How Important Is Testosterone Testing?

Testosterone is the first male hormone, the hormone that, at puberty, allows the appearance of male primary characteristics in boys. Testosterone, throughout life, is also the hormone that provides a libido and a healthy sex life, normal fertility, good muscle mass, to name but a few of the effects testosterone has on the body and overall health of a man. In fact, low testosterone is one of the main reasons men start to feel “old” after a certain age.

30 years and the fall of testosterone

When it comes to low t, men start to see changes around 30 years of age, which is when testosterone levels in the body begin to decline. This decrease in testosterone levels is approximately 1% per year from the age of thirty. This is a very normal and natural phenomenon, and for a large majority of people, there is no problem.

But in some cases, which are far from isolated, lowering testosterone levels, may have unfortunate consequences on several factors. To avoid the inconvenience of dangerously low levels, here are some tips to evaluate where you stand in relation to this hormone.

Possible causes of low levels

One of the first reasons of reduced testosterone levels is being overweight.In a world where this phenomenon is becoming more and more widespread, a male’s testosterone levels are hampered by increasingly degrading lifestyles and diet.Other factors may also trigger a significant decrease in testosterone levels in the body.

A testicular injury or infection can result in a decrease in testosterone levels. But this problem can also be due to more important health problems:

  • Hormonal or thyroid dysfunction
  • Chronic liver or kidney disease
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Testicular cancer, or even its treatment

Finally, some very specific genetic conditions, and of course age, can also be the cause of a decline in testosterone levels in the body. All these causes tend to show people that knowing how to evaluate and control their testosterone level also means having some control over their overall health, far beyond physical aspect. But before going to see a doctor to undergo testosterone testing, you can get an idea of how bad the problem is because a decrease in testosterone levels occur without signs and symptoms.

Different symptoms associated with low testosterone levels

Low levels induce changes in mood. This symptom is particularly difficult to discern, as changes in mood appear quite natural during the aging process. A decline in testosterone levels results in a progressive decrease in mood over the long term, making this first sign very difficult to perceive.

If your testosterone levels are low, you may find it difficult to stay focused. If on top of that, you feel some apathy, and lack of motivation for tasks involving mental abilities, a drop in your testosterone may be at fault. If a man starts to feel chronically fatigued or notices lethargy and a lack of energy, then their testosterone may be low.

A low level of testosterone also causes pain, especially in the back and joints. These are of the arthritic type and are mainly located in the lower back, at the hips, knees, even feet. A lack of testosterone also results in poor quality sleep.

If a person notices any disruptions with their sleep patterns or quality, seeing a doctor would be the right thing to do. As everyone knows, decreased testosterone results in decreased endurance and muscle strength, and promotes fat gain. It also becomes more difficult to gain muscle and maintain it.

Testing

Finally, it is important to understand that testosterone is closely related to sexuality, and a decrease in the rate of this hormone will cause a reduction in libido and sexual desire. However, this symptom is one of the last to appear and is synonymous with a low level of testosterone. It is, therefore, advisable not to wait until this stage to request a more precise test and to consider solutions.

In fact, a simple blood test will allow folks to accurately determine what their testosterone level is. Also, be aware that it is important to ask the doctor for complete testosterone testing. This testing includes free testosterone, total testosterone, as well as available bio testosterone.

It might also be interesting to have the physician test the cortisol and estrogen levels in the body, to determine the most suitable solutions possible.

So call Paradigm Hormones in Dallas today to get your Testosterone tested.  Doctors William Parker and Henry Ramirez will use their years of expertise in hormone therapy to evaluate your condition and advise the best possible treatment to get you back to your real self.