How Does Aging Affect Your Testosterone Levels?
Testosterone is the most critical male hormone. However, testosterone levels decline as you age.
For some men, that decline has little or no impact, but others may significantly feel the effects of low testosterone, also known as low-T or andropause.
You may have heard of menopause, the series of symptoms that women go through due to the hormonal changes in their bodies that occur as they age. But did you know that as men age, they go through a similar condition known as “andropause” or low-t?
While different, the problems related to low-T can be just as debilitating for men as menopause can be for women. These symptoms can include thinning hair, weight gain, fatigue, loss of muscle tone, depression, and sexual wellness issues.
The principal male hormone is testosterone. Produced primarily in the testicles, testosterone helps maintain your:
- Bone density
- Fat distribution
- Muscle strength and mass
- Red blood cell production
- Sex drive
- Sperm production
When it comes to the production of testosterone, most men hit their peak around the age of 17. Levels will hover pretty close to that maximum through your 20s and then slowly start to drop off in the 30s and 40s.
By the time any man reaches 80, his testosterone level will likely be about half of what it was when he was at his peak. For some men, the decrease in production has little effect. But for many men, as you hit your 50s, 60s, and older, you may actually start to feel the impact of the reduced level, experiencing low testosterone or “low-T.”
Symptoms of low-T include reduction of libido or sex drive, a feeling of reduced virility or vitality, changes in mood, erectile dysfunction, decreased energy, reduced muscle and bone mass, and memory issues.
Another important male hormone related to peak performance and youth is DHEA. DHEA is produced by the adrenal glands, and it is essential in stimulating the production of testosterone. As you age, DHEA production also drops, and this contributes to a lower testosterone level, as well as other symptoms of andropause.
As testosterone and DHEA levels start to decline, you will begin to notice changes in your mood, weakness and a loss of vitality, a decreased desire to have sex, or decreased ability to perform sexually, and just an overall feeling of “not being your best.”
What Are the Signs of Low Testosterone?
For many years the signs and symptoms of Low-T were just thought to be the normal signs of aging. We now know that the symptoms usually associated with “growing old” – fatigue, depression, mood swings, and sexual issues – are more likely related to low testosterone.
However, the only way to know if you are experiencing andropause, or Low-T, is to have your testosterone levels properly evaluated. Once diagnosed with Low-T, you may be a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy.
What Every Man Needs to Know Low Testosterone and Testosterone Replacement
As medical professionals, we have come to understand how hormone levels change as men age and the impact that can have on your quality of life.
Age-related hormone imbalances in men almost always involve low testosterone, a condition known as hypogonadism, often also referred to as “andropause.” But, no matter what you call it, the condition involves a drop in testosterone production that becomes more dramatic in men over the age of 45.
It doesn’t matter if you call it “low-T” or andropause; doctors treat age-related testosterone deficiency with testosterone replacement therapy.
Prescription testosterone replacement therapy for men is available via injection, topical creams or gels, skin patches, subdermal pellets, or oral medication. Most doctors agree that testosterone injections are the safest and most effective form of testosterone therapy.
Testosterone replacement therapy is only available with a doctor’s prescription. You cannot buy testosterone online or anywhere without a doctor’s prescription. While any doctor can write you a prescription for testosterone replacement therapy, you should work with a clinic like Woodlands Wellness that specializes in age management and helping patients to look and feel their best at any age.
At Woodlands Wellness and Cosmetic Center, we realize that not all men with age-related hormone loss will have the same set of symptoms or the same health and wellness goals. We will tailor your program of testosterone therapy to your unique needs and lifestyle to maximize your benefits and optimize your results. We will evaluate all of your critical hormones. Patients with age-related testosterone loss are also often suffering from a growth hormone deficiency as well.
Our medical director and the entire staff at Woodland Wellness are committed to making sure that all of our clients receive expert care from providers who specialize in regenerative and functional medicine. This unique approach identifies and resolves underlying health problems that affect both body and mind. Functional medicine boosts overall wellness and addresses cosmetic concerns.
In addition to hormone replacement, clients at Woodlands Wellness and Cosmetic Center also have access to a full range of aesthetic treatments. The practice specializes in anti-aging services, including Botox®, injectables, chemical peels, and skin tightening treatments. Woodlands Wellness and Cosmetic Center also offer state-of-the-art procedures like CoolSculpting® to help clients achieve their aesthetic goals without surgery.
“I am 59. I began my testosterone therapy because I was tired, irritable, and hate to admit it, but I also was having some trouble satisfying my wife, if you know what I mean. Since my testosterone therapy, all of that has changed. I feel younger, stronger, and just good about myself and my life again. And my sex life? Better than ever!”
– Brandon, P, Houston, TX.
If you would like to learn a little bit more about the many life-changing benefits of testosterone replacement therapy, please contact us today by calling (281) 223-1124.
