normal.

·         Increased body fat.

Men with low T may have an increased amount of body fat. They may even develop enlarged breasts, aka “gynecomastia”. Testosterone influences the way your body stores fat. A healthy testosterone level is needed because it helps slow down the buildup of abdominal fat. If you have a decreased level of testosterone, it is easier for abdominal fat to accumulate. Abdominal fat is both a cause and an effect of low testosterone. As the amount of abdominal fat increases, an enzyme in the fat tissue converts testosterone to estrogen, which lowers testosterone levels even more. With even less testosterone to slow the fat accumulation, abdominal fat increases.

·         Difficulty getting an erection.

Testosterone plays a key role in the stimulation of a man’s libido. It is also key in helping men achieve an erection. Testosterone alone doesn’t produce an erection, but it stimulates receptors in the brain to produce nitric oxide which helps trigger an erection. When men have testosterone levels that are too low, they can may have difficulty achieving an erection before sex or experience spontaneous erections throughout the day or night.

·         Decreased mood.

When men have low testosterone, they can become depressed. This is because testosterone helps to regulate their mood. Men with low T are more likely to experience depression, irritability, and have a more difficult time concentrating on things.

·         Decreased bone density.

Testosterone is needed to help the body maintain adequate bone density. If a man has low testosterone and is suffering from male menopause, his bones may become less dense, and more fragile. This can increase a man’s risk for developing osteoporosis.

·         Low libido.

Low testosterone can affect libido, or sex drive, in both men and women. It is natural to have a decreased libido as people age, especially in men. But when testosterone levels are low, the low libido is usually more significant. Women who have low T can also experience a decrease in libido, but this is usually associated with other factors too like hormonal and mood changes

·         Hair loss.

While is it natural for men to lose their hair as they age, men with low testosterone levels may also experience a loss in facial hair and body hair too.

·         Low semen volume.

Testosterone is needed in order to produce semen. Semen is needed for the motility of sperm. The more testosterone a man has, the more semen he produces. Men with low testosterone will have a decreased semen volume. This is most noticeable during ejaculation.